The Ninth Night
[] Let Archer go deeper into the tunnel and then collapse it on top of her.
-[] Hans knowledge check: Will this actually work against servants?
--[] If not, have Assassin set up an ambush.


If Archer was here, then it's time to get to work. Collapsing the tunnel etched with numerous runes that would trigger spiritual and magic based attacks all at once upon hitting the ground. The combined weight of the fall as well as your own magical traps would be enough to stall her for a bit and gauge her reaction.

While Archer could avoid the physical fall with her Spirit Form, she would be vulnerable to your magecraft soon after. She would find it wiser to remain on her physical form and withstand the fall using her immortal body.

You need to know what she'll do first or if she had any tricks up in her sleeve rather than this being the deciding blow. It'll take more than this to bring down a Servant of that level, especially Archer.

"I'm triggering the collapse," you responded to Assassin as you held out your cane and struck the ground, a burst of prana leaving your body and letting trails of lines light up on the wall into one passage.

Assassin vacated the area as you focused on the tunnel Archer was walking in. You triggered the explosives as well as the blast runes you inscribed on the wall.

An explosion rang deep in one of the tunnels and you could see a fiery blast erupt from it. You raised a barrier to hold it back while Miyu took cover behind you. That should keep Archer busy for now if she can dig her way out.

"I can still feel her but she's no doubt under the rubble. I will continue observing- Huh?"

You frowned, "Assassin?"

"I... Archer has friends."

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

Assassin remained hidden in an alcove at the edge of the collapsed tunnel. She had evaded the collapse by using her familiars to spy on the entrances and she had caught Archer spreading something around her when she fell.

Now Assassin was seeing what they were exactly. They started out as formless pieces of matter, only to resemble flesh a moment later. A human form began to take shape and slowly bear the appearance of a corpse, rising from the ankle deep waters and moan.

Assassin watched Undead stepped forth and groaned as they walked forward, some others shifting beneath the rubble and begin pushing out the stones and debris. Bodies began to appear and she slowly realized what was happening.

These were people...

The traps laid down by Hans activated and bolts of darkness rained down from the walls beyond the debris. They struck and cleaved through the undead, whittling down their numbers as a low chuckle came from the debris.

Archer was going to start digging her way out now. Assassin narrowed her gaze before she summoned her own snakes to descend and move towards the walking corpses, smashing and biting them in half.

The serpent roared before crushing more of the corpses as they emerged from the rubble.

"Master, Archer has brought some undead with her as support. They're currently exhibiting low aggression but there's no telling what they would do," Assassin reported as she continued to observe, "It would be best to be prepared."

"I'm detecting numerous entities entering the tunnels. I'm activating my defensive traps to hold them off," Hans replied with an annoyed tone, "Tell me if there's any development."

"Understood," Assassin replied as she watched from the shadows.

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

Minerva smiled as she sat on the edge of a building looking down at the entrance to the water reservoir tunnels she sent Archer into. To think that boy had this planned in the event his grandfather died, it was nothing short of impressive.

What she didn't like though was that she had to play by his tune. No matter, she'll just go along with it. Standing up, she turned to her side and spoke.

"Ready, Saber?" She asked as her long orange hair danced in the wind.

Saber reappeared by her side and nodded, "Of course. Let us meet our foes in battle once more."

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

Manaka watched as she held her chest with a pained look. Berserker didn't miss that as he turned his gaze upon her.

"Think this is the right move?" Berserker asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Hmph, it'll be fine," Manaka told him as she looke ahead.

Berserker glanced at the runes raining down bolts of energy down at the Undead. Hans was a meticulous man to utilize the terrain to his advantage, even against such numbers of foes. The Servant smirked and wondered what kind of strategist such an individual could be in his army.

In any case, it was almost time. Through the bodies and runes, two people stood at the entrance of the tunnel. Manaka raised her hand and began chanting just as Berserker grinned and drew his weapons.

A flash of lightning erupted and smashed straight through the barriers Manaka placed just as Berserker utilized his full strength to smash down the lightning bolt. This caused a shockwave which sent the waters flying to the side.

Saber was sent landing in the ground hard as he looked up to see Berserker wrapped in crimson energy.

"Ready for Round 3?" Berserker growled as he met the Saber's gaze.

"Of course, let us begin!" He replied as the two men engaged one another.

Clashing and striking one another, they were a blur of red and blue. Manaka looked ahead to see Minerva walking by and placing a hand on the wall. The runes Hans had placed turned black and were forced to dissipate.

Manaka stared at her before pain went through her chest. Grimacing she breathed, "Not yet. Stay down."

Berserker cleaved through the ground and parried aside Saber's blade to his neck. The two men moved close as Berserker smashed his sword against the Oriental warrior, pushing him back with sheer strength before they bounced off one another.

Saber became lightning itself and cut as Berserker smirked and narrowing avoided the corner's blade through sheer instinct. He went beneath Saber's guard and kicked him hard enough to smash him into a wall.

Berserker stood tall while Saber chuckled as he rose from where he crashed.

"Excellent," Saber smiled widely as his sword began to crackle with electricity.

Manaka watched as the pain in her chest grew. Not yet. Not until the night is finished at least...

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

You sighed as you looked down the tunnels beneath you. Miyu remained silent the entire time while you could hear the signs of battle in the distance.

It seems like Minerva had engaged Manaka on her own. You looked at the time on your phone. You still had twenty five minutes left before the broadcast ended. Your command seal continued to burn. Now it was just matter of who else will show up.

"Hans," Miyu spoke behind you, causing you to turn her way. She gave you a serious look as she said, "You said that by the end of this war, I would have decided on things on my own, yes?"

"I did say that," you replied with a nod.

"Then, I've decided. I don't know if you're the one worth the Grail's powers for, but I do know that you'll bet everything to win. That's why, I want you to know that if you ever put yourself or Assassin in danger, I want you to withdraw," Miyu said as she met your gaze.

"Withdraw?" You asked her with a frown.

"You can't defend me forever. I can see you slowly being chipped apart. Taking me, defending me, you've fought the brunt of most of the competitors all this time. Something has to give," Miyu said as she clenched her fist, "If it's between me and surviving this battle, then you better survive. That way..."

You can still take her back.

You stared at her and smiled. You walked towards her and lightly knocked her head with your cane, causing her to yelp.

"Don't worry. It'll be fine. I'll protect you and stay alive... All of us will," you assured her as you knelt before her with a smile.

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

Assassin's eye widened as the undead doubled over to hold their stomachs. It was then that rotten veins bulged beneath their skin as their limbs grew muscle. Their eyes burned red as they bared their teeth and screamed.

They began to move faster and dig their fingers into the giant snake's scales and rip them off.

A voice echoed from the rubble.

Mermaid's Curse (False Immortality)

The Undead became more aggressive and roared as they fought against the Serpents. Blasts of sound came from the rubble.

Assassin held on to her weapon and spoke, "Master, it's Archer... She's coming! The undead have also also become aggressive!"

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

That was faster than you expected. But you managed to stall time for even a few minutes. You need to decide your next move.


The Ninth Night

[] Have Assassin lure Archer some more. Collapse more tunnels under her while you and Miyu retreated.
[] Have Assassin engage Archer on their current spot. You need to buy time, you can only rely on Assassin for this.
[] Contact Manaka and have her let loose a Blackened Servant to assist in holding off Archer. This was no time to be stingy!
[] Withdraw your forces deeper into the tunnels and collapse them on top of your foes. Continue this until they're where you are. You can help one another if everyone's in one location.
 
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[x] Withdraw your forces deeper into the tunnels and collapse them on top of your foes. Continue this until they're where you are. You can help one another if everyone's in one location.

This or luring, the entire point of fixed defenses is to save yourself effort and manpower against a superior foe, and if we try to engage as things are then we are wasting a whole bunch of our fixed defenses.
 
[x] Withdraw your forces deeper into the tunnels and collapse them on top of your foes. Continue this until they're where you are. You can help one another if everyone's in one location.

we probably shouldn't rely on collapsing more tunnels on archer, not alone that is, archer now knows they're there and thus will have thought out counters. Thus collapse and move to our allies. And fighting the enemy instead of playing to our natural defenses, is as mentioned, probably not the best idea.
 
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[x] Withdraw your forces deeper into the tunnels and collapse them on top of your foes. Continue this until they're where you are. You can help one another if everyone's in one location.
 
[x] Withdraw your forces deeper into the tunnels and collapse them on top of your foes. Continue this until they're where you are. You can help one another if everyone's in one location.
 
[X] Withdraw your forces deeper into the tunnels and collapse them on top of your foes. Continue this until they're where you are. You can help one another if everyone's in one location.
 
[X] Withdraw your forces deeper into the tunnels and collapse them on top of your foes. Continue this until they're where you are. You can help one another if everyone's in one location.
 
[X] Withdraw your forces deeper into the tunnels and collapse them on top of your foes. Continue this until they're where you are. You can help one another if everyone's in one location.
 
[x] Withdraw your forces deeper into the tunnels and collapse them on top of your foes. Continue this until they're where you are. You can help one another if everyone's in one location.
 
[X] Withdraw your forces deeper into the tunnels and collapse them on top of your foes. Continue this until they're where you are. You can help one another if everyone's in one location.

Well it looks like we have another candidate for where all the missing people went
 
[x] Withdraw your forces deeper into the tunnels and collapse them on top of your foes. Continue this until they're where you are. You can help one another if everyone's in one location.
 
So, it looks like Archer is working with Minerva is some way, although one party or the other isn't happy about it. It seems likely that Mermaid's Curse: False Immortality represents some amount of mana drain, so Archer's pulling mana from somewhere. Recontracting with Minerva, Sakura, or Ophelia come to mind as options, and would line up with the above.

Something else: What have Sakura and Medusa been up to? They probably aren't doing nothing, but I'm mildly worried about what their silence could mean.

[x] Withdraw your forces deeper into the tunnels and collapse them on top of your foes. Continue this until they're where you are. You can help one another if everyone's in one location.
 
Free For All
[] Withdraw your forces deeper into the tunnels and collapse them on top of your foes. Continue this until they're where you are. You can help one another if everyone's in one location.

You replied fast, "Retreat! Get back here and keep her stalled, I'm collapsing the tunnels. I'll give Manaka the heads up as well."

"Understood. I'll be ready," Assassin said in turn as you cut your connection with her. You then tapped your cane and spoke to Manaka.

"Can you hear me?" You asked as you frowned, "Change of plans, I need you to run back to the reservoir."

"Seems like you're taking this seriously. Very well. I'll bring Berserker with me," Manaka said with a chuckle.

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

Manaka held out her hand and had it fly to the center of the tunnel. Berserker rolled back and parried aside Saber's weapon as he jumped away. The light burst and Minerva was forced to cover her eyes. Saber grunted while Berserker kicked him hard to push him back before turning to rush towards his Master.

"This better be good!" He said as he carried Manaka in his arms.

"I'll leave behind a present," Manaka said as she held out her hand and magic circles began to form on the ground, creating constructs from the materials found under the water.

They moved and rushed Saber down, prompting the servant to cut them apart. However their sheer numbers was enough to deter him from pursuing Manaka just as the tunnel exploded.

Berserker grunted as he looked back to see the entire tunnel collapse behind him. He cursed as he ran faster while carrying his Master.

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

You listened to the sound of explosions at the distance upon detecting two presences come close. They were both your allies just as the tunnels fell down completely.

"Miyu, stay here. I'm going down," you replied as you vaulted over the railings of the catwalk you were on.

You cast floating charms to cushion your fall, allowing you to reach ground level just as Berserker and Manaka stopped. Assassin landed nearby as she had her blade drawn while looking at the tunnels.

"This won't stop them," Berserker said as he set down his Master.

You shook your head, "No but we're making good time. There's ten minutes left until the broadcast ends. We just have to hold them off here and then bail."

"We have a few minutes at most. I'll provide the heavy lifting," Manaka said as she held up her hand and the waters bubbled with corruption.

You and Assassin stared as two Blackened Servant's appeared. One was a young man with wild blonde hair and golden eyes, he was carrying a dagger with him as he glared at you. The second was a beautiful Valkyrie wielding a heart bladed spear. Her golden eyes swept over you before the two of them faced Manaka.

She spread her arms and welcomed them warmly.

"What do you think, Hans? Is this enough muscle for you?" She asked with a look your way, "This is Brynhildr and Hyde."

"Good enough," you replied as you turned to the tunnels while the Servants got ready. Assassin drew her sword while Berserker readied his.

The Blackened Berserker, Hyde, grinned while holding his dagger while Brynhildr jumped to the catwalk above the reservoir, standing before Miyu. The girl's eyes widened before she looked down to where you were going to fight.

The tunnels were blasted open as the Undead poured in. It was time.

The Undead that came on were dressed as modern people, bearing wounds and bruises from the tunnel collapsing on them, they stood up and howled in sheer madness.

"They're being enhanced by a Noble Phantasm. It's made them stronger and more resilient," Assassin reported as she grimaced.

"Good target practice then," you answered as you tapped your cane on the ground, "I came prepared."

Sigils and runes appeared on the walls of the reservoir, lighting up and emitting a whir of sound. You opened your eyes as you rained down death upon your foes, shooting black bolts of energy and fiery arrows from above.

They blazed through the air, punctured the bodies of the undead and knocked them back. Their limbs were shredded and torn while stomachs were rupture open by magical bolts.

They tried running but fell short, roaring and wailing in pain as the waters turned red from their blood. The assault ended just as the last Undead was knocked down into the water. You cursed under your breath as they simply stood up again despite being riddled with holes.

"Guess it's our turn then?" Berserker asked as he walked forward.

"We'll support you from here. Take out their numbers and go for their heads, crush them," you said as Assassin got ready.

The Undead howled as they sprinted towards you. Assassin moved alongside Berserker and the two of them began the slaughter. Berserker crushed and smashed with his swords while Assassin cut and slashed through the opposition.

She used her kunai alongside her sword to cut and breakthrough the ranks of the Undead to begin her fight there. She threw bombs and weaved through swipes and punches to cut off arms and tear away at heads.

She held her sword up, a murderous gaze filling her eyes before she cut through an Undead and left it headless. Assassin was splashed with blood as she darted from one corpse to another, scarlet liquid danced in the air as she moved.

Berserker pummeled and crushed through the undead before they could even touch him, delivering ruthless blows as he stabbed and smashed his swords. He dragged them along the ground and split bodies, felled monstrous undead and sent many flying back with broken bones.

He slashed and chunks of meat just fell off the corpses as he slaughtered his way through those that were making it through the collapsed tunnels. He fought and fought, never stopping as the waters around him and Assassin turned crimson.

That was when the tunnels themselves were blasted open. You cursed under your breath as you looked at your phone. There was still a few minutes until the broadcast ended.

You looked ahead to see lightning crackle and blast out of a tunnel. Berserker moved and clashed with Saber their eyes meeting as he smashed the other Servant way.

A second explosion rang.

BOOM

Archer stepped out of the collapsed tunnel with her glaive behind her back and her bow in hand. She held up her hand.

"Rise and shine," she declared as she held out her bleeding hand, " Mermaid's Curse(False Immortality)."

You watched as the fallen Undead gasped and choked in blood, only to rise up once more. Archer let her wound heal as she drew her bow.

Berserker and Assassin moved.

"Go! Hyde!" Manaka ordered and the Blackened Servant joined the fray.

Archer fired her arrows in quick succession while Assassin dodged and weaved through them, slashing through the air and cutting one up. The Undead moved to surround Chiyome but Hyde laughed as he ripped through them while Saber and Berserker exchanged blows.

You watched as the battle unfolded. Your eyes widening as Heroic Spirits clashed with one another. Blades were crossed, arrows were shot, and blood sang in the air. This was it... You felt a fire spark in your chest.

This was indeed a Holy Grail War...

"BROTHER!"

You looked your way towards one Tunnel to find Minerva emerging from it. She had an excited look on her face as she wielded a gun and a glove as a mystic code.

"It's time we settle this, you and me! I won't let you run away again!" Minerva shouted as she walked past the corpses to get towards you.

Berserker and Assassin moved to intercept her but Saber and Archer kept them at bay. The Undead swarmed Hyde as he roared and ripped through their ranks.

You tightened your grip on your cane.

"Well now... That's certainly something... Hans, that's a scary smile you have on your lips," Manaka noted as she stood by your side. She leaned to your ear and whispered, "What are you going to do?"

You were... Smiling?

You loosened your hold on your cane as you walked forward as you spoke, "Simple... I'm going to kill her."

Manaka watched your back but you knew that she had the widest smile in her lips. After all, this feeling in your chest wasn't driven by reason or intellect.

No.

It was pure selfishness and a twisted desire to crush Minerva.

That was all there is to it.

Berserker dueled Saber, Assassin fought off Archer, you faced Minerva as the two of you met at the center of the battlefield.

There was no words needed.

Minerva drew her gun while you swept your cane on the ground. Freezing the droplets of water, you reinforced your legs as you dashed to the side and launched the icicles at her.

Minerva fired her gun, shooting the icicles out of the air but you already closed in. You unlocked your cane, revealing the hidden blade within it as you used it as a rapier to thrust at her head.

The Doll smiled as she grabbed the blade with her glove with the two of you kicked against one another.

"Show me a good time, Brother!"

"I'm going to kill you, you stupid Doll."



FATAL BATTLE
VS

SABER
SUSANOO
&

ARCHER
???


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

Assassin noticed that her Master had joined the fight. She closed her eyes and sighed. He just couldn't resist.

She turned her foe and flipped to avoid being shot before throwing her own kunai. Archer smiled and knocked the out of the air with her own arrows before switching her bow for her naginata.

Assassin landed on the ground, splashing the blood soaked water into the air before she slashed upwards, ruining Archer's superior vision. However Archer cut through it, only to find Assassin gone.

She turned to find Chiyome falling from the air with her sword, prompting Archer to turn her weapon and thrust. Blood danced but it came from a serpent instead of a body.

Archer looked down to see Assassin rise up.

"Amazing! You hid underwater?!" She laughed as she faced her foe.

However Assassin was faster than the naginata and thrust her sword.

"Clever. Truly clever," Archer said as she caught the Servant's blade with her palm, blood dripping down from the wound. Archer met Chiyome's gaze and said, "My Master will be pleased with your defeat, but his quarrel isn't with you. He's more interested in that blonde girl behind you."

"Manaka?" Assassin frowned as she tried pulling her sword.

"I see. Is that her name? This will be useful indeed," Archer said before she tore her hand off the sword and let go of her weapon. She swung her fist and forced Assassin to catch it.

"Kill me if you can, Shinobi," Archer taunted as she splashed her blood into the air, "Trust me, you'll have a hard time."

The Undead rose as her blood fell to the waters.

Assassin stood before an entire legion of walking corpses, their bodies being enhanced by Archer's blood and the false immortality. So even her blood can used as a Noble Phantasm...

"Once you fall, it's your Master's head that's next," Archer threatened as she dashed back among her undead soldiers, drawing her bow.

And Assassin spoke...

Free For All
[] "I am... A weapon. Don't underestimate my ability to kill, Immortal."
[] "I won't let you. I'll kill you right here. I won't let you touch a single hair on his head, Archer!"
[] "You talk too much. Why don't you try and kill me first, you hag?"
[] "Fine. This ends here, Archer. This curse of mine, I'll let it feast on us both!"
[] Write in...
 
[X] "You talk too much. Why don't you try and kill me first, you hag?"
 
So Mermaid's Curse: False Immortality is a Noble Phantasm. I'm thinking that fourth option would be immediately unleashing Ibuki on Archer, which seems like a poor opening move. Beyond that, yeah. I like third option best.
[x] "You talk too much. Why don't you try and kill me first, you hag?"
 
[X] "You talk too much. Why don't you try and kill me first, you hag?"

Yeah, once this fight is over we should probably report the suspiciously modern-looking zombies to the church.
 
[X] "You talk too much. Why don't you try and kill me first, you hag?"

Yeah, once this fight is over we should probably report the suspiciously modern-looking zombies to the church.
Definitely. I think someone said it last update, but this also possibly explains people going missing. If Archer had to consume people, or make them consume mermaid flesh to enable this Noble Phantasm, then they probably aren't able to return to normal life afterward.
 
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