It was a field, much like the one they stood upon. The land may have been foreign to him, but in a way it may have been home to one of them. Roland stood there, no longer sitting as the world had changed. It seemed the same, but it was different. But…

Roland no longer had an arm. Was it symbolic? He was back to one arm, and his armor was gone. Instead, he stood there with only himself, and nothing else. His legend alone. His body alone. No Durandal. No gifts. No miracles. This is the true Roland. Stripped of it all.

And Roland’s breath was heavy. Or was he even breathing? He wanted somebody to explain all this to him. Maugris could. That boy raised by a fairy. He knew everything about this spiritual stuff. But Roland had to do everything by himself. No…

He didn’t! He had somebody with him, helping guide him. Helping him find the right route through this. He wasn’t alone!

Before him, there was his obstacle. A boar. A darkness. The only part of this that separates this from the waking world. It was… A behemoth. Almost twice his size, and a blackened creature. Blue and red danced along its body, like exposed veins. Pumping blood through a corrupt body.

“Hello.” Roland said, looking at the creature that had become his arm. “You’re a lot bigger than I expected.”

It looked over the knight. This was the one who it was being told to accept, to stand alongside. “What are you? Human.” It knew of men, it knew of hunters instinctively. But this man held a certain wildness, or lack himself. This spirit saw the contrast between the two men it had seen before. That of the thief, and that of the paladin. Even in its ignorance it knew enough to know that there was something to this man. It was a most strange thing indeed. It found itself curious.

“I once held this shape, before I was turned into… that. But it matters not. Your shape will be acceptable. I will make due with it.”

With that the pressure that once overwhelmed him earlier when it first woke up bore down upon Roland once more. The bloodlust of the demon boar, its instincts filled him as it tried to make him into us. A monstrous human. The fury of the boar filled him, something that would overwhelm a human and irrevocably transform them from the mentality of a man to the mentality of a calamity.

What was the mind and will of a single human’s personality to the nature of such a beast?

Yet Roland did not bend. He could not bend. He had set himself upon a single minded task. And as the pressure grew, so too did the song pounding in his ears. The song that echoed and pounded. Against the odds, he stood in defiance. “No. My shape will not do.”

He was a hunter. He was a man who had slain beasts great and small. All for the simple fact that he could. In a way, that matched the beast that stood before him. A beast that felt that because it could, it could take what he wanted. But in that regard, there was no hero more perfect for facing the creature with a heart so brave, and a mind so singularly focused.

“I refuse to give you my body. Because this body is missing a piece.” A hand reached to his shoulder, where the arm had been removed. There was nothing but a scar there, and it all seemed to fade away at that point. “Instead, I propose something else. Help be complete this body! This is the form of a hunter who slew a dragon! This is the form of a hunter who has challenged giants! But if this is the body that slay… It is also a body that heals!” Roland took a step closer, his one hand raising.

“I have chased after love! I have fallen in love! I have been denied love! And in the end I was denied my life. Like you. But I have healed. I have come back from the brink. Just like you have come back. As such… I refuse to lose this body to you. Because then we’ll just repeat a vicious cycle of mistakes. The only way forward.”

“Is for man and beast to finally see a point, where we are the same body!”

When you rule something through fear or domination, it will always seek to destroy you. Roland did not need fear. That was never how he led. Instead. Olivier was his wisdom, and he was her strength. Astolfo was his sanity, and he was Astolfo’s courage. Now. He would and the boar, would make such a pact.

This was not domination or mastery. It was something greater. It was the song… OF A PALADIN!

To accept simply being an arm? What ridiculousness. If the man would refuse to give his body then it would simply rampage and break down the personality that offered such resistance.

Foolish man if you did not wish to become a beast then why did you accept such a limb? To accept it, to invite it into oneself, to make it part of one’s body was to accept that end. Were all humans this foolish? To demand they escaped the consequences of their actions? How silly could one be?

The bestial fury of the boar poured over Roland. No matter how large his vessel, a man could not contain a beast. The limits broken by a hero climbed to a new peak of potential, but it could never reach the levels of a monster. A monstrous human was something different from man, different from a beast. But that also meant that it was neither. To become something else, to take to this new form and change to suit it was in the nature of the Boar. The moment it wins was then the moment that Roland would become the Demon Boar Roland.

The rage of the boar surged, now honed with a target. It did not simply lash out due to its nature. It now actively tried to bury the man known as Roland, bringing active ire towards the Saber as his demands rankled the boar who desired his own freedom.

To put it simply, coexistence was rejected.



So it had come to this. His servant was a great knight who was known for his wrestling of beasts. But this beast was now part of him. To simply face one with one’s own body was simple as a hero, but to face something as an exposed spirit. Not only were the stakes higher than simple death, but it was also a conflict that was different than simple martial prowess.

A hero was one that stood against such calamities, but he wouldn’t be much of a guide if he simply watched. Tlilpojuan felt and noticed the danger that descended upon the world. Something that made even this demon boar seem so insignificant. If there was time, if there was the leisure to simply have Roland battle the boar.

No, to begin with this spirit should not be taken lightly at all. The ender of heroes, the ever-evolving plague upon man and the world. A punishment of the gods, the death that roams forests. There were many stories of boars in all cultures that made them destruction in the form of an animal. To bind it to a protector, to imbue Roland with it while keeping Roland who he was without contamination.

Such a thing could be called a miracle.

He took off the mask. Even in the voyage to commune with spirits he was wearing it, garbed in the guise of a horse. But now he was but a man. In the lore of his people man did not hold their talents or strengths by their lonesome. Guided and protected by their guardian spirits, it was the bestial spirits that stood by one that brought one to their full potential. The Demon Boar was a unruly guardian spirit, so he would stand by Roland as one to show him just how it was done.

A risk, a possible burning out of his one great treasure, and his one great sin. It could be called foolish, a needless risk. But as the winds caressed his skin he could hear fate itself whisper that this was right.

For the first time in years he bared his face to the world.

“Go, Roland.” he cried out as he unleashed the spirits of his mask. The stampede of horses released rushed the boar, following the Paladin as the battle for dominance truly began.

This was not a matter of resisting the influence. This was a matter of beating the Demon Boar and winning. A ridiculous notion. The most fitting option for those two fools.

“I am Roland! Born in poverty with nothing to my name!” Roland’s eyes narrowed at this challenge. “I was born with this body as my own. And no power on earth has ever taken it from me! I have been, from the day I was born, Master of my destiny! And I will surrender my freedom for nothing! If there is a consequence, then I will damn it anyway! That was my way as a child! That is my way now!”

As the boar bore down upon him, Roland leapt back. The earth shaking and flowers scattering in the carnage brought forth. But Roland, Roland did not stop. Instead, he took a great sense of energy in this battle.

“You and I… I will take your soul apart, and make it my own!”

As horses burst into the fields, Roland reached out. His hand gripping a mane, and pulling himself onto the back of the wild stallions that stampeded like a raging rapid. Circling the boar as it struck back and forth, Roland saw the black ground where the flowers were torn up. “I am silly! I am foolish! I am a idiot who tosses his sanity aside! I would never change that!” Roland’s feet dug into the sides of the stallion, and he reached out. Grabbing for the tusk of the boar as the stallion rushed past it. Gripping, and dragging the beast around, the force yanking it’s head into the dirt.

“And because I am a fool! Because I am a man who does make mistakes. That means I do not have an upper limit! For I… AM ROLAND! That is all I know! And I shall define Roland with each challenge I face! Much like you define yourself! And my definition… MY DEFINITION OF ROLAND IS ONE WHO DEFEATS YOU! Can your definition match my own?”

Lyaeus (2)

In Pursuit of Nikola Tesla, En Route to DDD Hotsprings

@Floodtalon

They darted after him at speeds not one whit inferior to a Servant's. And yet, they made no effort to attack him initially, despite certainly having the chance to do so. For one to overtake him and bring him into a pincer attack, to assault him from behind, any number of things could have been done but were not. Even the Incitement Tesla had attempted failed, not seeming to elicit any sort of effect from them in the slightest. Did they simply lack the offensive ability to fight?

...no, that could not have been it.

"Nikola Tesla, one who worked for the benefit of humanity. A prodigy without equal who mundanized the power of gods, who dreams of creating a great system of electricity that spans the world."

One of them spoke. For those who were familiar with it, they might find that voice similar to that of a bartender they had once known.

The words were certainly complimentary, but there was not a hint of flattery within them. Rather, it was nothing more than a genuine remark. This was the nature of a being who had such absolute love for mankind.

"Why do you not join me? I do not wish to take the lives of you and your allies, and even fighting you with these humans' bodies means that they might die before I return them to normal at the end of this."

"You too must realize it. This world is something that restrains humans. The laws of reality that have been created in this world prevent human imagination from reaching fruition, and cause humans to pointlessly suffer in tragedy and death. Won't you stand beside me?"

There was not a hint of deception in its words. In the first place, there could not be. This was its earnest desire. It did not want to hurt humans, even if it was in the name of a greater good. It did not want these humans it had incarnated within, who would be returned to normal and returned to their loved ones after its will left them, to die in the name of this struggle. It would like nothing more than to work alongside those heroes and humans of this war, to create a more beautiful world.

As the lightning came, they reacted. There were no incantations, nor even the flow of prana that one would expect from magecraft. Instead, it was simply 'something that happened'. Shields formed in the air before them, warding off the lightning as it came. The Lyaeus sped along after him, not losing an inch of ground, but the damage on those shields that guarded them began to accumulate.

Just as it seemed they might break, through, they were renewed, and the further Lyaeus disappeared from sight, reappearing in front of Tesla himself. If that did not stop his advance, it would at least require quite an abrupt reorientation of his movements, but even then neither of them made any effort to attack, despite the fact that one Lyaeus now faced him from either side.

"...regrettably, I cannot be a pacifist here. I ask for your answer. A simple answer, to whether or not you will join me. I truly do not wish to battle with one of humanity's stars, but I will have no choice if you are set on opposing the world I seek."

@Crusader Lord @Paradox Witch

---

What the Hell was that?

That sinking feeling. That feeling of flight. Hope. Despair. Confirmation and contradiction. Not human.

Beast.

Ilya felt it, the mere presence was an affront against the World. His hand instinctively went to the hilt of his sword and his eyebrows narrowed. Another irregularity for the growing list. Before he had time to speak, to mold his thoughts into coherence and hammer them into speech, his Master spoke. Gave the order to find that thing and, with all the powers available to him and all the blessings that made up his body, see it fall before him. Ilya's face was split by a wide grin. He drew his sword and it leapt from the sheath, tip pointing in the direction of his target. His lips parted.

"We ride! Come, Karushka!"

In an explosion of wind and flexing space, the most noble steed in all of Russia appeared by her Rider's side. Beautiful, mighty, powerful, the flying horse of Murom stood in her full glory. Ilya looked back at his Master. "Order received!" With that he climbed onto the back of his horse with trained ease and familiarity, settling onto the saddle with a single, fluid motion. With something akin to a mental command, Karushka reared back, standing on her hind legs and letting out a brave whinny. In the next instant, she leaped, ripping upward into the sky. Ilya's heart swelled. They duo tore through the clouds, through the air, zooming with purpose and conviction to their target location. There was no need to fear.

Ilya Muromets is here.

They slammed down to the ground, causing rumbling and hoof-shaped holes in the ground before the cave that the Heroes had gathered before. Ilya did not stop to introduce himself. Did not pause to look at them, gauge their strength, or look for identifying features to their legends. He did not stop to talk to the man who made his way into that cave. He simply pointed that sword forward and gave the order. Not verbally, but damn near telepathically. A subtle shift of his weight was all it took and Karushka went sprinting headlong into the cavern where the end of humanity awaited. On the back of a proud steed, wielding a magic blade, and wearing a grin of hope, determination and bravery, Rider went to appear before the Beast.

Because that's what heroes do.

Pied Piper(Caster)

The Ratcatcher's playground.

The grudge of the cripple,

The grudge of the blind,

The grudge of the deaf,

These were the poor souls of the lost children who were the last to pick up the allure of the rat catcher, yet forever cursed and shackled to serve the Rat king for all eternity.

They are special in a way that Piper preserved them in an occasion such as this. Each grudge has a special trait to compensate for their disabilities.

Who would have thought that these monstrous beings would be fighting alongside humanity rather than the way they designed to spread sickness and the plague amongst mankind. The level of Irony can't even describe their existence right now.

And yet here they are, summoned as Piper's guardians. These 3 children are the main core to Piper's monstrous creation yet to unleash in humanity's last stand. Three unique grudges stuff inside his familiar rats becoming the embodiment of the great plague itself. The harbingers of pestilence as Piper would describe them.

With the help of Ludwig's steroid juice and the rat kings sick ingenuity, these three kaiju like rats manifest out of thin air, The academy was overshadowed by these three rat figures takes shape.

The enemy has been spotted approaching his base, should Piper fight or flee?

If Caster flees now, he'll lose the advantage of the higher ground and god knows what unspeakable horrors this miniature beast would do if he let them seize this station.

Time to play a game of chance.

Come forth and take refuge, my children...
God has abandoned you..
with my music, I shall guide you to salvation..
into the world that no one knows...

"False Paradise"

A noxious fog instantly creeps in area with every step the hostile Lyaeus makes. The fog gets denser.

"I dunno if I should be scared or downright offended, sending only four to challenge me? I know this isn't Troy or that Mystical forest of that caliber, But this is the place where all hope dies, and the 130 grudges reside, screaming vengeance in one voice, let me.. no us show you why you should never mess with the Piper!" Piper proclaimed standing on top of the school building, with three kaiju size rats, surrounding him on each side as his line of defense.

A brazen bravado from Piper despite not knowing the enemy.

Right now, The mystical Bard is playing a dangerous game of chess with his pieces in place..

Will the king of this castle triumph and get rid of these pawns? or will these hostile Lyaeus victimized and overthrow the King of Rats?

We shall see..



Not knowing the enemy's skill, Piper has to rely on guerrilla tactics.

His barrier type noble phantasm was set for the kill below the school grounds, A magical thick fog engulfs around the field before they even breach the main building.

The rabid eyes of Piper's hivemind rats glow with lust on each corner of the foggy terrain, scurrying all lightfooted and mobilize under the cover of their master's hazy nest, making a pincer move on their unexpected prey.

His plan: break their formation before they even reach the gates and pick them off one by one like in a horror pic.

Isolation, Disarray and Confusion. And if lucky, capture one them for interrogation, that is if Piper made it that far and you know not die.

This place is much bigger inside than it looks, Piper's lair is built like an endless maze filled with the fumes of death and decay of the black plague looms everywhere, Debuffing them if it meets a certain condition. A single breath you intake in here could be your last. Do these guy even breath?

In any case, The hymn of a flute echoes from out of nowhere, the Charisma of the RatKing falls on every ear on each rat, boosting their morale to take on foes bigger than them, this was their stand...

And well if a foreign being hears his allure, A mental interference will occur, they'll go loco and abandoned their grasp to sanity.

As soon as the Piper starts playing, the terrain responded and takes shape, dividing most of them in different location of his maze-like noble phantasm, given that It's impossible to see with all of these fumes.

"Sick em'" a command was heard.

A tentacle like rat-tail sprouts beneath their feets and instantly binds one of them, pinning it to the ground by force.. one of which is drag into the shadows where his horde of steroid out rats should feast on its mana.

All of the sudden, The sound of multiple mortars cannons booms thunderously into the sky, targeting the pinned down enemies, adding confusion to the already poisonous environment beneath the academy. The grudges release from Piper's cannons run wild on one of them, circling around one of the lyaeus in a vacuum of spirits, enfeebling their capabilities and infect them with sickening alignments that could even spell death.

Piper stands tall and looks down as he snipes them from the top of the building, signaling a halt gesture as soon as the smoke clears, not committing all of his resources to an enemy he doesn't know, as if he's testing the waters on what kind of these things are. Well, if manages to kill one of them in his barrage of grudges, He will have some info on what is or not effective against these beast.

@Paradox Witch@Seirei No Hai

The boar’s rampaged tore at Roland’s hold at his mind. The battle raged between the spirits and the servant without any sign of the boar abating, while the horses found themselves exhausted unable to give any more after shielding a Roland who was put into dire straits with the boar overwhelming him.

Ah, at this rate then it would not even be a matter of the boar taking over. Roland would surely perish, his mind and saint graph breaking down.

Even if his song sang true, empowering him in response to his plight it was too risky to continue on at this rate. He needed support, enough support to ensure his victory. They could use a command seal, a miracle. Yet they would also be required for the battle beyond the boar. To lose it all by withholding too much, to find themselves lacking in tools when the true battle begins…

He’d trust in Roland, and ask in turn that Roland trusted in him. A lacking master in some regards. It was no secret that Roland was held back to a degree due to the amount of energy he could provide, or rather the amount that he couldn’t.

A master who was more martial artist than magus was not one that could support his servant very well. But in the teachings of his land’s shamanism the symptoms of the body were a reflection of one’s soul and spirit. To fix the spirit, and to fix the body. The amount of damage that Roland had taken was too much for him to quickly tend to, but he could at least bring him out of his dire straits.

The mask fell from his hands as he devoted his attention to his Saber.

“Roland, you’ll have to trust me and accept me.” The words that filled his head through their link were soft, a simple plight as the shaman reached out for his servant. The rotation of his circuits gave off a soothing and relaxing thrum, even as they spun to a high speed. It was not a matter of simply injecting magical energy into Roland, but rather observing and healing his spirit. Welcomed in such a way. Being allowed to stabilizing, understand and work upon his mind, it was a necessity then to entrust the shaman in a way that left one bare to him. To focus on the boar while his master held him together. It was no grand blessing at play. But the saber would find himself revitalized and healed nonetheless, his master working to support him directly in such a manner even as their clash continued.

As long as Roland was still standing then there was the possibility of victory. The proud Song of a Paladin that continued to bring him growth as he struggled against his foe. He was not a hero that necessarily won with a single masterful stroke, but he was a hero who would not fall, who could slowly eck out a victory against even the greatest of foes.

So stand up again brave paladin, conquer that foe.

As they arrived, the world around them had distorted. It was recognizable, the barrier that had painted itself over space was a component of the larger system that had been destroyed not long ago. For it to be this quickly recreated, it had to be a Noble Phantasm of some sort.

Troublesome, certainly, but not insurmountable.

...Their forward advance was halted, though, as they realized precisely what it was that they stood within.

The spirits of children, shackled to one's whim. Bound to service even after death.

Robbed of their lives. Robbed of their very self.

"Unforgivable."

The flute of the Caster did not seem to faze them, their minds unaffected as they advanced, but the existence of that damnable territory certainly did. It was a feeling that was new to the Beast, and yet one that it had already become accustomed to: hatred.

For one who dares to shackle others into their thrall, to bind them even after death, to stand as if he is a king over a monument of tragedy, it cannot be forgiven. There would be no heartfelt appeal.

As the tail of a rat came to bind one of them, they acted. However, they did not act to stop their member from being dragged off.

This is because, no matter how tightly that rat tail wound around the Lyaeus's foot, no matter how hard it pulled, the being did not budge in the slightest. There was not even the strain that would indicate that it was struggling to remain in place, even slightly. Rather than resisting the bind of that tail...

...it was more as though the restriction of the tail was not permitted to impose on its reality.

As for their own action, then-

Their will stretched outwards. Their eyes cut through the world. See the desires and hopes of the living and the dead. See the nature inherent to that order they are born to oppose. See the red strings that connect all things. See the laws that dare to shackle mankind.

-And, shatter them.

It took no longer than a single-action. Without warning, the connection that the Pied Piper possessed to each of the rats scurrying around the confines of the academy was severed.

This was not something for him to be concerned about. After all, given his abilities and proximity, he could almost certainly reestablish those contracts in no more than a single-action after realizing they had been cut. It was a mild annoyance, but the time needed to sever on the part of the Lyaeus and the time needed to reform on the part of the Piper would likely come out to equal, so it had no chance of turning the tide of a battle.

That would have only been the case, though, if all that had been cut was the Piper's connection to the rats. Beyond that, something else was broken.

Ordinarily, interfering with a great Noble Phantasm at the micro level should have been impossible. And yet, that was exactly what had occurred. For, that law of the Pied Piper's Noble Phantasm, the rule of its reality that shackled those spirits and grudges into its domain, had been broken. Everything that connected them to this damned space was shattered, and so, those trapped children dissipated away. Even a familiar master of the Pied Piper's caliber could not recapture them before that had occurred.

"...I am sorry, but don't worry. You'll all be brought back to life, after this is done."

One of them murmured out those words before the grudge cannons, robbed of their ammunition but at least still fueled with unprocessed magical energy, met their targets. The Lyaeus were caught up in the bombardment, having been too occupied with freeing those children to mount a proper defense for themselves.

When the smoke cleared, the Lyaeus still stood, worse for wear from the attack but still very much alive. Even with the weakened output of the cannons, they seemed to have taken less damage than would be expected; perhaps one of them had managed to throw up a shield at the last second.

However, now they had nothing to distract them from their task. Their eyes cut through the territory, staring squarely up at the Piper from where he stood atop the school. There was no doubt that their next move would be made with the intent to kill.

Bridge - 'HMS Dreadnought'
Off the Coast

@Paradox Witch

As the fitted-out keel of HMS Hydra hit the waves, propellers kicking up spray as the newly-completed destroyer urgently began to back out of the Harbor, Strategist felt her hands tighten around her binoculars. For several minutes, every officer had been at their stations, each gun trained landward ... waiting for this oncoming enemy.

Yet, so far, no word, no rustle in any nearby treeline or even the sound of gunfire from the stood-ready Marines landward. Just WHAT was their enemy playing at?!

"Ma'am," The voice of a rating snapped the Admiral out of her fuming and she lowered her glasses. "The last signal we recieved landward. From a 'Servant Nikola Tesla'."

The Admiral snatched the wireless transcript and, frowning, hurriedly read over the typed-out message:

FROM: Servant Nikola Tesla, Class Archer

TO: C. in C. HMS 'DREADNOUGHT' - No. 1 FUYUKI BATTLE SQUADRON, R.N.

Message received. Will coordinate via Frequency Y if artillery is required. Enemy is several hundred combatants, believed to be Heroic Spirit level. Will keep you updated, do not fire on Lat. 47.9 N., Long 4 35 E.

Current status of Pelion's Pub/Unknown Rock Dome is unclear, primary threat may be being held back. May be building power. Wait for update before firing on those coordinates. We must make sure nothing goes wrong, lest we end the world.

Your service is appreciated.

END.

Strategist nodded, biting her lower lip before passing the missive back to the Petty Officer. "Pass the word to the gun-plotting room; have the fleet adjust our firing plans for this exception ... As well for our now many-fold foe." Turning her scowling eyes back to the horizon, she didn't acknowledge the officer's salute, or the clamp of feet against the bridge's deck as he disappeared below.

"Trouble, ma'am?" CTN Bacon inquired by Strategist's side, his eyes glued to the rear of his binoculars.
"An apocalypse's worth, if that last communique is right." Strategist replied. "I only hope we're up to the mark, intelligence or not. We have to be."

She turned to the recently-arrived Carley, her eyes reflecting momentary sorrow at their dilemma, before she nodded in apology. "I ... I normally am not one for big rallying speeches." She snorted in self-loathing. "Actually, I'm not good at much outside of the Navy and Empire I've known and loved. But, if this somehow goes keel-up and we don't make it out of here alive ..."

The Servant leaned one hand on the pommel of her cutlass, extending the other glove-covered hand to Carley. "Know that I - Fleet Admiral of the Royal Navy Johanna Arburthnot Fisher - have been deeply honored to have been both your sword and your Servant. And come what may, the Navy - my Navy - will fight to the last round and until the last keel is claimed by the depths."

This was going poorly. That was an understatement. The tides had turned against him, and he had made a mistake. But… That was his mistake to make. That was his mistake, and he would not make it again. He can still rise, as long as he is not dead.

“Master…” Roland could feel it. That flooding energy. The circuits that drummed along softly, and sent a flood of energy though his mind. Resonating like a wave that washed over his soul, and took away his pains. Resonating like a powerful song in his soul. “You’re really doing this, aren’t you? I can’t convince you to run and leave me to this?” He didn’t resist. He didn’t reject it. Instead, he stood. He stood, and chose to protect the world.

[Guardian Knight!]

Roland’s song, his duty to protect the world and his master. He could feel a drawing force. All the spirits collected. All of them exhausted and battered. But even what little each had… What little each had to offer. They were still an army. And a death of a million cuts was better than nothing at all! Roland’s eyes glistened, and he faced down his enemy. He faced down a foe that denied him everything.

This beast would deny him his life! This beast would deny him Olivier! It would deny him the chase to save others. It would deny him his dreams, his sanity, and even the life of the man who wanted to journey to the west.

“Master. I guarantee! With everything in my power, you shall complete your journey to the west! Do you hear me! I will not let you die where you stand! I will not allow it all to end like this!”

The spirits, the song, the will of a paladin, and… as his hands reached out... The mask of a horse. Despite his hypnotic trance, the paladin’s body moved, and that mask wrapped over his face. Roland… Was now the embodiment of his and his master’s ideals.

His fist clenched, and all that power built into a single force. A power… An instinct. A Paladin’s promise!

“You will not win! Do you know why? Because if I let you win, then I’d never be able to live it down! I am a hero who died on my own terms! I’m one for one on that. I refuse to let you break my perfect record! You got that!? This is everything we’ve built up to! I will defeat you! I will save the world! And then, I’ll finally get married!”



The punch that Roland delivered, and that charge demanded a challenge. But he was a hero. A hero pushed to the edge of things. He had no stick to kill this demon with. So. He’d use himself.

---

The awful feeling enveloped her, as Reiki felt it uniquely through each worm. An undeniably evil wrongness came from the beings that were swarming the city. This was her. The one central power had been replaced by many. However, numbers did not mean weakness.

There was no doubt. A threat to mankind.

"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!"

Glasses? But she didn't wear-

Oh. He must have handed them to her while she was stunned. It seemed most of the people in the room had a pair, including her Lancer. Pretty stylish, as far as Reiki could tell. And there was a certain energy coming from them.

"Lancer, I want you to focus on supporting everyone here with your runes." Lancer was already moving.

As she donned the glasses, all became clear. She stood up straight and held her head high. It had always been her goal to stay strong in times of crisis, and so in the greatest crisis she would bring forth the greatest strength. "No offence to Benita, but there are much safer places out there from which to conduct an operation to seal that dome." Reiki exited the meeting room just behind Xerxes.

She would do her part, they all would, and the sun would rise again.

---

---

The skies of Miyama and Shinto were abuzz that night. Surveillance was key with such a large number of powerful enemies about. But surveillance was not where the capabilities of these insects ended. A storm of rats, pidgeons, and bugs allowed for complete communication between any willing parties in the city.

Moreover, these mere insects had been given equipment by a slayer of gods.

Therefore, as the brave heroes fought against these Lyaeus, as they found that their weapons were just barely insufficient to finish off these foes with constantly restoring shields, the runestones would drop.

It was not merely the Pioneer of the Stars who was provided with this air support. Anyone who was already in the process of battling the Lyaeus would see burning stars fall from above toward their enemies at just the moment they prepared their own attack.

Around Fuyuki, the explosions began.

These new abilities, though, did not distract those assigned from their original purpose of surveillance. What were the additional one-hundred-and-one creatures getting up to?

Across the city, they would learn all they could.

---

---

"Lancer, I want you to focus on supporting everyone here with your runes."

She was already moving.

The feeling that had come from that bar had been perhaps the most dreadful thing she could recall experiencing. As one who defended humanity, she could identify such a threat immediately, although not by name.

When it was replaced by so many smaller sources, though...

I've seen worse

As a Servant, a shadow of her true self, she would certainly have to work together with the other heroes. Nonetheless, if it was just a large number of beings that did not belong, they would be overcome and driven back with time. Scáthach was a hero who forced out beings without the right to exist, and so it was only natural that it should be impossible for the being trapped under that stone to emerge while she was present.

Well, it would have been unwise to rely on that idea.

If this was not the location they were to stay in, then the best use for her runes would be enhancing the other fighters.

As "Lancer Prime" had already left, the next most battle-ready one was...

This man. His armour was high-quality, his bearing noble, and yet he seemed a bit unruly somehow. Regardless, if he had come to fight, she would make sure he didn't waste any time.

"You. Don't move for a moment." As she approached him, she produced something that looked like charcoal from a satchel. With that, she began inscribing the first rune of enhancement on the Servant's left pauldron. "This is to save the world."

She worked efficiently. Strength, and Endurance had already been inscribed, although they remained dormant for the moment. "I'll get to the rest of you soon enough."

Servant Berserker, Gilles de Rais
Foreigner's Lowlands.

---

By now his army has grown to prodigious size, the territory he had claimed for himself now looking like a proper camp, bristling with palisades and cannons. There were still more corpses, but he needed to ride now to his Master's defense. Prepping a group of knights to ride back, he barked orders at the other soldiers, directing their actions. Before a horse was brought to him however, what seemed to be a Servant approached him.

"You. Don't move for a moment. This is to save the world."

"You, wha-" Gilles started before she inscribed some sort of magick upon his armor. Nay, he was not about to refuse help, but it was a bit sudden. Any bit of help would be needed if this threat was as bad as it felt. He could not help but feel rather frustrated he didn't have more time to prepare. A proper base with better land would perhaps strengthen his forces.

"Understood, make it quick, witch."

As soon as she finished, a horse was brought to him.

"Thank you, witch. I shall ride with reinforcements towards the Masters."

Moving quickly, he brought a force of fifty knights towards the monsters approaching the hotspring, aiming to cut them off and occupy them before all of them grouped up and become a greater danger.

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

Ludwig was sweating. Where was Archer, what was she up to? He looked down at his bandaged hand and shook his head. No, this wasn't the end. Archer was probably out busy dealing with this calamity. For now, he had one goal. Survival. Sticking close to the other masters he folloed them out of this secure meeting.

Again proving what he had been sure of since day one in this war. His family were fools to think sending him ehre for their wish was actually going to benefit them at all. THis was a time bomb just waiting to go off, what with all this raw magic flowing around and this omnipotent power ripping through this Japanese town. Yeah sure what could go wrong! Teeth were being grounded beneath the mask as she darted between people, keeping himself secure as he amde his way out of the rabble, vials jangling by his side. Shit.

The church. it had all his materials, everything. Clenching his fist he shook his head. No time for that, they had to go.



This night was becoming quite eventful. As the elephant stomped it's way down the roads of dear old Shinto town, she was witness to the abominations that this beast was unleashing onto the town. Freedom, was no longer present. It was not of their own volition to become like this, to become these monstrous creations to wreak havoc. This town didn't deserve this chaos, chaos that only got larger and larger with anyone's interference. Should the war finish, they can leave the people of Fuyuki in peace. But this idiot, whoever it was, this great power bestowing the land with these hideous monstrosities, was crossing the line.

She saw them from far away, but as she got closer, her whole being called out for their justice. The golden woman halted her mount and stared them down, gripping her swords and pulling them from their sheaths. These were humans. Were. Humans who had no plans to win a war of magus. Humans who had families, children. Now, they were this.

Freedom had been stripped from them. Hypocrisy was ripe in the air.

She recalled, her brother. Leading her troops. Against those mighty generals, those who spewed stories of liberating the lands and saving Vietnam from their once savage and tribal ways. But they slaughtered thousands and enslaved more. Liberation was the guise of self-interest. Freedom was always nothing more than a lie that was told by governments to keep the people in line. When freedom could be lied about, given in small doses and called liberation, what could society call itself? A ruin that was what. Ruinous humans stumbled before Trieu and she knew what she had to do.

"You, defiled beings, I weep for your fates. I can only offer you the release of death and so another one much more wise than me can judge you, I truly am sorry." And with that the charge began. She screamed. her war scream, rang throughout Shinto town, those still able to fight would be boosted against these creatures. She charged the first one, sending a wave from her sword, the slicing edge of grudges and hatred going straight for it before the tusks of Nanyue dug into it, and the swords came screaming down.

Her breathing was heavy, her eyes sharp. Still she was beautiful, a curse yet a blessing. Nanyue's perfect armour, shone bright much like hers. They weren't corrupted. And they would not fall to the hands of the corrupted.

@Floodtalon@Addamas@Phonic@Undyingregret@Dosthou




Power and answers, hmm? Well, as for me. One could say it is a matter of fighting for an answer, or a matter for fighting for recognition. The answer is what is going on in this land? But as for what I am fighting for personally beyond this conflict?

Why, that’s simple. We’re trying to save the world.

Ah, that was what he said moments ago and it certainly was his goal even now. But the premonition that swept all of the city brought him to think that perhaps it would be a bit more of a brute example that would show that struggle than initially expected.

“My. Saber. It looks like that something new has happened, something that seems much beyond any calculation or projected expectation. I don’t suppose that even the great ogres of Japan had anything on this? Looking at all of this, it might be best to instead ask the ones we’re visiting for some help.”

He became silent as he took a gun in hand.

The collapse of bounded fields. The territory of the servant they were hunting was stripped and revealed the moment it faded away. What sort of monstrous phenomena was this? It wasn’t as though it was some sort of mere ritual, or even something that was a Noble Phantasm. No, this reached farther and further than anything he would have known to be possible in Japan. Teodoise became silent for a moment before picking up his pace towards the home of Gilua.

“Perhaps we should go find some others after we get out of this in one piece.”

After all, it seemed that some other entities of a extremely high status were approaching the moors. Idris was prime and his mind began to work even as he made to establish contact with the other participant in the war in the moor.

“Physical make-up, human. Spiritual foundation… Well, that’s certainly worrying. Saber. Mhm, at this point I’d say we should run.”

The concentration of energy and poison best suited for these foes was determined in his mind The shot to kill these foes prepared. Hopefully it wouldn’t quite come to a drawn out fight in the Moors.

Enhancing his vocal chords he addressed the Assassin and magus that they had been tracking while calculating the best escape route for their parties.

“There’s not much time to speak, I’m afraid. But I’d like to ask if you’d like to leave with us and go find some others to prepare for this figurative storm, Saber and I are more than happy to have a new friend.”



The world saw the birth of an evil and all of man reeled. Ah, he would have to fight to preserve this war, this city, this planet. If this world were to be ruined then that man would not come to conquer it. IF he wished to fight that man then this garden, this battlefield would have to be preserved.
The lumbermill was abandoned, the Anathanoi roused to wage war once more.

Although in this case the form it took was again rather unorthodox. In accordance to his order to “pick up Archer” he decided to mimic what he had seen before in this city, the eavesdropped upon moment giving a enjoyable impression of a shape and construct.

Skeletons wrapped around each other and his tomb to form a chassis. But this was no chariot, or even a wagon, but rather… a car.

He slammed his ax, crackling with lightning and green flames into a slot in mimicry of a key, causing the construct of the dead to roar to life. The flames burst out of exhaust pipes formed from soldiers. Where the Anathanoi drove the roads broke under its weight and destructive charge, while what else was left was set on fire. Darius left a ghastly trail of ruin behind him as he made his way to the Archer of Lightning.

One of the Lyaceuses was in his path. With a further explosion of energy and flames the Anathanoi-mobile gained a burst of speed while coating the streets in a foul conflagration. Darius reached out to grab Tesla as he drove by. Plucking the servant from the streets as though casually picking up a choice fruit from the market, they continued to drive away even as his ally was placed in a somewhat uncomfortable metal seat right by the giant of a king. The answer to the liberator did not matter in the end. Even if Tesla were to agree and side with their foe, the berserker committed to the order given. Pick up Archer.



The chase of three of those… things was harrowing. Existences that were definitely not servants, existences beyond a servant. Yet they were also incredibly similar to his family-line. Those who took in divine existences into themselves. Well, not that any of them really had the ability for that before, but there was a time where their bloodline was offered as the vessels for the gods.

Still, he could not quite figure out what exactly these beings were. Combined with that ingrained knowledge and understanding that a calamity descended, even if he did not know its identity or its true nature. It was clear that something was at work that would bother even him.

Hmph. If Fuyuki were to be razed completely now, then there wouldn’t be a chance for him to enact his revenge and take what was rightfully his.

He would have felt better if it was something woven by his hand, but it wasn’t as though it was a controlled or intentional consequence of his servant’s wandering.

A explosion ripped through the streets as a demonic spear that was not the arm of Achilles struck. It was not the power of a servant, but it was certainly a weapon that could bring destruction that would make even one take notice.

As though it were simply the introduction and fanfare for his introduction, a call patched through to Benita as a figure revealed itself, speaking into his device as he made his way to those collected at the DDD. Slipping into the premise and out of the streets. As he walked in through the doors, a following floating trail of knives that glowed with the light of the sun, looking as though it were the wing of an angel attached to the man, before they flew off to pelt one of the Lycaeus in a enveloping light that scorched.



“Bentia boy!” The words were airy, giving no impression that he’d been running for his life non-stop for quite a while. The impression was that his voice was filled with a sort of coddling tone, in the manner that a parent spoke to a child from above. Or perhaps more accurately, the way a person spoke to a pet that was a curiosity of sorts. It was the way he always spoke to her. It was a manner that held more affection than when he seemed to deal with people.

The understanding then was that he was a man who disliked humans. His identity was clear to Benita. Codename Quagga. Otherwise known to the homunculus as Braze Dahe. One of the members of her circle.

The man in question turned off his communication device as he made his way into the meeting room of the various masters of the war that had assembled. A rare smile of sort was on his face as he made his way directly to the one who had gathered them all here.

It seems that despite the dire straits all in Fuyuki found themselves in, his mannerisms and base nature hardly changed. “While I could say you have been performing admirably, doing nice for yourself what with making such a nice attraction that hardly matters now in the face of what’s come about, hmm?”

And then he turned to Altera.

“Saber, less standing around, more chopping and slicing. Chop chop… I mean that literally even.” Directing the woman revealed to be his servant, Braze then made to look over the gathered servants and masters. “Well. We certainly have a possession problem. Let’s get to work then.”

They kept pace with him easily, shields appearing to block Tesla's attacks as they ignored his Incitement entirely. Were they simple monsters with no mind but for slaughter? Or did they simply have the capability to resist mental attacks? Either way, further attacks seemed to be useless for now.

"Nikola Tesla, one who worked for the benefit of humanity. A prodigy without equal who mundanized the power of gods, who dreams of creating a great system of electricity that spans the world."

Tesla almost stumbled, he had not expected his pursuers to even speak, let alone compliment him. The compliment was genuine as well, as if the one who spoke them truly respected him. Tesla listened as he continued firing, the intensity of them decreasing to conserve energy.

"Why do you not join me? I do not wish to take the lives of you and your allies, and even fighting you with these humans' bodies means that they might die before I return them to normal at the end of this. You too must realize it. This world is something that restrains humans. The laws of reality that have been created in this world prevent human imagination from reaching fruition, and cause humans to pointlessly suffer in tragedy and death. Won't you stand beside me?"

Tesla stopped as one of them materialized in front of him, stopping his attacks as he genuinely considered the words of the Beast. Tesla smiled, but it was one of sadness, perhaps pity. This thing truly believed in what it was doing, no. No this thing. This man, this man honestly believed that the destruction of the Human Order would mean the end of suffering. But...

"...regrettably, I cannot be a pacifist here. I ask for your answer. A simple answer, to whether or not you will join me. I truly do not wish to battle with one of humanity's stars, but I will have no choice if you are set on opposing the world I seek."

Tesla let out a deep sigh as he shook his head, one hand on hip as he closed his eyes. "While you are right, you are still wrong."

"Yes, this world restrains humans. People die every day due to the foolishness of others, brave inventors like myself oppressed by those with more money and power. However." Tesla opened his eyes, fire in his gaze as he stared the Lyaeus down.

"That struggle, that is what being human is about. That is what gives our lives meaning. Our struggles, against god, against nature, against each other, in that struggle something greater is born."

Tesla pointed up at the sky with his left hand, his gaze trailing upwards as he continued.

"It is only in our ambition, our rebellion against our self imposed laws, our constant reach for the stars that we can truly be called human! In our suffering we strive for greater! In our rebellion against the laws of humanity, we become more than what we once were! Your love for humanity, it would lead to our very destruction!" Tesla's gaze locked onto the man before him once more, his hand now pointing at the Lyaeus.

"Even the men you've possessed, they too continue their struggle for greater. Despite the fact that they've lost it all, their homes, their wealth, some losing even their family, still they continue to struggle in the hope that things will become better! Yet you wish to stop their struggle? You believe you know what's best for all of mankind, so you strip away their freedom to fulfill your own purposes? What makes you different from those same laws of humanity that you so despise? Every human has struggled for their future and the future of those to come! If you destroy the laws of man, you would make the struggle of everyone who has come before meaningless! In your blind love for humanity, you have become like that which you wish to tear down! Everything you love about mankind, our beautiful struggle, you seek to destroy it all! That is why I cannot join you!"

Tesla's eyes glowed a bright blue, bugs flew through the sky and dropped several runestones towards the Lyaeus surrounding him. A mighty engine rumbled in the distance. Quickdraw activated, Marksmanship activated, Human Anatomy Understanding activated, Eye of the Mind activated.

"For I am Nikola Tesla, the Modern Prometheus! The Pioneer of the Stars! The one who will bring lightning to all men! The Star of Humanity!"

Draw.

Tesla's right hand flew up at the Lyaeus behind him, firing at his chest three times, each blast an A ranked shot of Tesla's fight for the future of the world. His left hand aimed at the head of the Lyaeus in front of him, three more A ranked blasts. The runestones descended toward the beasts, exploding in midair and forcing their shields on.

Each of Tesla's shots rung true, the first shot shattering the shield, the second and third tearing through the Beasts with no mercy.

Darius sped by the Archer, grabbing him roughly and depositing him in the chair by his side. He barely even noticed the uncomfortable chair as he looked over at the Berserker beside him. "Hand me the wheel if you please. I have Riding as a skill, which would be greatly useful for getting us out of this unfortunate situation." He lightly tapped the handle of Darius's axe, completely refilling it's energy and then some as he leaned back into the really rather uncomfortable slab of metal. "I wonder if all Holy Grail Wars are this chaotic." Tesla casually remarked as he focused on his familiars.

---

Altera didn't even react as the her Master burst into the room, the only acknowledgement of his existence being a twitch of her lips downward as she remembered how he would not let her battle Rome. Were it not for his cowardice, none of them would be in this situation to begin with. She was not insulted by his casual treatment of her either, she instead just looked over to Scathach. "I will require your runes next if I am to fight off the destroyers of humanity."

She would stand completely still as Scathach worked, thinking about what had been revealed about the enemies so far. Automatic shields which could defend against several attack before needing to be renewed, a resistance to bindings, and likely more hidden up their sleeves. This would be a difficult battle, but it was yet to be seen if it were unwinnable.

Hamel Della Astrologia
DDD Hotsprings, Foreigner's Lowlands

Hamel rolled his eyes at the Serbian's remarks, rude remarks were expected when he arrived, and he didn't have the energy required to send anything but a curt dismissal by biting his thumb towards the general direction of Tesla.

"I should be grateful that we aren't all already dead you nitwit. While I don't mean to be rude to the organizer of this little conference, shouldn't one be concerned about the beam of light that so easily shattered the world tree? If whoever was dumb enough to destroy such a work decided to capitalize on this opportunity, I would be hard pressed to fault them."

"Regardless, I am here in good faith. The recent actions as of late are a tad bit excessive for those within our line of work, such a laissez-faire attitude towards this ritual is clearly not working out. Which I assume is what this meeting is about.

Stoic and somber, he shooed away the pigeons, uncaring for the prize that laid within. Silently he took his leave and observed his peers, masking a scoff at the doctor. What sort of fool comes to save lives with such a prize on the line? He shook his head in shame at the man's declaration.

When the young woman stepped forward, however, he stood upright, attention focused towards the host.

And was immediately insulted.

Perhaps, in some other time, before he came to this war before he witnessed everything that had happened. He would have blown up, like the child he invariably was. Yet, today he refrained, carrying with him a more dignified aura despite his previous churlish acts towards Tesla. This was a serious moment, and he acknowledged it as such.

The knowledge that the Association and Church had attempted to interfere had elated a scowl from Hamel, if those two had bothered to respond to the recent actions as of late then it truly was time to establish some ground rules, and indeed, as Benita laid down the foundations of the grail war Hamel raised no objection.

In the first place, he lacked the imagination and care to really add any stipulations, and a recent event had led to his mind being focussed elsewhere.

That focus was broken by the Doctor, Kaveh or some other. The suggestion of placing the blame on someone else was to Hamel, a subject of great confusion. What was done was done, such a thing would not appease anyone and only smelt of blame. Such a thing was beneath him, and it was only the timely intervention of the Einasshe Heir and his primal spear.

In that moment, it seemed that Hamel was about to burst from indignation.

"Such a shame," he mutters, "That the tree of fantasy was instead turned into this unsightly thing."

To turn a symbol of nature into that of human progress. If he had any advanced means of reversion then he would truly like to take the spear for himself and see if he could restore it to its proper form.

Such a shame, though his correspondence with the young Heir was delightful he would have to express his displeasure in their next letter to him.

While making a mental note to prepare for such, an ominous aura befell the city.

Fear crawled through his body, a primal response to something far beyond his own existence.

Like any reasonable man, he briefly contemplated fleeing. It was only the fleeting flights of his fancy that brought him to Fuyuki. Even the allure of the prize was not enough to override his own desire for survival. Hamel was just about ready to bolt.

Yet, that man entered. The existence known as GIN FUJIMURA. Such a bright existence, such an overwhelming presence. His words invigorated Hamel, bringing him out of his stupor, and chasing away the obscuring fog of panic.

Reason restored, he listened intently to what the man had to say.

Upon hearing a plea to save the city, something within his heart fluttered.

The correct choice was to run away. To leave it in the hands of someone else. To preserve his bloodline.

And indeed it ran through his mind. His previous conversation with lancer had sparked some introspection within him, whether he should act appropriately, to grow up and away from his whimsical nature, or to simply let go and be swept away with his own desires.

But in the first place, wasn't it that whimsy that brought him here? That whimsy was what allowed him to see the wondrous sights he was allowed to see this hectic week. That whimsy brought him joy and beauty and anger.

Yes, it was that flighty nature of his that allowed him to see the greatest sights he could ever ask for.

Staring deeply into the glasses that materialized within his hands, as if contemplating some great question, he suddenly slammed it onto his face.

Taking a deep breath, his own ribs rattling within his chest, he bellowed out.

"Gin Fujimura!

"I shall stand with you in defending this city of yours."

It was the least he could do, he decided, getting caught up in the atmosphere Gin exuded. To defend the city that brought many wonders to the world once more. It was the incorrect choice, the stupid one.

But when did he ever decide to take notice of what those peers of his thought? He would do as he pleased, for his own sake, and for no one else.

Giulia Toffana
Southern Moor, Workshop

Bounded field collapsed, her own existence fluctuating, Giulia still coldy observed the status of her own projects. Panic raced through her mind as she presented a stony exterior, such an event was beyond means accessible in a grail war. No, it was clear to her something beyond her own abilities had presented itself.

It was prudent then, to act in conjunction with the rest, at least temporarily before they could find a way to normalize the war once more.

Master, she sends out via her connection, I believe whatever had just occurred is beyond our own capabilities to handle, it would be most prudent to ally ourselves with the rest of the competitors to deal with this disturbance.

Previously, Giulia took comfort in the fact that if it was necessary, she could simply poison and kill the masters of the servants she would be facing.

As time passed by however, she truly realized just how out of her depth she was and chose to hide away, letting the more visible servants clean up the stronger servants and masters so she may slink away with a win.

But now, it was clear there would be no winning. The grail war is no more currently.

They must band together to overcome the great evil that presented itself.

Aware of the incoming entities and the offer presented by the magus who was hunting her, Giulia quickly ordered her familiars and any mobile projects to follow her. Presenting herself to the Atlas Alchemist, Giulia politely accepts his offer.

"I would be more than grateful to accompany you away from this mess, let us quickly abscond before we get waylaid by these creature."

Queen of Carthage
Divine Descending Denouement Hot Spring, Foreigner's Lowlands

NO! NONONONONONO! Someone took it away! Dido could feel her revenge slipping through her fingers. That damnable city was being snatched away from her grasp again. She knew this meeting was a waste of time, time in which she could have been assaulting her enemies, but now that was stolen away.

Not only was Troy lost to her, but her army was stolen away. It wasn't just her revenge, but her warriors and even the bond to her master was weakened or broken. Her rage was all consuming.

Well it seemed the others were gathering themselves and moving on the trouble. The pub? That's where it seemed they were intent on going. If that was where the trouble was, she could be there in the blink of an eye.

Dido grabbed her master and held him close as she said, "Come, Master, we must exact vengeance on those that threaten us and deny me my revenge. We must exact penance on our newest foe. They can't give back what was taken, but they can give their life."

Dido paused, took a breath, and activated the spell she had prepared ahead of time. This, surprisingly, was one of the few things her preparation had worked out for. With a burst of words, to most, they would have seemed incomprehensible, possibly even gibberish, but they were that of a spell. One moment they were there, the next they weren't.
====================Teleporting to the (Former) Walls of Troy=====================

@BlueHelix@Breo@ManyThings@Scallop@GreenGoat@DostHou

-----------------------Moving to Shinto Town, Outside Troy-----------------------


Workshop, "Newly" Occupied House, Southern Moor

It seemed this was really was going to be a bust. Not only had her plans to swell her numbers at the riot failed, it seemed a contender had come hunting her. On top of that, something...peculiar was happening to this city. It seemed something was exuding an overwhelming sense of dread across the city. Not only that, her familiar had witnessed the fall of those great walls and the transformation of the enigmatic "pub" into some kind of cave. Things were escalating quickly, and it seemed much too late to leave. It was time to do something heroic. Lilith was trying not to think about the alternative to that.

“There’s not much time to speak, I’m afraid. But I’d like to ask if you’d like to leave with us and go find some others to prepare for this figurative storm, Saber and I are more than happy to have a new friend.”

An attractive offer. She wouldn't be able to do much alone, without her eyes(read familiars) or some sort of army. Could she even lead an army? It didn't matter. It sounded like a good offer.

Master, I believe whatever had just occurred is beyond our own capabilities to handle, it would be most prudent to ally ourselves with the rest of the competitors to deal with this disturbance.

It would seem her servant agreed. Lilith couldn't really argue with her, especially since she had the same thoughts.

Lilith responded over the link in kind, That sounds like the best course of action for now. No more subterfuge or hiding. I will gather "the flock" and meet you by the front gate.

Before long, Lilith emerged from the residence at the head of a group of magi and approached her former enemy, now temporary friend.

As she neared the small group, Lilith spoke again, this time for all to hear. "I hope your offer is sincere. I'm affraid we've run out of places to hide or run to, and in the face of this," Lilith gestured towards Shinto, "We no longer have time to squabble over grails and wishes if we want to live."

@DostHou@Yukitamas@Addamas

At last, they arrived.

Before them were knights. A heavy number of them. Or at least, that is how it might seem to the unknowing.

However, before their eyes, the nature of those beings was apparent.

Two stood immediately before Gilles and his forces, while the remainder surrounded the hotspring from all sides. Each of them bore that same expression, that same look of disgust.

Yes, the threads flowing off of those knights were repulsive. The prayers they exuded were repulsive.

Ah, it was tragic. For all the disgust they felt towards the knights, the one who they were connected to had a pure desire, but it was a desire so pure that it had been mangled beyond recognition. And besides that, the Berserker seemed intent on opposing them, so there was no recourse.

His existence, though. Given what that Berserker was...

Troublesome. That could be troublesome. There could not be hesitation.

"...Gilles de Rais, I apologize, but I will have to strike you down."

One of the two standing before Gilles spoke up, while the other's will reached out.

A line of magical energy connected the Berserker to each of those knights. In that regard, the most natural course of action was apparent.

It grasped ahold of those lines, and in a single fell swoop, severed them.

For such beings, even a momentary disruption of magical energy was sufficient to undo them. Even if the nature of the Berserker was different than his Caster counterpart, the rule nonetheless endured.

And so, as the myriad knights of Gilles de Rais fell apart into masses of unknown blood, the others made their move.

One brought an air of primal madness over the hotspring, inducing those within to fall to a bacchic craze of mindless violence.

Five watched in preparation, to react at a moment's notice.

One began to warp space around the hotspring, as if trying to isolate it from the surrounding world.

One began to form 'something' in its hand.

The battle for the world had begun in earnest.

---

Within the structure was a magus.

Charging from the side was a Servant.

Appearing from the other side of the city was a magus and a Servant.

In that regard, what to do was simple.

The lone Servant's defensive capacity was high. However, there was another recourse. And so, rather than attempting to battle him, a pair of Lyaeus simply took to the sky to keep him in place.

The lone magus was not in a position to do anything, and killing humans was to be avoided if possible. As she was not a threat, then, there was no need to kill her. Instead, one simply reached out, and severed the line she possessed to her Servant.

The pair was troublesome. The Servant was too steeped in grudges of the past to be amicable to conversation. An offer of friendship would fall on deaf ears, and besides that, it was unwilling to join hands with such a being. At the same time, it would rather avoid killing the Master if at all possible, but the Servant was undoubtedly a magus from the Age of Gods.

Troublesome, troublesome.

And so, the majority of them remaining in their position of guarding that dome of rock that housed their source, three Lyaeus moved to engage Dido.

A brilliant light began to flow from their bodies as they did, brilliant enough to blind one who stared into it for too long. And yet, Dido would surely understand the greater danger it presented to her specifically.

The purifying light of the great god of this land. A light that repelled evil. A light that expunged curses.

---

They streaked towards the fleet that laid off the coast. Any desire to engage in a dialogue was quashed when bullets flew at them without warning.

The attacks hit their mark, but the Lyaeus were not slowed down in the slightest. It would be some time before they reached the boats; after all, their capacity to move on water was not at the level of certain Servants, but that only bought time on an order of seconds.

"Prepping the Grand Ritual! Ys, cornerstone it up! Strategist, let's blow 'em away!"

Hopefully those seconds would be enough.

---

Two pairs, Masters and Servants.

Just after the two had made contact, the Lyaeus came upon them, surrounding the four with their own numbers.

"A great hero of this land, and one who strived to free others of their damnable fates."

"By any chance, would you consider joining me, in creating a more beautiful world?"

---

At last, they descended. As the great hero finished his task, whether in victory or failure, they arrived.

They were in a position to respond to attacks, that much went without saying. It seemed that if hostilities broke out, five would attend to the Servant, and one to the Master.

However, before then...

"Hero Roland, will you not join me? Let us rid this world of meaningless tragedies."

---

A Servant and a beast, charging and screaming about ridiculous things.

The Beast felt fury, as she did not even attempt to understand.

The humans felt fury, as she claimed to speak for their will.

And so, they unified.

The first leapt back, observing from a distance with those eyes.

The second stood calmly in the path of the Servant and the elephant's attacks, and formed 'something' in its hand, driving it forwards to meet the assault.

---

Another lone Master.

Another connection severed.

Little else was to be said, and so it departed as quickly as it arrived.

---

The sword emperor had felt his power wane to its nadir, every scrap of land he had conquered torn from him. The beings that besieged him a moment later were equally troublesome. Even with his combat aptitude, the four were coordinated and capable enough to pin him down.

No, that was not the issue. If it was merely skill, he outmatched them. In fact, his blade had met its mark countless times.

The issue, then, was that they had not suffered a scrap of damage.

It should not have been possible. Ignoring the fact that his own strength was absurd and that his sword's curse carried certain death, magical defenses should have been negated entirely by Florent's nature.

Military Synergy kicked into overdrive. No matter how foreign these beings were, he would eventually come to understand them. And besides that, they were so occupied with keeping him pinned to the spot, not giving him a chance to dominate the land or the resources of that nearby church, that any meager damage they inflicted was easily within his armor's capability to heal. He was controlling the flow of the battle, and so he simply needed to continue analyzing, and once he found a way to harm them-

He felt it. His connection to his Vassal was cut in a moment. Whether the idiot had gotten himself killed, or something else had happened, he did not know. The result, though, was the most concerning part.

Was this why they were focusing on pinning him down? They were planning this, and refused to give him a chance to connect to the land again.

Time shifted from his ally to his enemy. Without an opening to connect to the land, the loss of his Vassal was painfully felt; his existence was quickly growing hazy.

"Tch..."

Unless something to shift the tides occurred, the Sword Emperor would soon fall.

The thought of dying to these things was so infuriating, it made him even consider using that.

---

"...I see. You simply don't understand...no, you can't understand. You can't see their wishes or their karma, you can't see what they pray for, and so you assume they are the same as you. You assume that is what they live for."

Understanding and sorrow blossomed across the face of the one who had spoken, as it shook its head in dismal disappointment. It seemed that it had earnestly hoped that Tesla would join its cause, but alas.

"A genius cannot understand ordinary men. I do not blame you, Nikola Tesla, as that would simply be to blame what you are, but I cannot accept it. I cannot accept a world that causes them to suffer, and neither can they. Those who have lost their homes and loved ones, those broken by meaningless tragedy, those who rage at death and scream at life, I cannot ignore their prayers."

Stones fell from the sky, but were fended off by those shields. However, the lightning that came a moment later finished the job, shattering that protection, and allowing the lightning to reach its targets.

"You are indeed a Star of humanity, but are you not aware? Monsters kill humans. Heroes kill monsters. Humans kill heroes."

In the very same moment, though, vines burst from the ground, wrapping around Tesla even as he fired his lightning. Even through Tesla's armaments, their touch was icy, and it would not take long for him to realize that their touch was beginning to wick away his own magical energy.

The two Lyaeus stared forwards at Tesla, space around them shifting as they evidently prepared something, their bodies crackling as the lightning driven into them seemed to dissipate into something else, something that was pulled inside of their bodies.

"And in this moment, I stand beside humans."

---

The Berserker rode on a vehicle made of skeletons.

The original designation likely would have found such a thing charming. Truth be told, even in its current state, it agreed.

However, it was not enough.

One Lyaeus chased after the skelecar from behind, while one stood directly in its path, having been approaching from the opposite side.

According to Darius's expectations, the latter would have been trampled underbone, and the Berserker would reach Tesla to whisk him away.

However, that would not come to pass. The Berserker would not even have a chance for Tesla to enter his line of sight.

This is because, in the fact of the charging bonemobile, the Lyaeus standing before it moved.

'Something' formed in its hand. The same something that the Lyaeus standing against the elephant rider had thrust forth. The same something that the Lyaeus outside of the hotspring had prepared.

And so, as Darius III's makeshift car and the Lyaeus met, that very something was released, erupting with the force of a great Noble Phantasm to stop the Berserker in his tracks, and likely bring him down in the process.

A miniature sun descended upon earth.