Crimson Beauty of The Crescent Moon (Fate/Grand Order)

Burning wrecks upon smoking wrecks of the concrete jungle are the silent witnesses of what happened when a Demigod fights against a Prophet-King, accompanied by a way-out-of-his-depth scoundrel of the Wild West. Blocks of buildings were levelled, trampled, and manoueivered against when an obsidian giant trampled and raged and chased two Archers around the ruined cityscape. Here, a glass storefront shattered by a flung shepherd, the last motes of divine protection expended to ensure that he remains to fight the next flurry of kicks and punches. There, impact marks that would go unremarked tell the tale of a hastily executed sniping to bring down a building via ricochet alone. Yonder, a bloody piece of lamp post, a makeshift spear caked with rapidly evaporating blood as it hit its mark.

The Coup de Grace: 18 + 15 (Lessened Resonance): 33

And at the end of what was a bustling clothier district once upon a time, something that could be charitably called a sword hit its original owner's neck for the second time of the day.

But this time, the slab of sword is broken. Too many times it's been used to block and deflect and weather the maddened flurry of a Berserker. Now it has crumbled. Yet that too is fine, as the current wielder merely opted to, in a fit of frustration, slammed the still sharp edges of the sword — now a cudgel — over and over again to the stunned and bloodied visage of Herakles.

Mud Reinforcement: 6

Yet that is enough. A corrupted facsimile of a weakened version of Zeus' most famed son had only one life, stretched at it was unnaturally by the ever-pervasive Mud. But that too, is at an end. Frantic strumming of lute and channeling of Divine power exorcised once the unholy taint for the second time.

Battle Continuation: [Required (D6): 1+ Rolled: 3 - 3 (Accumulated Damage): 0]

And death comes, this time. Only once motes of ether emanate from the corpse did David allow himself to relax. His form has seen better days. Dust and grime touched him not which made his injuries, all the cuts and bruises he endured, seem unnatural in their cleanliness.

But his was a form protected. Not only by the grace of God but also by the sacrifice and distraction of his fellow man.

The fellow Archer, who is missing a good chunk of his torso and his entire left hand below the elbow. It's a Miracle that he's still alive, but perhaps it's not a miracle.

There's still King Arthur to face, he might be worse than useless against such a monarch.

But as David walks towards the gunslinger, he can see the intense concentration in the youth's eyes, though not one directed at him. 'Talks then.' The words of the discussion eluded him but he can tell nonetheless, the nature of it. A debrief, judging by the way Archer's gaze flickers to him for a moment. A slightly lingering gaze at the ground where Berserker fallen, his body dissipating to nothingness in fullness. Not that hard to tell.

But the conversation seems to end then as Billy slid off the piece of concrete he used to rest in, his wounds already closing. Suspiciously quickly. Does the other Master really have that much magical capacity? She doesn't seem to be the sort, more of a frontline combatant... which in itself is weird. What sort of Master fights in the front?

But those are questions that can wait later, provided they survive against the final guard.

"Mister David, my Master said that we should head to the cave entrance. Saber's the only Servant remaining."

"The fallen Executor?"

The auburn-haired Archer did not miss the slightly vicious smile on his counterpart's face. "Dealt with."

"Then it's done." David nodded, relish from the revelation muted. "I'd ask if you would like a hand but well..."

The epitomic opposite of a dignified snort came from his fellow Archer. "What humour you have, o King."

"I wasn't even intending to."

"Yeah yeah, you say, Mister David." With that, the form of the gunslinger shimmered to the ether, near-invisible to spot.

'I suppose he is a bit sore about the whole 'fight Herakles' business.' That final thought in mind, the king followed behind, trailing in spirit form to the rest of the group.

Status Update!

Defeating Herakles. Costly Success!

King David is Moderately Injured; Takes -10 to Combat Rolls, will reduce to -5 by the Final Confrontation; Divine Protection of God is at -5, will increase to +15 by the Final Confrontation;​

Billy the Kid is Severely Injured; Takes -15 to Combat Rolls, will reduce to -10 by the Final Confrontation;​

Herakles is confirmed dead.​

Click to expand...

Click to shrink...

---

Ritsuka Fujimaru wakes up in a cold sweat, her body trembling with shaky energy as she processed what had happened.

She had nearly died.

Oh gods, she had nearly died.

She couldn't even do anything, not even to bring the gun to fire at the smiling priest. She just... crumpled.

And that was that. That would have been her end.

Composure: 74 - 10 (Mental Exhaustion): 64

...but it isn't. She's still here, through some sick demented luck, she's still alive. And that means she can fig- support Mash and Hinako. Somehow.

...Come to think of it, where is everyone? She looked down and only now she realized that she's been sleeping in Olga-Marie's coffin. Her heart hitched up her throat. Did, did sh-

"Ah, you're awake Fujimaru." Said Director looks down on her, before crouching. This close, Ritsuka can see her black-gold blouse still stained with drying blood.

"You're alright?"

"Fujimaru, I was dead." She breathed shakily, one that made the Master wince in guilt. "I don't think I will be alright for a good long while... but I'll manage. How are you instead?" Olga-Marie proffered her something a glass of water. "The rest of the team are gathering, Medea and Mash are patrolling together while I stand watch here."

Taking gulps of the water, Ritsuka considered everything before answering. "I'm... not fine, Director. If it weren't for you, I..." She trailed off.

"You're welcome and don't sweat it."

Huh? "What?"

"You're saying your thanks and I say, let's just be done with it." She sighs. "I'm not good at this all talky feely assurance deal but-" Amber-gold eyes stares hard at their amber-brown counterpart. "I didn't survive my first crucible landing on my feet either. And I definitely didn't get dropped to a husk of a city teeming with ghouls as my first rodeo." Tentatively, the Director put her hands on Fujimaru's shoulders. "You are doing better than I did. And as for the destruction of humankind, well..." She smiles. It does not reach her eyes. "Leave it at my hands, I am the Director, after all."

The rustling of leaves alerted the two, one tensing to fire spells, before a familiar form shows up from the shadows.

Ritsuka can only be stunned by how bloody of Hinako looked. Disregarding the wounds on her body, her entire white coat is now a red coat and yet, she seemed nonplussed by it all. How... natural it looked for her to be standing there, seemingly imperious with two bare swords, chipped and rent in parts, hanging on a belt. The only thing that seemed intact is her glasses, somehow surviving through whatever struggle she faced.

Animusphere's Animus: 38

"Oh, Hinako." She sighed. "Medea told me that you're fine. Evidently, she's not telling the truth." There's the faint heat to her words, one not missed by all three women.

"It was a close thing. But the Executor is dead now. For good." For the moment, tension seems to rising up. Fujimaru wondered if the two might come to conflict... until Olga-Marie exhaled once more.

"Very well then, would you like some help getting yourself clean?"

Hinako shrugged. "While waiting for the others, sure." And just like that, the tension leaves the clearing field.

---

Ten minutes later, the impromptu war council assembles.

And with ad hoc, three sides made itself known in the council.

On one side and resting, is the last of the A-Team Masters. Hinako Akuta sits with her legs crossed, flanked by her two Servants. A slightly sullen gunslinger, wounds slowly closing under the ministrations of one of the world's most famous witch, who herself is now flanked by two skeletal constructs, for all good they might do.

The other side, the latest Master of Chaldea, flanked with the silently confident form of King David, once more slowly plucks the strings on his harp, working his slightly divine craft to make everyone relax. Something needed for both his Master and fellow Servant. Demi-Servant, to be specific.

And the last and informal side is the Director and Acting Director, one in the flesh and the other in blue-tinted holographic display. The latter of the two could only worry at the apparent division, at how both Mash and Marisbilly's daughter keeps giving barely resenting look at Hinako when they thought she's not looking.

She is. And she's not doing anything about it.

The barest of friction meant, however, that none noticed the side glance from David to the Acting Director. A sort of phlegmatic amusement. From one Israelite to another. '...Give me a break.' Romani thought as he replied the glance with a twitch of his own eyes. It was... a shock to know that he was summoned as Archer but perhaps it's for the best.

"So!" Romani starts, grabbing attention of everyone in the circle. "King Arthur."

Future's Analysis: 64 - 10 (Damaged Command Center): 54

Drawing back to a slightly comfortable pose, Romani Archaman starts his spiel. "After calculating the power output and everything else, it is safe to say that she has... virtually limitless supply of mana to draw for Excalibur."

A small silence pierced the air. "...Bossman, do you not have a better news?"

"Well, erm-" He looks at the unamused face of Billy the Kid. Abject exhaustion is plain on his face, but it's one tinged with grim determination to push onward.

"There's a drawback, isn't there, Archaman?" Hinako interjected. "Excalibur takes time to invoke."

King David mused, "And thus time for us to attack."

Romani tries to interject. "We-"

A scoff comes from the Colchisian. "She doesn't need Excalibur. Unlimited Mana means unlimited Mana Burst. She can pick us one by one, unless the connection is severed."

Everyone looks at Medea at that, who shrugged as she materialized Rule Breaker. "One hit. And the strength of the Mud leaves her."

"One solid hit against the King of Knights. From you, Caster?" Mash speaks up, this time. Her tone laced with not so small amount of doubt.

"Doesn't have to come from me. My Master could do it."

Olga-Marie's eyebrows rose upwards. "That's silly. It's not like she's an Assas-"

"I can try." That was all Hinako said.

"That's suicide!" The Director blurted out, having only just helped clean the worst of the grime away.

She shrugged, "It's the best chance we have."

"No." The Animusphere shook her head. "There's another. Medea, you still have enough mana, do you not?"

"...A good amount."

"Then a barrage of magical firepower. An overcharged fusillade to home in and take her out, powered by five Command Seals at once."

Medea blinks, somewhat surprised. "I was not given to understand that Chaldea can transfer their limited Seals."

Sensing opportunity to speak, Romani interjects. "Our system is decidedly more refined when it comes to the Command Seals. They can be transferred between Masters easily and also regenerate. Though... considering the status of the power supply, it means that for the now, they can't be. Regenerated, that is."

"That... does mean that there would not be any Command Seal left."

"Y'know, couldn't we just do both? I mean, in the end both me and Mister David's gonna run interference to do either plan anyway. I'm good enough that I can fire into melee and not miss. And all the King has to do is to miss."

Everyone looks at Billy at that, who in turn points to his Master. Said Master then looks at the gaze of everyone, gears whirring inside her head, before directing her own eyes to David, who nodded at some unseen agreement. "Half-measures wouldn't suffice. We lose the Command Seals at the wrong moment, and that means no last-minute teleportation. If everyone doesn't fully cover me, and then I would not survive the exchange. One or the other."

"She speaks the truth. One or the other. King Arthur knows of my capacity by now, I'll be a big enough target either way that I think my survival in this well, too far a stretch."

Ritsuka looks up at David, "But you'll..."

"I'll answer your call once more, Master, when you get out of this." He smiled, a gesture that brought a faint blush on the latest Master. "How can I not, for a lovely lady such as you."

A cough came from Romani, who looks at the Archer with some consternation. "Now, what are your recommendation, King David?"

"I would defer my decision to Miss Hinako. So far, her counsel led us well and in this, I am a sacrificial pawn."

All eyes turns to Hinako once more, who sighed, mulling over the decision. In the end, the decision which everyone moves to prepare for was:

[] Ruler-Breaker. Rule Breaker is the key to the final battle. No one has the experience of arms to fight in close quarters with the King of Knights, save for perhaps Shielder. But her hands are full, Hinako's aren't. Sever the connection of the Mud and cleanse Saber of her corruption. Of course, should at any point Saber attempt to strike Caster and succeed, the Noble Phantasm will disappear. Of course, this relies on Hinako clashing arms against King Arthur. There will be questions that no simple Age of Gods enhancement can waive away.
[] Total Magical Saturation. Two mage. One, the last scion of the esteemed Animusphere, and the other, the greatest of protege of Circe. Both enacting a ritual bolstered with five Command Seals. Such profligate expenditure will break through the vaunted advantage of the Knight Classes... but it would mean to deprive the two Masters of their capacity to react to sudden surprises.