[] "I'm staying. I'll help you in this. Rider and I will assist you until the danger had passed."
-[]"We'll sneak out the back and try to hit them from behind. Help you, and help keep up the illusion of competition."
You made your decision on the spot. This was no time to hesitate after all.
"I'm staying. I'll help you in this. Rider and I will assist you until the danger had passed," you told him with a firm tone.
Hans' eyes widened before he sighed and nodded, "I see. What's your plan?"
"We'll sneak out the back and try to hit them from behind," you added as you held your clothes, "I'll help you, and keep up the illusion of competition."
"Nice of you to think ahead," Hans replied before splashing you with your own blood.
You yelped and moved away before barking, "Hey!"
"The story will be you fighting your way out of this super secret, super evil lair," Hans explained as he smiled your way, "That'll keep the Family from suspecting you. I've placed a dummy signal inside you so they could track your movements like normal, allowing them to not harm you should you come to blows. For all they know, you're doing your job as my assassin and you botched your chance."
"I see. That'll make things convincing," you replied as you tapped your foot.
"Good. Get changed. I'll leave some weapons for you to use," Hans said as he moved to exit the room.
You watched him go before you turned to Rider, "Help me change. And don't get funny with me!"
"I'd rather not get buried here alive," Rider hissed as she helped you out of your hospital wear.
You got changed fast before the two of you went after Hans, only to find him at the center of the workshop. He brought out a briefcase from the floor and set it upon a pedestal before opening it. He took out a handgun and some magazines before offering them to you.
You looked at the gun before you and took it. It felt natural to hold it in your grasp. You felt a rush course through your body before you felt your heartbeat in your ears. You knew how to use it, how to aim, shoot, reload in sequence. But even as you held the weapon in your hand, you weren filled with the compulsion to shoot Hans' head. Did he really-
{Weapon check.}
{Weapon identified.}
{Final check completed.}
{System check all green.}
{Internal Calibrations completed.}
{Stating objectives:}
{Don't die.}
{Win the Grail.}
You blinked before you looked at Hans as he stood before you.
"You changed my objectives," you murmured as you met his gaze.
"Yes. I did. But at least you won't murder me in a heartbeat," Hans smiled your way as he set down the briefcase, "But there is that final command I can't get rid of. So be wary, it might be a self destruct command for all I know."
"Well that's a scary thought," you grumbled as you equipped the holster for your gun.
"But a nice one to have. Figured they wouldn't make this easy," Hans said as he finished gathering his mystic codes. He leaned on his cane and said, "Let's go."
"Right behind you," you nodded as you stood alongside Rider.
.....
....
...
The building was under attack. The civilian employees were evacuated quickly while the hired Magi were doing their best in the face of the brutal assault they were under. The stars fell and rushed to smash open the Derrinsmith building but the combined efforts of Magi held the attack off.
Hans had sent Lancer to scout out the surroundings alongside many familiars and it seemed like that this was a pre-emptive attack from the remaining Masters. There were trucks coming from the highway bearing armed assailants.
You heard Hans curse as the elevator rose up from the workshop. Normally if he turtled up on there, he would be invincible so long as it wasn't a servant banging down his door. But he was actually going out to manage the defenses of his building. The elevator shuddered from a vicious blow and you leaned on Rider for support.
"Let me guess, I doubt the Hag is going to lift a finger to help us, huh?" Medb said as she crossed her arms.
"Scathach isn't going to help. Not unless it involves Berserker destroying more things than he needs to. She'll merely observe even if we live or die," Hans said as he looked into his phone, "There are arms goons. White coated. Stay alert."
The elevator door opened and you got out into Hans' office where you found Scathach sitting on the sofa. She wasn't reading or drinking but she seemed to be watching the spectacle outside through her runes. She looked up to glance at you and Medb with a raised eyebrow.
"Why is it that when something goes wrong, you two are nearby?" The Witch of Dun Scaith asked with a curious tone.
"What's the status of the building?" Hans asked as he limped forward.
"Whoever's behind this must be a joint alliance between two groups. You're being hit from the sky, and all four directions. Will the building hold, boy?" Scathach asked Hans in turn.
"It will. Lancer has made contact with the strike Team up front. Stay here if it pleases you," Hans told her as he walked past.
Scathach smiled before facing you, "This war is finally growing hotter. Are you prepared?"
"She was born prepped!" Rider cut in as she stood between you and Scathach.
The Witch allowed herself a small smile at that, "I see. Then don't die too fast. You two are growing more than I expected."
You were about to say something when Rider pulled you along. It didn't seem like you had no time for words. You opted for a resolute nod as Rider pulled you to the elevator. Hans had taken the spare elevator to go back to the ground level while you followed on the first one.
The building shook from the barrier taking hits but it wasn't going to last for long. You glanced at Rider and found her smiling lightly as she tapped her riding crop on her palm. You took out your handgun and pulled the slide as you composed your breath.
Escaping was your top priority here...
......
.....
....
The white Archer stood in the center of the road. He held his slender bow in his hands and took aim at the black building up ahead. His allies had begun their assault and he watched as meteors fell from the heavens. It was a wonder how such a small body could call upon magecraft of this magnitude.
He sighed before whispering to his bow, "
Gandvia."
His arrow burned with magical energy before he let it loose.
.....
....
...
The elevator doors opened and the building was struck with the force of an artillery shell. You stumbled but Rider caught you just as the ceiling began to cave in and collapse. You both got out of the elevator and ran into the hall. Siren were going off and Magi were dragging the wounded out of the combat zone.
Hans must have been somewhere directing the defenders. You just needed to get to the back. You had to hurry.
Rider ran alongside you as she spoke, "Never a restful day for us."
"With how shitty we are, there's no rest for the wicked," you replied as the two of you moved past halls and offices.
You had to make it look like you're escaping. You can't risk Berserker targeting you on your lonesome or else the plan will fail. Still, if Archer or his group falls tonight it'll be a win for sure but...
"I doubt Hans is going to let Archer's group decide how to settle this," you murmured as you ran.
"Huh? What do you mean?" Rider asked you.
"The one to start the fight always has the advantage on how much they'd lose. They have the option to push or pull back but the defenders overextending just to defeat the former is in itself a disadvantageous move. I don't think Hans is going to look to ending this conflict tonight," you said as you ran. You kept up with Rider's speed by pouring magical energy to your limbs.
"I see. So that means you know what to do?" Rider smirked as she met your gaze.
"Yeah. We'll raise hell on our way out," you said as you turned a corner, "And give Archer something to think about!"
When you glanced back behind you, Rider was gone. Your blood froze before you noticed that your Servant had vanished. What? Where did she go?
"Rider?" You breathed as you looked around. You focused your thoughts,
"Rider!"
No response. Where did she go? She as just behind you. You grit your teeth and noticed that the exit to the back of the building was there. You ran down the hall and got out of it, only to see a once Dead Girl stand before you.
"Die," she snarled as a bolt of white light erupted from her fingertips.
You moved on instinct and threw yourself into the ground. You rolled and hid behind a car but light gathered above your head.
"I've been waiting weeks for this," you heard her say. The ball of light burst and erupted spikes down at you, forcing you to reinforce your foot and spring away.
You caught yourself and drew your gun just as you ended up pressing the muzzle of your gun against your enemy's head. She had a thin blade of prana extending from her fingertips buzzing with energy, allowing her to slit your throat with a brief movement.
Olga Marie was alive but wore the scars of your precious battle. She had half-healed burn marks on her face but that didn't diminish the fiery anger in her eyes.
She was wearing a black coat over her orange best and skirt with her pale blonde hair tied behind her head. Her right sleeve hung limp, making you realize that she didn't have her arm anymore.
You looked behind her and found bodies of fallen Magi she had to fight to get here. Then that means that Assassin was here too... Rider was in trouble.
"I've been waiting for this," you heard her breathe as she glared at you, "I'm going to make you pay."
Rematch
[] "You should have stayed dead."
[] "I don't even know who you are."
[] "Seems like you made a lot of friends."
[] "You already know how this'll end."
[] Write in...
