Fate/Blackened Sugar

[] "Yeah... You did well. Don't make me worry that hard again. We can't stay here. Hold on to me, we need to go to Miyu."

You breathed a sigh of relief at that. You nodded as you cracked a smile, "Yeah... You did well. Don't make me worry that hard again."

"I apologize-" Assassin began as she tried to stand but couldn't.

"It's fine. We can't stay here. Hold on to me, we need to go to Miyu," you told her as you slowly stood up on your feet while supporting Assassin.

"That man... That man was... Saber was..." Assassin tried to form her words but found herself struggling as she held on to you.

"I know. Should have seen the signs but there's no mistaking it. That man is Susanoo," you murmured as you helped Assassin, "A literal god on earth... Or at least he should be. Grail wars shouldn't be able to summon divine spirits but... I've seen weirder."

You glanced at the Blackened Servant standing before you. She followed you with her golden eyes as you met her gaze.

"Don't you have anywhere else to be?" You asked her with a narrowed look.

The Blackened Servant stepped back before vanishing outright. It seemed that it returned to Spirit form. You helped Assassin on her feet and supported her in your entrance to the castle.

You managed to keep Saber off your back but the battle hadn't ended yet. The time it took for Miyu to generate that broadcast had elapsed, you should be able to transport her out of here. There's no telling just how much time you had before the other Servants took the chance to dive in.

You supported Assassin as the two of you ascended the castle. You were then shoved to the side by Assassin as an arrow flew towards you. Your Servant knocked it out of the air but the spell lingering upon it set upon her.

The wind spirits you enhanced her with allowed her to dodge it as you hit the ground. You saw gems fly into the air and trace a jagged line to home in on to you. You reacted and dragged your cane from the air to the ground and created a wall of stone which you promptly shattered to launch at your foe.

The debris struck a barrier held up by a woman with drill hairs as she dashed. An arrow flew past her as you grit your teeth and felt your circuits flare up.

Holding up your cane, a magically enhanced punch sent your body flying straight into a wall upon blocking it. You coughed out blood as you saw a knee come straight for your head.

Rolling away, you managed to avoid it as Assassin moved.

"Master!" Assassin cried out as she was forced to evade the silvery arrows raining down on her. Assassin grit her teeth as she tried fighting back as silvery arrows filled the air above her, forcing her to shoot them out of the air with her kunai.

The blonde woman kept bearing down on you as you created reinforced barrier after barrier only for her to crush them. You ducked beneath her next kick before slamming your cane on the ground, conjuring silver swords to rain down from behind you.

The woman hesitated before you had the swords come between you two. You held up your cane as you spoke, "Sowilo."

A rune appeared upon the swords as they burst into flames. The woman defended herself just as a silvery cane slashed across her and flung her through the air.

Her back slammed into a pillar where she grunted in pain.

"Luvia-san!" The other woman cried out before you raised your cane and formed a miniature sun which orbited your head while she aimed an arrow between your eyes.

You turned to the side and found Assassin being drained of her magical energy. Absorption? Normal magecraft shouldn't affect Servants... Granted that Chiyome didn't have a Knight Class' Magic Resistance but still...

You glared at the purple haired woman as the two of you tensed.

"Lower your weapon," you warned her with a narrowed look.

"Tell us where the Grail is first," the woman demanded as she held her arrow tight.

"Are you really in the position to make demands?" You questioned her as you held your cane.

"If you don't tell me I will shoot you," The woman declared as she narrowed her gaze.

"Try me, bitch," you drawled as you got ready.

CLAP CLAP CLAP

You and the woman paused and glanced to see Manaka walking down some steps while clapping her hands. She had a bright smile on her face as she met your gaze.

"I was wondering what was taking you so long. You found a second Grail, Hans!" Manaka said as she held her hands behind her back.

A second Grail?

The purple haired woman blinked before a gem flew between all of you. It burst and light illuminated the room you were fighting in. Blinded, you tried restoring your vision just in time to see the woman named Luvia carry the bow woman in her arms.

"Luvia-san?!" The bow wan cried out as she was carried out the nearest window. The two of them jumped and descended from the floor you were in.

Manaka seemed to feign confusion as she giggled, "Was it something I said?"

"Nice timing," you said as you moved towards Assassin to find her breathing hard, "Dammit, she's lost a lot of mana. What did she get hit with?"

Manaka walked by and asked, "Do you two need some privacy?"

"Shut up," you barked at her but Manaka simply giggled with a light blush. You took out some red vials from your coat and popped one open, "Assassin, here you go."

"Thank you..." Assassin murmured as she partook in the blood vial your provided.

"How's Miyu?" You asked Manaka as you turned to face her.

"Our little princess is asleep. Dare I say, it's been a rather interesting night, don't you think?" Manaka said as she held her left arm.

"What happened to Caster?" You asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Oh... She won't be bothering us again. Our next defense should be a lot easier now," Manaka said as she crossed her fingers together.

She must have taken care of Caster...

"I see. Can you call back Berserker. We'll be beginning our departure. We can't stay here anymore," you said as you turned your back on her. You managed to take a few steps before stopping, "What did you mean by Second Grail?"

"Interested? It's simply a cracked Grail that can no longer serve her purpose. But even then, a Grail all the same just like Miyu..." Manaka giggled as she held her hands behind her back, "I'd like to meet that woman again."

You stared at her before shaking your head, "Do what you want. Let's go home after this."

"Don't be such a party pooper," Manaka giggled as she caught up to you and walked by your side.

.....
....
...

Fortunately, Miyu had been spared witnessing the battles that had transpired. You kept your word, you protected her and the defense was complete. Manaka had gotten her fun and Berserker had a great time fending off Lancer. You were exhausted but it was a victory for your group regardless.

Traveling in secret back to your hideout, you reached it with little trouble. Miyu slowly awoke once you returned her to her room. She looked around in confusion only to see you seated by her bed side.

"You... Won," she blinked while staring at you.

"I promised, didn't I?" You told her with a small smile.

Miyu slowly rose up and sat on her bed, "I see. But for how long can you endure?"

"Until I win your approval. I'll keep fighting and I'll keep protecting you," you assured her as you leaned on your cane.

"One Servant has perished. There's only five more to go," Miyu murmured as she held a hand to her chest, "Five more until this Holy Grail War comes to a close..."

She blinked before holding her head.

"Is... This what it feels?" Miyu breathed as she held her head.

"You should get some rest. We'll be safe for now," you told her with a nod, "You did well today."

"But I haven't... Done anything," Miyu said before she fell on her pillow.

......
....
...

Your name was Hans Derrinsmith and you were alone. The battle had been hard fought but you never expected to win in the end. You sat at the countertop of your suite while nursing a glass of whiskey. The ice clinked as you hung your head with a sigh.

You held your glass and pressed it against your head.

Minerva and Saber.

The Bow Woman and her companion, alongside Lancer as their ally.

Caster and her Master were dead.

Ophelia and her Servant.

And then that Immortal Archer.

You really have your work cut out for you. Maybe you should try risking bothering Scathach again. No, it would be a bad idea. You might get killed...

You took a sip of your drink and felt it run down your throat. You blinked before you noticed someone nearby.

[] "Assassin? Did you need something? Don't hide in the dark, I know you're there."
[] "You're bad at hide and seek, Manaka. What do you want? Don't you have to celebrate elsewhere?"
[] It turns out it's nothing. It must be your imagination. You should get some sleep. Wait, your phone was ringing. You should answer it.