@CorpusMundum



Where only one man rested at peace while the world was met with calamity and legends gathered to discuss the repercussions of their presence the silence and undiluted presence of nature was intruded upon by a single boy.

“Hey.” he called out. The word was casual, yet the feelings behind them were filled with his trepidation and a twinge of guilt. In life there was no need to think about their meeting, little thought given to the man he slayed to become a knight. No matter the fact that he took his armor, no matter the sins the Red Knight may have committed, or he, Lancer himself.

He set his spear down, the wooden javelin that had grown so large, reaching out with dozens of branches like a small tree, the possibilities and paths that could have been represented with each one. There were many events that shaped him in life, and many events that shaped him in Fuyuki. What was Percival of the Round Table of Camelot was not the exact same person as the one who stood here, but there was an inclination of growth due to the predetermined end and growth that was his legend. A lily was a servant that grew towards the culmination of their journey, and a servant was a concrete completed existence. A lily then was simply a vessel that lacked the last finishing touches that completed it. What it would become was already defined, its shape molded and cast. Yet a end paradoxically was not something promised by virtue of the different could be’s that manifest from a journey.

He would without a doubt grow to become Percival the Grail King.

He would without a doubt become simply the Percival of Fuyuki.

What lied at the end of this contradiction?

What branch would bloom? What would the end of him be?

“I’m here. Ither."

He spoke to the one before him, to himself and to the city that wept.

“There’s something I need to do.” he called out to the knight. “This weight is too heavy to hold. I’m still just a kid, I can’t save as many people as a knight. Even if I were a knight, even if I were him it wouldn’t be enough. I need to go beyond, I need your help. You’re someone who was just a stepping stone for me, someone who I killed before I understood the weight of lives, the meaning of the world and life I wanted to enter.

He stilled his body, the shakes stopped as he looked down at the city. “There are so many deaths I’ve seen, so many powerful people. Yes, even at my height it isn’t enough. If you were the one who managed to bring an ignorant bumbling fool into the life of a knight, then maybe you can help me reach even further?”

He was no longer clad in the clothes that were provided to him by his mother. He was no longer clad in the protection that was the Red Knight. All he had was the spear that represented him, the tree watered by his tears, that grew with his struggles. Yet it wouldn’t reach, it can’t reach. All he’s done was try to clean up after the sins that had occurred.

In a sense he never prevented anything, he never truly saved anyone. Triage at best, nothing but a patchwork response by a boy. He’s been guided and directed to try and solve problems. But all he’s done was simply cut down the evergrowing weeds that encroached endlessly. What use was that guidance if he couldn’t simply stop things before they got bad in the first place?

What use was he if even with such a guidance this was all that he could do?

So he silenced the voices for now.

He confronted Ither alone, whether he would be rejected or accepted. Whether that took the form of words or the crossing of blades.The young boy confronted the man whose guise he wore. If his childhood was marked by his time in the forest, ignorant, then his adolescence surely was when he wore the guise of the Red Knight.

Was he trying to simply reach out for something that wasn’t his rightful place? Or would he become what he truly wished for. Perhaps he would die from his foolishness. But then at least it would finally claim him as a victim instead of others.

“You already know, but I’m Percival.”

But what did that mean?

Servant Berserker, Gilles de Rais
Hotspring Meeting, Foreigner's Lowlands.

---

Not even he, under such a thing as the Mad Enhancement, could deny that feeling. Or perhaps it was because of it that he reacted so strongly.

Gilles had stayed silent during the meeting, the same as his Master, pondering the events that happened, as well as the words slung about the place. Even without the Master speaking up, that feeling hit Gilles like a lance from a charging knight. He stood up abruptly, his face darkened by concern.

"Master, I apologize, but I must attend to this first. Tis a foul feeling I had, one no doubt they will have also felt. A dangerous being no doubt bent upon destroying this land."

Nay, he would not let this one go. Not when the people, the civilians, the men, women, and children, were in danger. Whatever it was would not be discriminate in its rampage he could feel. Seeing his Master no doubt still shocked at the development, he trusted enough in the sanctity of the meeting for it to be safe, leaving her there like she wanted.

Almost flying out of the building and wrecking all the doors he touched, Gilles moved quickly towards the highest point that he could see; a tall multistoried building nearby another section of the city. Reaching the top, he stood grimly upon the ledge scanning the area, as about 14 men stood behind him, none wearing the same clothing. Mercenaries, wearing the usual gambeson, chain and helm, each one wielding vastly different weapons. Mercenaries were plentiful during Gilles time after all, and many fought on both the English and French sides.

"Find it."

It was all he said, but it was enough for his men. There was nothing else that could be 'it' besides the source of that feeling, after all. They spread as quickly as they can, spreading around the area as they searched for any sort of anomaly that might produce such a feeling.

Wait...

Oh no.

He felt it. A feeling of complete danger, and something on a scale he had hoped to avoid. This was somebody's fault, and he wasn't sure who to blame. "You know what... In the words of Ms. Benita. You are indeed all idiots." He snatched up his papers, and gestured for others to follow. "Servants, all of you, I suspect things went from a simple meeting, to the worst case scenario." He hadn't felt something like this when the fires started. No, compared to this, that was a mere nuisance. And this... This scenario was probably made global.

Xerxes doubted others would consider him a leader. But he was currently the first to act. Ludwig would follow, and so would Tesla. From there, every other master should stand too. At the very least it would give them a goal to overcome.

He didn't hesitate to start making orders when applicable. "All Archer servants, identify the source of this feeling." This was directed more to the servant by his side, Tesla, than it was to any of the others. "At the moment, we need to identify the threat, and act immediately. I give us all an hour before Fuyuki is destroyed by the mage association if the risk is high enough. Identify, strategize, and deal with the problem. Then we can discuss rules." He said this because as he stepped outside, the feeling of dread felt... More tangibly real than before. If he could feel it, no doubt this would be the last test for all of them. Fail, and they'd all die well before they could reach any boats.

Berserker! This channeled all the way to the damned creature. That monster that was butchering up trees. Xerxes mind opening up that connection.
'Berserker, be ready to act on my command. Do not engage until ordered to. Do you understand? DO NOT ENGAGE!' Even Berserker, as strong as he is, may not be enough for this.

@Yukitamas @floodtalon@Sageage@Kyoka@Phonic@ManyThings@Crusader Lord@BlueHelix@ReallyDumb@DostHou@Argonaut@Cu Chulainn@Paradox Witch@GreenGoat@Scallop@Seirei No Hai

Tesla walked with his Master towards the refugee ship, this was to be their last day on the country of Japan. They had already set up their plan, go to Korea and find a Leyline as soon as possible. Wait for Xerxes's people in the Mages Association to make contact with them, then they could begin work on Tesla's incarnation. Both he and Suzaku had decided that nothing more was to be gained from this war, there were other ways to achieve their goals. Suzaku just wanted to go home to his family, no matter how much it pained him to give up the chance of bringing his wife back. Tesla knew that he had no chance of winning this war, there had simply been too many powerhouses summoned. He had one eye closed as they stepped on board the vessel, keeping an eye on Xerxes as well as the meeting through his Teslabot. Things were going as well as could be expected, all Tesla needed to do now was keep Xerxes safe until he could reach the Church-

[All Of Life Recoils, The Thing That Signals The End Of All Has Come]

Every single person on the ship staggered, many vomited from pure shock. Tesla stared out into the distance, his eyes wide as he slowly turned around. The death of humanity, something which stood in direct opposition to life itself, everything would die if he did not take action. "Suzaku. I'm afraid our work isn't quite done." Suzaku only nodded in silence as his skin drained of color. Tesla knew, he knew that the world was now ending. He did not know what could possibly cause this, he did not know if he could stop it, he did not even know if it could be stopped. And there was nothing that terrified the Modern Prometheus more than not knowing.

But his duty remained. He was the Star that guided humanity into a new era of civilization, he was the Pioneer of the Stars that brought energy to the world. He was the man who stole Lightning from the Gods, bringing its power to Humanity and becoming a Legend. And he knew that if he ran away here, his entire legend would mean nothing, he would be spitting on every single person he sought to help throughout his life. If he fled Fuyuki now, the man known as Nikola Tesla would die, all that would be left is a coward who was willing to let the world end because he was scared he might die before finishing his life's work. He would just be the man who died alone in a hotel room filled with regrets.

---

Tesla's gaze was stern as he looked over everyone in the room. Everyone else had felt it too, the Servant next to the newcomer had already gone to do battle with whatever that was. He would be doing the same. "Everyone who is capable of heavy combat needs to go find what caused that right now. The real me is out searching as we speak, I need to go retrieve my true Master and bring him here. Xerxes, call Berserker and tell him to search the city for... that." He did not bother with the cover any longer, not now. He did not even bother with his usual act of dramatic words and eye catching movements. There was no time for theatrics, no time for deception, now was the time for action. Everyone would have to band together if they were to defeat That, any concerns everyone else had no longer mattered. The Teslabot rushed out of the room, moving towards his True Master with haste and leaving Xerxes behind. "May God help us all."

---

Elizabeth continued to listen to the meeting with interest, noting how they were scarcely a minute in and conflict was already beginning to bloom. A drunken Oni stumbled in, dumping her Master on the floor like a sack of potatoes, more banter was exchanged along with a rather impressive unveiling of a top quality spear. That would have to be reported to the Clock Tower, they would want to study it carefully in order to replicate the tree it came from. A heavy sigh escaped her mouth, how much longer would these buffoons continue to argue about such trivialities-



Her vision went dark, when she came to she was clutching at her hair and sweating profusely all over the table. This is wrong, what have you people done, what manner of monster have you idiots summoned, this was wrong. Wrong wrong wrong wrong wrong wrong wrongwrongwrongwrongwrongwrongwrong-

She was snapped out of her haze by someone speaking. She stared at him, slowly regaining her composure as Berserker left. She said nothing to him in response, he was completely right. Berserker needed to go find whatever had just appeared, find it and report it's location to her immediately. Elizabeth coughed once, shaking her head as she began to speak.

"I agree completely, despite your crude choice of words. Any other matters you all had need to be delayed immediately while we focus on that Thing. If any of you attempts to take advantage of the situation in any way, I will make personally make you wish you had never existed before delivering you to the Clock Tower for a swift execution." It should have sounded ridiculous coming from the mouth of someone who didn't even look like they had hit puberty yet, but nobody could doubt that every single word that had come from her lips was nothing less than a guarantee.

---

She saw the end stare at her. It was all she could do to not collapse at the very sight of that thing that threatened humanity.

That Beast.

She was scooped up like a dainty maiden, but she could not bring herself to struggle or protest, not when she was being carried away from certain death.

Beast VII, the Sin of Apathy. Beast VI, the Sin of Hatred. Beast V, the Sin of Pity. Beast IV, the Sin of Comparison. Beast III, the Sin of Love. Beast II, the Sin of Regression.



While Altera may be a destroyer of civilization, that was a destroyer of all humanity. In it's infinite love, it will eradicate the Human Order without a doubt.

Yet she knew none of this. All she knew was that without a doubt, she was the cause of this somehow.

The Hero dropped her on the ground, screaming at her to run. Find help, gather Humanity's legends to fend off Humanity's destruction. She complied.

Altera rushed through the city, running searching for someone, anyone. Her army must be created, the army of destroyers she had led in life would form to destroy that Beast.

Altera ran into one of Gilles's men and knocked him to the ground, she immediately recognized his nature as a spirit like she. Not a Heroic Spirit, but a Spirit nonetheless. She grabbed him and lifted him up with ease with a panicked expression. "THE THREAT IS AT PELION'S PUB. YOU ARE TO GATHER ALL AVAILABLE HEROIC SPIRITS IMMEDIATELY IF YOU WISH FOR HUMANITY TO SEE THE SUN RISE ONCE MORE." She was not screaming, but the urgency in her tone was a scream in and of itself.

Ah, she just noted. For the first time in her life, Altera was terrified. These emotions were quite bothersome, she wished she had been summoned without them.

She dropped the soldier and fled in the direction of the Hot Springs, more soldiers would need to be gathered. It would have to be enough to destroy that thing.

@Yukitamas @floodtalon@Sageage@Kyoka@Phonic@ManyThings@Crusader Lord@BlueHelix@ReallyDumb@DostHou@Argonaut@Cu Chulainn@Paradox Witch@GreenGoat@Floodtalon@Seirei No Hai

This was bad. Although the diplomacy had gone off without a hitch Ludwig could feel it. They were all magus. Half of them too pompous and arrogant to realise that their actions would affect everyone else. Rules? Like anyone would follow the rules! He didn't know how but even Xerxes must have been plotting something. Unlike the other, Xerxes had a superior magecraft and seemed to have the right mindset to survive a war like this. That mindset however probably included the slaughter of everyone, including Ludwig. Alliances in this war would never work well would they?

In the end only two people could win. A master and a servant. And even if everyone vowed to leave the grail to it's own devices and leave the lands of Fuyuki immediately. Someone would strike. Someone would take the grail for themselves and potentially risk further catostrophy upon all of them. They had to continue this war, eradicate all threats and disaster situations. If they didn't, someone would bestow their wrath upon them. Mages Association, the Church, his own family. Ludwig knew if this wasn't done properly, he would be punished relentlessly and without mercy. If everyone else would get the same fate was another matter completely.

He listened sieltnly, the rules proposed on the chalk board were good. Glancing at them, the masked man read up and smirked beneath his witch doctor mask. It would be good. Chances were Xerxes would use this as an opportunity to get rid of the big hitters, put them on errands with Berserker or Archer and if the chance arises, bang, they could get picked off. Ludwig held back the laughter. He could win, he had to. If he didn't, he'd die no doubt about it. This was the be all or end all he knew that from the start. If Xerxes was against him, or Suzaku or somehow even Archer, he'd be screwed. No one could be trusted. Even his own thoughts. How did he know for certain mind control wasn't in use. Someone could mask their influence almost like spreading butter on bread.

With Xerxes' announcement of the oncoming threat, Ludwig stood up and nodded. "This can quickly get out of hand, if the Association wills it, we'll all die" He turned to face Ana giving a wary stare. "Chances are even escape now is impossible, we need to mobilise immediately, all masters are invited to use the church for shelter, Xerxes any orders?" He turned again, the blond german alchemist having a crazed expression when looking at Xerxes dropping his composed face and attitude that he just used to address the others.

"Archer, get as close as you can, I need to know what we're up against, Berserker might be nearby, we just need some recon to know what we're up against, it can't be good from Xerxes reaction. If worst comes to worst, retreat to the Academy, we may have an ally there"



Where was this place. The warrior wandered the streets of Shinto, having been ordered to go on patrol instead of attending the meeting that that bird had informed them of. If anything, she would've loved to meet the other heroes that had also ascended to this realm along with her. Such an honour could only happen once in a lifetime. Well not exactly a lifetime, she thought to herself a small smirk on her face as she sat down at the side of a building.

This was a fun war. Fun was not something one often considers when fighting for their country and their success but it was right there on her mind. The rush of the fire, the combat with the valiant knight Roland. The meeting that was called, it told her that this was bigger than she had expected. And yet she had the honour to be there to experience it all. The rush of war, the final war of her life. She had been delivered an honourable end.

She already felt it, the dread crept down her back. It was nearby and she silently willed her Nanyue to materialise. As she climbed atop she laughed lightly. The end was near. She could feel it in the air, the deaths that this war had cost. The tension. The impact it all had on the innocents in this town. There was a terror growing, one she could clearly not combat. Riding down the street atop Nanyue, his armour gleaming much like her own. In life, she had been decimated by cruel tactics and the Chinese taking advantage of uncouth tactics and taking them all by surprise, arriving with unheard of weaponry and wiping her forces out. She had no option, she couldn't let them defile and conquer her. She fought for one thing.

She rode, gaining speed as she spotted the fellow warrior with the rainbow sword and she smirked as she continued to ride onwards towards the source. She fought for what everyone deserved.

She fought for freedom.



From the pub, a man was witnessed to be fleeing before the beast had been summoned. He was terrified out of his mind and laughed hysterically. He looked down at his hand and laughed again as he disappeared down a dark alley besides Pellions Pub. What the fuck was that...what the fuck was happening.

Natsuo laughed and disappeared from sight. Time to tell Ludwig what he had accomplished.

Leaving to ---->

---

No.

That....it....no, it couldn't be.

Something like "that" should not exist, there....there was no chance, right?

But she felt it, that creeping, that aura, that power.

One of "those" was here-

-a true Monster it felt like.

Something that would tear down the human order, butcher humanity, bring and end to this world.

A monster beyond monsters.

"Ilya Muromets, servant of the class of Rider, go assist anyone seeking to slay that...that thing My forces shall come follow to help heal the others there, but that thing needs to be stopped....or even the Grail will not matter anymore. Use any Noble Phantasms you need to as well, but make them count."

Sophia sounded...somber, more somber and to the point than she had been after losing her other servant, more somber than she had ever been in life. The feeling, that aura....it was like a predator and this world was its prey. Human Order was its prey. The Modern Age, those living in it, everything was at stake here. Nothing needed to be held back. They needed to act.....NOW. So she had given her orders to her servant, with none more to be said...none more needed to be said really.

"All hands go to assist in the slaying of the beast! Provide support to the servants there as best as you can by forming a camp for masters and supporting efforts! The rest of you, on me! We are going to assist as well, but you lot stay with me only. Get moving, NOW!!!"

Dozens of manufactured homunculi, ones she had produced in the field here since creating an alchemy lab at her original base's location, began to hurry out of her new base's location. About 4 headed toward the Hotsprings, where the meeting would be, whilst the rest were making for the location of this "beast". Their first task? Keep a safe distance, heal participating servants, create a camp a good distance from the conflict in a zone that starting off would be "safe", and able to be used to organize things and cast healing at the other servant in the field. Further, from here an evacuation could be issued to civilians in the area, which would be their secondary task aside from "assisting" in the defeat of this beast how they could.

Even the network Sophia had created sent out its small army of "relevant" bodies to go to the conflict. The guard dogs were kept back, and the army of familiars was being preserved for the moment in case of their need in other fashions. Other normal familiars in the city were redirected to scout the scene itself from a safe distance, observe the area around, keep all eyes on the danger area to the best degree possible.

---

Leaving to ---->

---

"Mistress Sophia is setting up a camp for the masters in a safe zone from the conflict, not too far from my mistress' new base of operations. All masters seeking an area to organize need to head there immediately. Four homunculi are en-route here to guide you all to the safe zone for this purpose.

Further, all servants present are requested to present themselves at the danger area in preparation for the battle. Any Caster-class servants are exhorted to enhance the capabilities of the best fighters here and support them. Those with the highest capabilities in battle are exhorted to take the front lines. Archers and those who fight at a distance, to keep farther back to fire into the enemy. Others, to play assisting roles as you see fit to help with in this battle.

Furthermore, for church members present and others who worry about the denizens of Fuyuki, an evacuation of the places closest to the danger zone has been initiated by what few homunculi can be spared. Any assistance in getting the residents that are most in danger to a safe area is welcome.

Finally, my mistress emphasizes that we need to take down this threat as soon as possible, and work together despite our past differences in this war. The survival of humanity is essential," the female homunculus said, her voice booming in volume as it spoke to the other masters, though eventually she looked over to Hideyoshi before speaking once more, "Master Tohsaka, i have been instructed to lead you to your wife immediately.

She is coming to the safe zone to assist in support and organization, and desires to have you with her during this time to keep you most safe. If you would, will you and your guards follow me with haste to her location?"

With her last messages given, the cute maid began to make a break out of the building, with the aim for running to Sophia's new location and Hideyoshi and company following her. There was not time to waste. The future of her mistress, and the human race, was at stake.

---

Leaving to ---->

---

He knew.

He saw.

He felt it in every bone in this body he had been granted by the Holy Grail.

This was a monster. Something that he could feel the evil, the loathing for humanity from even here. It was a monster that to him could be the the antithesis to humanity, to human order, to the entire world in this day and age.

Several spoke up, and the female homunculus spoke of a base of operations and someone trying to help organize things. Sigurd merely drew up his blade and moved from off of the wall. It was time, and even if he burnt out like embers on a dying pyre he would ensure humanity's survival. He would ensure the world of humans never came to an end, at least at this point in time.

He would do this because that was his job.....this was the job of a hero.

"Heores! To battle!" the King of Noble Heroes said aloud, his voice booming through the room before he began to take off to the beast's location with his wife, "My dear, we must assist in destroying this, even if it burns our bodies to cinders. Our Noble Phantasms can help bring this beast down, and if we do this together then naught can stop us.

After we survive, i shall also take you on that 'date' you requested, and we shall see the sights of this land and beyond."

After this, he would take her to see the ends of the world if needed. She may not be his true love, a fact even she was not aware of since such feelings had been hidden deeper down in Sigurd than anyone else, but as his wife he had his duties to her. Though it was of note he did have love for his wife as well, dear Gudrun whose evil ran deep at times when it came to getting her desires....and yet who had given him all of herself and her love to the bitter end. To this end, he would return this in kind now, even if she didn't want it.

---

---

[@Yukitamas @floodtalon@Sageage@Kyoka@Phonic@ManyThings@BlueHelix@ReallyDumb@DostHou@Argonaut@Cu Chulainn@Paradox Witch@GreenGoat@Scallop@Seirei No Hai@Red Alice@Yukitamas@Moonlit Sonata

Throughout her long career within (what she considered) the finest Navy on this Earth, Strategist had obtained a 'gut feeling' on many an occasion over any action that'd need to be taken; 'hunches' over the intent of an enemy's course of action, or when she felt or knew she was taking the correct course. She was no Caster or magician, granted, but more oftne then not, such 'calls' have salvaged her crews and ships from danger.

Now was one of those times.

Rounding on her booted heels, she cupped her gloved hands to her mouth and screamed from her spot from the pier across to the berths, "Get those destroyers finished and launched! ON! THE! DOUBLE!"

Striding back into the frantic activity that was kicked up within the docks, she dodged scattering press-ganged Marines and crewmen as they struggled to finish outfitting their assigned ships, located her nominated 'foreman' and snatched a trio of rolled up plans the Marine had carried in the crook of his arm, rapidly unrolling and consulting the blueprints she had drafted.

"No!" she snarled, dumping the first plan onto the ground (depicting what appeared to be a pair of modified civilian ships) before she took up the second set of plans. "No! This is NOT what we need right now!" she growled again; another set of plans - with the label of 'HMS Ark Royal' - were tossed aside.

She settled on the third set of plans, her amber-irised eyes scanning over the linework and scribbled mathmaticss, before passing the plans back. "Alright, we're going with this design. Use the last pair of cargo ships as your basis and whatever we have left stored in Warehouse 7. I need those destroyers as soon as possible and Model 0409 seaworthy and ready for battle! We have less then an hour before it's all over for us! Now GO!"

Without a further word of explanation, Strategist dematerialised and left the harbour behind her, returning to her ship. Behind her, workers prised the hanger-like doors of Warehouse 7 open and began to haul out a series of rifled metal cylindrical barrels.

Battleship gun barrels ...

---

Between the call to action stations and Strategist's incessant berating of her officers to 'wake the hell up!', 'Dreadnought's prior peaceful vigil had been suddenly thrown into controlled chaos. Strategist hadn't spared a second from either herself or her senior staff, hounding them all between the bridge and the chart room. She hastily outlined a battle formation and battle-plan to them, explaining that there was 'something' landward - that something or someONE had thrown the War into chaos and - for all she knew - could end up threatening their fleet!

Even if her gut was wrong, Strategist was not prepared to take any chances for her or her Master.

Dismissing the officers, she got on the 'horn'. "Bridge, Chartroom. Send a rating to collect Miss Carly-Beth and bring her to the bridge. Tell her that the fleet is now at battle-readiness and I'll be needing whatever masks or skills she has available."

"Understood, ma'am, but what do I tell her if she asks why?"

Strategist huffed in annoyance; in her haste, she'd failed to let her Master know what had been going on, or why. "Tell her, for now, that I have a very ominous feeling something's just gone horribly wrong landward. I'll elaborate on her arrival; I'll be in the wireless room for now and will return to the bridge in the next few minutes."

"Yes, ma'am."

Slapping the receiver back in place, Strategist darted off towards the wireless room, scribbling down a reasonably-sized message that she intended to transmit over the Service Mark. III wirelesses. If, she hoped, someone was listening in or could detect that message, then there might be a chance that something might be salvagable from whatever disaster loomed on the horizon ...

---

Not merely the flow of magical energy, but ‘everything’ within the bar seemed to have stopped under the weight of its existence.

The cumulative misfortune, the grudges, even the constructs of the bar themselves were dissipating. If those previously present had not fled within an ‘instant’ of its manifestation, they would likely have been unmade by now. Indeed, the poor lone human within the bar met that fate before any could react to help him.

With its first step, it called for an end to all tragedy.

With its second step, it called for an end to all malice.

With its third step---

...a third step was not taken.

This is because, before the Beast I stood the last of the beings of Pelion's Pub. Even the penguin had vacated in a desperate bid of panic, but he had remained. The one being capable of enduring inside of this bar, as the bar as was much a part of him as it was of the Beast.

Archer-class Servant, Chiron.

He stood, unbending. Even as the sheer weight of the thing's pressure crashed against him, he stood.

It exceeded even his worst fears. He had been anticipating something at the level of a full Divine Spirit, but this was beyond even that. This approached the level of those greatest of beings from the first and second Ages of Gods.

A disaster that could shake the world itself.

...truth be told, Chiron still did not understand.

He could not, in the first place. The agony that his dearest friend had suffered since the second night of the war was something he only ever had suspicions about, and that something truly could be wrong, he had no idea of until after Dionysus had obtained that damnable spear. That he had been pushed to a breaking point like this, it was a revelation that blindsided the god.

"...hey, Donnie. I don't know how much of 'you' is left in there, but I'm sorry. I was too focused on myself that I didn't pay attention to what you were going through until it was too late. I'm a pretty terrible friend, aren't I?"

"Stand aside, Chiron. I would rather not kill you.”

...this should be known, but Chiron cannot oppose the Beast I.

Strength, constitution, agility, magical energy, luck, strength of Authority, conceptual resistance, crystallized mystery, there is not a single area where the Beast I does not outstrip Chiron by an absurd margin. Even among the Servants of this Holy Grail War, Chiron is nothing of particular note. He is merely a Caster from the Age of Gods playing as a buffoon of an Archer.

To oppose something at the level of the Beast I is pure foolishness. The odds of defeating it are precisely zero.

He will die here.

He will be utterly destroyed, and returned unto the dust from whence he came.

However...

"No. I can't do that, Donnie. My kids are all here, and I'd be a horrible teacher if I let them down right now."

...like the last time. Like earlier on this very day, when he stood opposite that Monster.

His eyes glinted with a feral madness that found itself mirrored in the Beast's eyes.

A single misstep here would be fatal, not merely for him but for 'everything'.

"I have to behave like a hero sometimes."

Not for himself. Not for entertainment, or for glory.

As a hero, he would fulfill his duty.

"...you know, we've always been two people making one. You're like a brother to me, and now our destinies have become one...so, let's disappear together."

The Beast I could only feel confusion at those words. After all, it had become too distorted to understand why a friend stood opposite it.

"Chiron, you could join me."

At this, another cold pang rang through Chiron's body, shaking his very spiritual foundation. Ah, if only. If only he had seen the signs sooner, if only he had done something to help.

But now...now, there was only one recourse.

"...Chiron?"

"I'm sorry, but I can't allow that. Come, my dearest friend, let us experience eternity together."

The Beast I had yet to exit the bar. In other words, he had yet to truly appear in the world. The rule of these beings was that when the first manifested in this world, the other six would in turn.

...so, he simply had to make sure that the Beast I never appeared in the world, that he never left this bar.

Yes, for the sake of the world, for the sake of the people in it...

"Chiron, you-"

"...Noble Phantasm, true name release."

The name Pelion's Pub was always a falsehood, a veneer plastered over the true thing.

And so, its true nature was released.

Chiron cannot defeat the Beast I. He cannot hope to. However, he does not need to.

-Because this Noble Phantasm of his has been distorted by the land it was engraved into.

...in the island nation of Japan, there is a legend.

A legend of a cavern which sealed the sun. An immortal cave which locked away a god.

And so, because the Beast I was born of that very god, because the force of three Divine Spirits stood in this cavern...

O Land, Let Us Shackle the Gods Above

Philyra's Cavern

Space screamed.

The interior of the bar began to dissipate.

No, that was a mistake. Rather, it was as if it was being peeled back, overwritten by a stronger law.

Rock walls, rock floor, rock ceilings. Even the wall of Troy that split off one section of the bar from another was undone under the force of the alien world's edict.

A cave. A featureless, empty cave, within which stood two men.

From the outside, the bar caved in. Its walls were overwritten with stone, a dome of rock that replaced the structure. It was indecipherable; regardless of one's aptitude, peering into anything that was occurring inside of that cavern was now impossible, like a transcendent form of spatial quarantine.

A prison to hold a god until the end of time. This was the true nature of Chiron’s Noble Phantasm. By sealing himself away, he would save this world.

The Beast I froze. Its very existence cried out in protest as the cavern shackled it, attempting to bind it into this world for eternity.

...and yet-


“It’s not over yet, Chiron.”

“I didn’t doubt that for a second, my friend.”

---

...a voice manifested in the mind of the Archer's Master, barely audible through the wall of that nearly-immutable seal, as though static was filtering it out.

'...hey, kid. Some stuff's gone south. Donnie's lost it. Get everyone together. I'm holding it off, but I can't do it forever. If this seal doesn't get bolstered, he's gonna bust out.'

At the same time, across the city, something changed.

The Beast I had been sealed. However, it was something which denied all restraints, and so it rebelled even in the face of that absolute seal.

It would need time to fully resist that seal, to free itself and to exert its full power. However, the beings of this war would be mobilizing now, thinking of how to do away with it.

That would not do. While they could act foolishly and destroy the bar, thereby freeing him inadvertently, they could just as easily realize what was occurring, and work to strengthen the seal of this cavern.

And so, using what power it could in its sealed state, it acted.

The Authority of Dionysus, Bacchus, gave him the right to enter his followers as shrines for his will. When this premise was combined with those other two natures that had unified within the Beast I...

It gave rise to something that could end the war, even if the Beast itself was sealed.

Across the city, from the refugee camps in Shinto to the homeless sleeping in the western forests, myriad humans began to change.

Their eyes glowed with an impossible light. Their bodies and spirits were distended beyond recognition. Within moments, no fewer than two hundred people scattered across the city had been influenced.

These avatars of the Beast I were a far cry from the true thing, but even in this muted state, these beings outstripped even Servants by far on the basis of presence. Their eyes cut through the world, locating those Servants and Masters who would oppose it, those who held the wish to deny the Beast in their hearts.

From across the city, a swarm of beings that exceeded heroes and monsters alike descended. Any who moved towards that god-sealing cavern would surely find themselves besieged by those avatars. Indeed, before too long, those avatars would additionally begin their descent upon those places where Masters and Servants were gathered, those Servants fleeing the place of the Beast's manifestation, and even the isolated individuals.

This was the first obstacle that it had created. Before they could even reach the place where the Beast was sealed, its enemies would need to wade through these forces.

Before day broke, the Beast I would free itself and end the world. So then, the only recourse was to fight. To stand up and charge into an almost certain death, in the hopes that with this struggle, the Beast I could be locked away, never to enter this world.

Go forth, heroes of the Human Order.

This is your final stand.

Servant Berserker, Gilles de Rais
Edge of Foreigner's Lowlands.

---

Gilles glanced towards the direction of the pub, a soldier notifying him of that Saber's words.

"Master! I've gotten information! The source of this oppressive feeling is-"

Everywhere.

His skin was crawling; it seemed like that thing had suddenly multiplied all around him. No, those feelings were weaker, but nonetheless still oppressive. Whatever it was, it seemed powerful enough to influence the world far beyond it. Perhaps an even more powerful being than he himself was, a simple Marshal of France. But...

A wave of blonde hair, an indignant expression, her mouth opened, but he knew what she was going to say before she even spoke.

"It is from the pub across the river."

Relaying as much information as he could to Elizabeth, including what he was feeling right now and what he thought was happening. Namely the myriads of feeling rushing towards them, like a wave of English knights about to trample a regiment of archers.

Grabbing a flag from a freshly materialized soldier, Gilles stuck it in the floor, perhaps a simple and meaningless gesture. A claim on the territory, a bold proclamation that this place was now his, conquered and taken by his own hands. But it did raise his spirits up, and his own flag bearing his own coat of arms sporting the fleur-de-lis proudly should be visible enough for any other ally to see to rally around. Of course, that meant the large tall very visible flag would also be seen by those things. But...

Tesla caught the morse code before anyone else, the Teslabot's eyes flashing as he interpreted the message. The transfer had been quick and efficient, the true Tesla handed Suzaku over to the Teslabot in record time as he sped off towards the city to search for the source of the threat. Now Tesla just needed to continue coordination. Pigeons flew all over the city, scouting for the source of the disturbance en masse along with Tesla. A notice was received from the meeting. So the source of this disturbance was Pelion's Pub hmm? 20 pigeons were deployed to the area in question only to see something quite odd. A horde of men that felt very... off. Tesla stopped on top of a lightning perch, about 5 kilometers away from the pub as he observed it in closer detail. It was no longer a pub, but a solid dome of rock. However there were more important matters to worry about as Tesla looked out across the city. He frowned as he began to run back to the Hotsprings, hopping on steps of lightning as he retreated to defend his new allies.

"This could be a problem."

---

A lone pigeon flew into the room, landing atop Xerxes's head as it opened it's mouth.



The bird closed it's mouth and took flight once more, landing on the center of the table as it opened it's mouth for yet another communication.

"This is Heroic Spirit Nikola Tesla. I have sent a large amount of familiars across the city to act as a communication network, please speak to the pigeon if you wish to communicate something to either I or the HMS Dreadnought."

The bird closed it's mouth once again, completely stationary as it looked the room.

Elizabeth had no knowledge of who this Tesla was, but she did just receive important news from her own Servant.

"I have just been told that the source of the disturbance was at Pelion's Pub. Begin searching the area immediately."

If a bird could look annoyed, this one did, but Tesla complied regardless. There was a minute of silence, then the pigeon opened it's mouth once again.

"Pelion's Pub appears to have turned into a solid dome of rock, however we may have a more immediate issue to deal with. A horde of human like creatures has begun to approach your location, approximately ten. However from what I can tell, these creatures are strong, most definitely Servant Tier at the least. I am on my way back, in the meantime prepare for battle."

The pigeon closed it's mouth, Tesla's message finished for now. Elizabeth rubbed her temples, already ordering her Servant to come back to begin preparing for defense. "If I live through this, I am choking the person who created this ritual to death." She mumbled to herself as she face planted on the desk.

And then a rainbow colored blur burst into the room.

"Oh right, you appear to have a Servant heading directly to you. Although I see you've received her."

Altera looked out of breath almost, she had run here as quickly as she could to warn the Servants and Masters of the incoming threats. However she was all serious as she looked about the room, her gaze lingering on the bird for an instant longer than everyone else.

"An enemy army is approaching. We all must band together if ywe are to fight the monsters I have seen."

---

And on the other side of the city out in the wide blue sea, a message would tap itself out on Strategist's Service Mark III.

Of course Tesla would land a bird on his head. That man still found ways to mess with him, even after almost getting himself out of Xerxes hair forever. How useful it might have been otherwise. But it seemed events had leapt forward, and then steamrolled ahead. In fact, this bad feeling only piled on. Was it another master? Was it that strange red headed servants? Or was it something else? Before he could speak up, another servant had arrived. One he hadn't seen until now. One with a warning.

"An enemy army is approaching. We all must band together if you are to fight the monsters I have seen."

"All servants, form a line." Xerxes ordered to those able. "All masters, retreat to the Einzbern's location." Xerxes looked into the distance, eyes narrowing off into the distance. The church was the safest place he could imagine, but at the moment, that would be impossible. After all, the enemy lay between him and that location. He had only brought a few cases of the Haoma with him, and if things escalated, he may need it all. "Tesla, you hold the line wherever you are. I'm sending Berserker to your side to aid you." He said, directing it to the bird. No doubt it would fly back and carry that message for him. There seemed to be more than enough servants at the moment to hold whatever line was needed here, while the masters retreated to the forest. The hotsprings were too open to make a good stronghold if things went south.

'Berserker! My order is this. Look for Tesla. You are to back him up and follow any orders he gives. Do you understand? Return to the Hotsprings.' Xerxes kept this message short, and focused his attention otherwise.
"Miss Einzbern, the bounded fields are all breaking down, and the leylines are free. We should make it our first move to secure them, and focus that magical energy into our servants. If this is a siege, we shall need to be unbreakable." When possible he would need to make a break for the church. Re-secure his hold there, and focus the weapons there upon this enemy.

Xerxes decided to lead the back of the retreating masters. Not because he wasn't interested in his own life. But if they were attacked, he still had his ace in the hole to cause a distraction on any chasing enemies. "Now, MOVE!"

@Reflection



“Saber.” he called out

“Before we embark onto any new fights, before we decide to fight for the grail or for peace we must tend to the matter of your arm.”
He began to walk out of the meeting, stalwart in his stride. There was no sense of disrespect or disregard for the problems that faced Fuyuki, merely the aura of a man who knew he had to be somewhere else, whose role was not meant to be played there.

“I accept the conditions that are agreed upon, within humane reason of course, by this group. But there is no real place for someone like me in deciding such regulations or conduct. Instead there is a matter I must take care of, please excuse me.”

This land is painted back to what is beautiful, to what is untouched by man. But that does not mean it is peaceful, that does not mean it is kind. The tragedy and blood that were at the genesis of this wildland were not quite washed away by the storm, or so he believed. In a sense it was a taste of what terrorized man before now, while also being the cost to transition into this modern world.

He said before he’d selfishly accept the suffering and deaths of others. But it had to be used as fuel. Consume, consume. Burn that gut-twisting nausea and horror into your mind. Never forget it, never let it stop pushing you.

One of the dismantled guns that littered the ground from the earlier disarmament was crushed under his foot, the metal whining under his strength and weight.



In a field of grass and flowers Tilipojuan waited.

“Roland. I congratulate you on your journey. It was a joy to see, and my heart is warmed by the sight of your blade in your hands once more. Well, your hand. One of them is not yours after all, not yet anyway.”

He turned around.

“There will be more foes, but before you face them you will have to earn your second arm. Animal spirits are my field of expertise but I am a far-cry from the talents of my brother who I had thought I had slain over this mask I wear. The heir of our people, a great shaman and a man of great intelligence and cunning. Yet his cruelty, or perhaps worse, simply a lack of care was even greater. It could be said to be my own foolish mistake, but I traveled west with a trophy that became this mask, and he took it as a personal slight. Outcasts of our people in a sense and yet the center of them as the ones who inherited a path, my path has left our people bereft.”

He shook his head. “But this is no longer the age where people are bound by their blood, or by the greater whole. More and more people are born until an individual life is but a drop of water in a deluge of rain. Yet despite that every life shines greater and brighter, for we each are simply just ourselves. Thousands upon thousands have died and it is not just the community of Fuyuki suffering a loss. No, it is men I have met. I have drunk with a man named Kusamori Fujio as he spoke on his hopes, apprenticing under a clayshaper’s guidance to make works of art he considered beautiful. I have slain a man named Kusamori Fujio as he was driven to maddened fright, the hands that should have only held potential and beautiful things holding a knife as he stabbed his fellow men again and again, the notion of mercy or sanity gone due to his inner demons.

A clenched fist rose out of the grass. “I have always passed by the street noticing a man who walked with his son on his shoulders whose name I only know because of his fellow men passing by who offered their own cheers, crying out to him, “Good afternoon Ushio. How is your wife?”

His palm opened, revealing and releasing a fistful of petals, once white but dyed black and red from the grime that still covered the American. It formed a mournful spiral that danced in the wind before the air seemed to settle as though listening to the man’s words.

“There are many more, but that does not matter anymore. Their lives are tragic, their ends are tragic whether it is brought by their own actions or not. I do not fight to avenge, I do not cling to the past. To begin with these are not my people. Nor did I hold any grudges towards the men of the west for my people.”

Slaughters, disease, slavery. The degradation of castes and the many tragedies born of the conquest of the New Land. They were things that smoldered still in the hearts of those who shared his blood. There were those who also wished for their own land, to be independent and separate from the world that forced itself upon them.

There were many injustices. He was not blind to them, but he was not one who would heed their call.

“To begin with… if one were to fight for those who were fallen, then it is only after there is no longer a need to fight for those still around. I am a fool Roland, but I am a happy fool. Even after these sins, even after that horror I can still smile. Is it disgusting? Perhaps. But I must smile for myself. I weep for others, I will fight to keep those of the present part of it, but I will trample over the past if I must for the future. For mine and others.”

Nagato once said he’d probably make a better teacher than him, or that sorcerer. But now that he thought about it, what did he really teach Hideyoshi other than how to use his body?

He’d have to reevaluate the meaning of being a teacher, and see if he truly could be one. It was quite preposterous but if he is to be reborn as a teacher then let us see if he could teach a legend.

“What gives you the strength to go on? You said you fight for love, but what is the full extent of it? It is not merely for the love of a woman, for you fought many things even before. I love this world, Roland. I love it despite its ugliness, and I love what it could become even if I may never see what lies in the future that will remove the stain and scars of now.

A man who would journey forth. A demon who cruelly accepts the color of black, that which accepts all light, all color unconditionally. No wonder he ended up such a grimy and sorry sight. It mattered not how good and bad. He only looked foolishly towards the future. He was not blind to the past but he would consume it and trample it for the sake of the now.

Perhaps then… another color could be attributed to him. A man who crafted himself into a beast while extolling the virtues of humanity. What a strange thing he was. Despite its contradictions and oddities his disposition could only be called the purest Blue.

“Sit down, close your eyes.”

He began to coax Roland into a trance while bringing himself into one himself. Dance, sound, drink. Yet even as the rituals of self-hypnosis were brought forth, he continued to ask of Roland of what was the core of his love.

What were the feelings that would form the core of himself to become a blade as unbreakable as the one that hosted miracles?

Even if it did not come yet at the time, even if he did not know the true nature of the calamity that would soon visit Fuyuki, no, the world and humanity. His question was perhaps simply a matter of “What sort of love will you oppose the Liberator’s love with?”

What love bound you to the shackles of the world? that made this order of ours so dear?

Roland had followed him all the way out here. He had followed because he had been asked to. He had paused no less than five times, each time continuing to follow without looking back. If he looked back, he risked more than anything to turn from his master and join in the battle. Selfish as it was, he adored battle. But he adored peace as well. In a way, Roland felt contradictions inside him. Maybe it was in his nature merely to adore?

The forests gave way to a field, and the horrors of war were left behind. Here, no blood had been shed. No men and woman had died beneath a shield, and no fire burned away at men’s souls. Instead… It was serene. Calm. The perfect place to discuss the horrible things they had done in their lives. For neither master or servant were pure people. In a way… They were together because they had made the same mistakes in life. Yet different mistakes.

“I fight for love. Yes. That is true. But is a love of all the mistakes people make.” There was silence as if to soak in the meaning of those words. “I loved a woman who did not love me back. That was a mistake. But in accepting that, I learn to love my mistake. That my mistake led to a journey of improvement. I threw my sanity to the moon. That was a mistake. And yet in accepting that, I love myself. I love my sanity with a greater force than I had before.”

He took a step closer, slowly unwinding the cloth that covered his arm. Letting the shroud fall to the ground, and sitting before his master. “You see, I too killed a man. I killed many a men. I once promised four brothers safety, and yet I led them like sheep to a slaughter. I did things I cannot undo. But… I do not make that mistake twice. And that is my love. My love of humans and their ability to grow from their mistakes. No matter the cost! That is the love that I shall face the great lover with! And even if it is a mistake to do so, I shall continue to love it! Because it was a mistake I made!”

Durandal struck the ground between Roland and his master, sinking into the ground. As if to share its miracles with the world.

Roland’s eyes closed shut, and he let out a breath. And as Roland drifted into a peace, he repeated the core of his love. Yet at the corners came an unsettling. As Roland’s mind drifted, as he confronted the core of his love…
He wanted the love of others. He wanted them to love him as much as he shared his love. He wanted Oliviers love. He wanted the love of his uncle. Was this greed? Was this his mistake?

Could he still love even this mistake?

@reflection

The love to accept, the love to forgive, the love that accepted the faults of the now in the hopes of a growth towards the future.

In a sense the core of their love was very similar.

Well, but how would it carry him through against that thing that he dared to try and make part of him?



It stirred. Still remembering the taste of blood, the feeling of its first thoughts as it sluggishly came to awareness before it was thrust into slumber again. It surged, pushing against Roland's mind as it sensed what could be as a feast to it. Adapt, adapt, adapt. The core of its existence was adaption. It was awakened, it became aware of the world, of its existence. It was an arm, it was a beast. It was a beast in the shape of a human arm. It was linked to that man, and yet it was itself.

It feasted upon the flesh offered to it and found it agreeable. To devour hands as a hand, to devour human flesh while mimicking human flesh.

What a strange circumstance.

Yet it would deal with such things. Its psyche was forming in a sense, the spirit slowly awakening as the seal was lifted. Yes. There was much to entice and encourage the growth and wildness of such a boar in this city. But right now it was confronted directly, coaxed into a meeting. Before it could rampage, before it could truly attempt to take over the body it was connected to through brute force, to make the distinction of him into me, it found that a man and a horse was there.

The core nature of the demon boar was evolution and adaptation. To grow towards a purpose and to morph to fulfill its needs. So to be confronted with something new was something it could work towards.

Frustratingly it was not able to so easily overwhelm and simply take the body of the Paladin for its own.

So it would listen. Lulled by the arts of the Shaman it would listen.



The communion with the spirit would in the end rely on Roland himself. Yet with his own experiences and knowledge Tlilpojuan would guide him and open the chance. The proper place of an animal spirit was to stand with man, to be invoked as a source of power, and knowledge. A teacher, a guardian.

Well, he had worked before with creating a nexus, or introducing spirits to his body. But to deal with a spirit with another spirit welded onto it… That was a new step. Still, even if he was not his brother in this one aspect he would be able to match that man.

The location he chose was not one merely for the scenery. Despite the fact that they already held the spirit with them this choice of the land that was most pure and wild was to establish a grounds most suitable for such a communion, a vision quest. A place he treated with his magecraft. All he asked for them was to allow Roland to guide him.

The hypnosis of the American Shaman, the reminder of his purpose and love. A relaxed consciousness that allowed an understanding and connection with something wild and inhuman, a firm core that would without compromise hold the shape known as Roland.

To dance for another, to invite and guide another. Despite the stakes there was no worry. Even as the calamity that threatened all of man was born within the city, the horse danced.

Pied Piper(Caster)

IT'S NOT LIKE I LIKE HUMANITY OR ANYTHING.. YA BAKAS

Personally speaking from his tragic past, Caster definitely loathes humanity..

He despises them down to his very core, grown callous and extremely cautious about their selfish nature, Sworn an oath to never side with the humans (with the exception of his master, Enzo of course) ever since the day he was betrayed by the king of Hemilin and oust by its people in his infamous fable...

and yet somehow, despite the shit he endured, Piper doesn't reject his humanity...

For him, humanity is a hit or a miss...

Somehow in this very moment, Piper felt a speck of sympathy and has this sudden urge to help the ones he detests from being completely extinct.

This side of the Piper was not the vengeful Ratcatcher that infects a deadly plague upon entire town, nor the child nabbing one out of spite and pettiness, but on the contrary, This Piper was a symbol of heroism that brought peace to the little town of Hemilin.

Somewhere deep in his heart, this Heroic trait still resides within him, a part of him that he can never let go...

oh, how he hated it..

Was this act of good deed an excuse to atone for his heinous crime following to his rebellion? perhaps, can't say, The legend and the mannerism of the Ratcatcher is still an enigma up to this very day..

With most of the mana has been depleted around his area and his safe space shattered in an instant, The otherworldly "False Paradise" that the Ratcatcher created was gone as a new landscape takes over and erase over in his current scenery.

Don't you just hate it when you're sitting in your recliner chair, all comfy, minding your own business and then all of the sudden the world you build around you shattered in a matter of seconds? A rank (A) noble phantasm breaks forth as a new dominion takes place in this city. To his knowledge and current Intel, there's no man nor servant could ever do that in this holy grail war. this is definitely alarming.

"Such power, if this wasn't a hostile threat to wipe down humanity, I would commend this malevolent magecraft of the Gods.." Piper was in awe and disbelief, as a follower of great magic, true magic is the one thing Piper can't comprehend and warp his head into. And yet, Despite all of his admiration for the lost arts, a concerned look looms over his face. 'this is wrong'

He sighed once more and attends to this pressing matter, an understatement of what terrifying gut feeling he is having right now, shaken by the sudden event and being uneased by it.

with his wide network of intel place around the city of fuyuki, Piper looks through his familiar's eyes and skims quickly at his projection screens, trying to pinpoint the source of this ever-shifting control of the leylines.

Upon closer inspection, it seems some servants have mobilized and gathers around the cavern like the facade of the pub, some flee and some are preparing for the siege of grand proportions.

"If my memories serve me correctly, that's the place is where that burly yakuza guy and that stumpy archer duo lives, hmm..it seem something has gone terribly wrong.. no turned for the worst that it would come to this!" Piper gasp and leans over, learning the existence of the beast residing within the cave-like structure that once used to be the pub.

A sense of dread creeps into the Rat king's head as he continues to watches over the situation down at the pub. Piper was speechless, he knew he has to take part in this in order to take back humanity's roots.

With that, Piper disperses his finest rats to spread the plague, I mean his network once more. reaching and coordinating the others who wishes to fight along the side of humanity.

It's time to use the secret underground rat tunnels beneath the academy to deliver his aid and coordinates with the others participants, this tunnel connects to various places that you least expect it, the news these rat's carried spread faster like the plague itself, inviting everyone to coordinate with each other

Piper turns his attention to the actions of every individual in this war on his huge projection screen once again. Some return to their stronghold while others began to gather to boost their strength and numbers, as you can tell they're going all out with this, and why wouldn't they? Humanity is on the brink of destruction, might as well use every tactics in the book to ensure their success.

"hmm..I see our allies at the sea notices the threat and mobilizing as well, as expected.." Piper scratches his chin and smirks, eyeing Strategist and every single activity in Fuyuki that the servant makes.

For now, Caster keeps a watchful eye in every way that he can, monitoring every movement the other's make, especially the activities going on outside the cave.

Caster preps his base and artillery as well for the fight of this life.

The stakes could never be higher, and the human order will not go quietly into the night, Today is the day that they make their stand as one against the brink of mankind's annihilation.

Servant Berserker, Gilles de Rais
Edge of Foreigner's Lowlands.

---

Another body was put in front of him. Dead, but it did not matter. In his eyes, all can join his army. This felt unworthy, cheap, to disturb the dead and call upon them to fight, but Gilles did not doubt they too would want to fight against this threat, that they too would die again to defend their home. How many people have perished here before? The mere 14 men he could summon now brought him the dead from the previous events of the war, swelling their numbers as more were brought in, which in turn, lead to more soldiers bringing more of the dead in. Even just around here the number of dead people were staggering; the piles of bodies and the number of soldiers that joined his ranks were rising exponentially.

With each pile of bodies, he knelt down and offered them a prayer, the droning, fluttering and headache inducing chant reverberating through his head ignored wholesale as the bodies burst, a soldier emerging from each burst shell. He did not see, or could not see each soldier's wrongness, some morphing for a brief moment into unfathomable shapes before returning to normal. Their shape was right but they did not feel right.

Ia! Cthulu fthagn.

Slowly the force under his banner was starting to look more and more like an army; there was already a small group of horsemen as well as larger heavier equipment like a cannon. But it was not enough, he did not feel he had enough. The horsemen rode off to bring him more soldiers, he did not have enough to save the town. He did not have enough to save the town. He did not have enough to save his face. He did not have enough to face the Saint. He did not have enough to say he had done everything he could. He did not have enough to save them. He did not have enough to save the Saint.

He did not have gof'nn'bthn klw'nafh uh'e.

Gilles held his head, feeling as if a bad dream was coming on, as well as a headache.

Master, this is a perilous situation. I have already started gathering an army here, to move now would be to surrender territory. I do not know how many there are, but I can feel many of them already converging upon this place. I will hold them off with the best of my abilities, and with what meager resources I have at my disposal. I believe you are safe with the other Masters and Servants, thus I will not return to your side.

He paused the communications with his master for a moment.

Unless you have a better plan laid out of course.

Communications was important in a war, Gilles was not one that needed to be told that, thus being told to simply go back and defend did not convince him in the slightest, not when he has a course of action that he feels would be more advantageous. Already his numbers was swelling to near a hundred and still growing alarmingly fast.

---

Something was wrong. Something was very wrong. It's as if the consequences of the war, the countless misdeeds caused by all those who have participated in this massacre, all accumulated to this one specific event. Of course, with how careless everyone has been during this war, it only made sense that something beyond everyone's control would stir from its slumber. Everyone in Fuyuki had most likely felt it. FUJIMURA was no exception.

Rushing over to the hot springs at speeds far beyond that of a normal man, FUJIMURA was frantic in reaching the others before it was too late. Of course, if they have felt it too, they would have had a similar reaction that FUJIMURA himself had... which was exactly what he was worried about. Because whatever his Servant, whatever Chiron had told him, it would mean that perhaps their most obvious reaction would lead to everyone's destruction... Bursting through the doors and into the room where all the participants of the Holy Grail War had gathered for the meeting, FUJIMURA brought his hands up in an attempt to get everyone's attention.

"Stop! Halt! Whatever you all do, don't blow up the pub!" Bending over and gasping for breath as he placed his hands on his knees, FUJIMURA took his time getting back his bearing as he tried to make an effort to explain what's going on.

"Whatever's in there... whatever the hell that woke up, that broke every damn thing in this city... the only thing that's stoppin' it is that cave. Archer... he's tryin' his best to hold it back, but he's havin' a hard time doin' just that. Now, I don't know who most of ya are, and to tha ones I've 'eard about, I only have a few angry words to exchange, but... that thing out there, in that cave... that's beyond whatever damn war we're fightin'. If that thing is set lose, then... it's over. This war, this city, everything...

"So I must ask, to all of ya... I need yer help. Archer needs yer help. Fuyuki needs yer help. Whatever's in that cave, the only thing we could do now is help Archer seal it... 'cause if, and when, it comes out, I... I don't know. Even if we, by some miracle, manage to stop it after it emerges, Fuyuki will still be... "

FUJIMURA... no, Gin began to stand tall. The idea of losing his entire city to this beast made his knees weak and his arms heavy. Imagining such an event to happen filled Gin with so much dread that he felt like he'd crumble underneath all that weight. All that pressure, placed on him, to protect his own home. Despite this all, however, he still continued to stand tall. In the face of adversity, of overwhelming odds, Gin does not desire to falter, no matter how seemingly hopeless the situation seems to be or how tilted the odds are. Truly, Gin tried his best to represent the greatest example of humankind; to overcome all obstacles.

And besides, looking wimpy about it all will probably be uncool, anyways.

"I, Gin Yoshiyaki, protector of Fuyuki, ask to those who call themselves heroes, those shining beacons of humanity, as well as to those who had called upon such great existences... to fight alongside me and stop this threat from emerging from that cave! This isn't something that we can't be scattered or alone for! We must stand together, as humankind against this thing that seeks to overwrite us all! Whatever this city had to offer you all, whether it was the promise of a wish or just a playground for your whims... all of that will be lost if this thing gets out of its cave... and it won't stop there. We are humanity's last stand!

"So to everyone who wishes to help me save this city and stand by my side, put your glasses on and let's get to it!"

Initially, she had been enjoying herself. Laughing at that Cersei Kabbalah or whatever his name was had been a great time.

...but then, she felt it.

Not just her alone, but all of them. Each and every one of her masks shuddered as something appeared, and Strategist's words and actions a moment later only confirmed that much.

"Another giant war-ending threat, really? What a hassleeeee."

The words were whined out with a faux-exasperated tone, like someone who had been roped into a chore that they secretly enjoyed. Of course, beneath that, there was something else. With the previous issues, with the fire and the fantasy tree, they had been met with some amusement and an eye for opportunity.

This, though?

Whatever this feeling in her gut was, it terrified her. Whatever had just formed in the city was something that outstripped every prior crisis by several orders of magnitude.

"Well, you know, I was going to take some time to run the usual quality checks, but I guess we'll have to do without. This feels like something we'll have to go all out for, huh? Strategist, coordinate with everyone the best you can. I'm leaving the broader planning up to you, that's your specialty. I'll coordinate the logistics for my crew."

Each of her masks floated beside her as she moved to stand beside her Servant, looking out towards Fuyuki and shrugging helplessly.

"Shaytanea, Raphiel, Ys. Get ready."

Her expression growing cold, three masks shifted forwards from the pack.

The mask of the devil, born from cursed fire.

The mask of the angel, born from a world tree.

The mask of the planet, born from a legend.

"Time to show the Toucans what a real fucking mask is."

@phonic [DDD folks]

He eyed the offered spear with equal parts awe, caution and indignation, and looked into the terminal’s eyes for an instant.

To begin with, his first reaction had been to tackle the Oni after her brazen action of presenting herself in front of him, to declare her withdrawal no less — only the presence of the kid stopped him from actually carrying that out that very instant, perhaps a testament to Achilles’s newfound restraint and resolve after prior events, but all the same, his course had already been decided.

It was his duty to avenge his cousin. There was no more and no less to it — and he would freely admit he wanted to smear the contents of her skull on the ground. But then her master had stepped in before he had gotten a word edgewise, and made it clear that it would be futile.

The enemy before him was not one he could fall in a single blow, and her Master — likely already far away if their plans were any indication — would just have to use one of the Command Mantra in order to rescue her if he was so inclined. In turn, he would have ruined this meeting with pure thoughtlessness.

The legend of Achilles was one of emotion before reason, but had he not promised himself mere hours ago that he would surpass that same legend?

Right now, he still clutched that little piece of wood that reminded him that he could always be better.

—Ah, this was just the worst. When had he let that girl become someone whose opinion actually mattered to him anyway?

And of course, then that feeling had come about.

A feeling of wrongness. A wrongness so terrible that even someone like Achilles had been stunned. Something that far outstripped the hatred that dwelled in his heart for the one that had slayed his cousin, something that swept away all other feelings to allow him to wallow on it.

As soon as it came, it was gone, and Achilles felt — that he could breathe again. In his silence, the words of that kid that barged into the meeting room were almost deafening.

“. . .Teacher?”

It was just a whisper.

Achilles had no idea whether to cry bitter tears or laugh himself to insanity.

Chiron was doubtlessly the finest teacher. A figure that, in his mind, had always been a pillar that he could rely on, often thinking back to his words, his teachings, and trying to act with his wisdom, to lesser or greater success. His idiosyncrasies and the form he had taken in this war could not change the fact that Achilles held him as someone dear to his heart.

Therefore, to hear that he was in the middle of battling whatever it was that had caused that feeling—

He hadn’t even had the chance to speak with him properly, or apologize for losing the spear. He had not even been able to tell him of Ajax’s death.

Regret swarmed, but at the same time. . .

At the same time, he found clarity of thought like never before.

The hero Achilles was content to be loved or hated by the masses. Adoration, infamy, in the end they were the same thing. Whether the tale of a gallant hero that saved others or the tale of a butcher that killed them in droves, it did not matter so long as his name was whispered throughout the world.

But, to those that were dear to his heart, he—

“Guess there’s no other choice, then.”

Achilles had never cared for humanity as a whole. His pursuits could only be described as “completely selfish” in nature.

“Sorry Master, I don’t know if I can deliver in my promise of getting you the Grail, but — there’s something I can definitely do.”

Nonetheless, he approached the spears laid out before him and picked them up, one in each hand, beginning to walk toward the exit of the room.

That is right, Achilles had never done anything for humanity. But what was at stake right now. . .

The man that had taught him, laughed with him, cried with him, raised him. Someone he respected and loved as a father.

Right now, he wanted to help him.

And a little girl that acted too mature for her years at times and her age at others, and had given him a piece of wood with scribbles of encouragement. Someone that had a life ahead and had become someone he would entrust his back to, someone whose expectations he would fulfill.

Right now, in front of this threat, whatever it was — he wanted to save her.

It was all so simple, so comically easy to grasp. The decision, his answer to this situation, it went without saying.

Neither of those desires could be wrong.

That is why his course of action had been decided. That is why he had taken up his armaments.

That is why the fastest hero would endeavor to run forward even faster.

That is why he would pour everything he was into every swing and thrust.

That is why he would display his full radiance as a Heroic Spirit.

He had lost his spear, and he was not perfect, but that just meant he would have to triple his efforts and be more than perfect.

Easy.

“I’m no good at dramatic speeches like this guy over here, so I’ll just tell you all to watch carefully — I’ll carve out the real meaning of a warrior in the enemy’s body, so if you’re looking for lessons, here’s one you won’t soon forget.” He said. “I’ll go crush the enemy head-on. You’re free to follow or protect the masters, whatever you think suits you best. If you need me, I’ll be here in an instant.”

It might have been an empty boast coming from someone else, but it came out of him in an upbeat, cheerful tone as he approached the exit, showing only his back to those that had gathered here.

The hero of Greece that was only surpassed by one other, even among Heroic Spirits, his proof of legend was first rate. Even among heroes, his brilliance was that of a shooting star.

“I’ll probably end up hogging all the fun, but if you think you can, prove me wrong.”

The words were perhaps abusive, perhaps an odd attempt at encouragement. He had never been good at that, either, but the challenge in his voice was clear. Even at a time like this, competition burned within him.

Keep up. If you can, that is.

The man that would proudly lay claim to the title of “the strongest of this war” marched forward, selfishly pursuing a selfless goal. As he did, something materialized on his face.

Well, he had talked the talk.

It was a strange method of communication, but Tesla was a strange man. All over the city Bounded Fields were broken, concealment was shredded, thus Tesla could see all.

Many Masters were alone, with no Servant in sight. Each one found themselves visited by a talking pigeon, informing them of the current situation.

All Masters were to gather at the Einzbern camp, Chiron had sealed away a great evil and needed everyone's help. If this monster breaks out of the seal, the world would likely end.

Each Master would then be informed of their individual circumstances, most only having two of the Lyaeus chasing after them. Select exceptions like Piper and Sophia Einzbern had four. Percival and Roland had five and six heading for them respectively, likely perceived as the most dangerous threats by the Beast.

Whether any would heed his warning was unknown, but there was nothing more he could do. Tesla had enough on his own plate as is.

---

Each shot had to be precise, no energy could be wasted in his battle. Disengage for a fighting retreat, Torture Techniques and Human Anatomy Understanding to cause maximum pain and damage with each shot, Eye of the Mind in order to accurately track the enemies dodges and attacks, Marksmanship to ensure the target was hit. He slowly wore down the Lyaeus chasing him with every shot, focusing on the one closest to him as he retreated to the DDD Hotsprings. Each step was a landmine of electricity, he zigzagged erratically as he made his way back to the Hot Springs in an effort to throw off any incoming attacks. His armor was activated under his clothes, focused entirely on boosting his Agility alone as he ran across the plains.

In truth, Tesla hated using Natural Genius. It always felt like cheating, he had never truly mastered each of these ridiculous skills to this degree in life. It was an insult to those who spent their whole lives mastering each of these skills, where one would dedicate themselves to the art of Marksmanship, Tesla merely picked it up like reading a book. However there was no time for regrets here, no time for hesitation, if he didn't utilize every tool in his arsenal to it's fullest he would die. Everyone would die, they were all counting on him. What kind of Star would he be if he failed those who looked up to him and prayed?

So whether he knew it or not, he accepted Gin's offer of assistance. Those glasses that served as a symbol of "cool", the pieces of crystallized coolness had simply appeared on Tesla's face. Tesla understood what he had to do immediately of course. What he had done throughout his entire life. Taking the most dramatic action possible, at the most dramatic time possible.



Incite the Beasts who sought to tear him limb from limb while laughing like an absolute maniac.