Fate/Blackened Sugar

[] Buy time. The flare should catch Artoria and Caren's attention. If you can make Minerva dance to your tune, they could save you from getting murdered.

"Dying isn't really on my agenda. Sounds like it'll hurt a lot," you replied as you got up and grimaced. You stood unsteadily before Sakura and Luvia as you continued speaking, "Can't we settle this in another way? Or has your patience run out. You've been pretty passive during this war."

"Well, you were always a slippery fox, you know?" Minerva said as she spread her hands with a shrug, "I needed to be sure I poked and prodded you in the right way before going for the kill."

"You did well considering how many times the odds were against me. Now will you take your prize or will you savor the kill? I suggest the latter because things could go real ba-" you spoke only for a gunshot to ring out.

BANG

Hot pain smashed through your knee and you were left falling down.

"Hans!" Sakura cried out but you gasped and endured the pain as you raised your hand.

"I think I'll go with the latter. Though I'm surprised, you still have two Seals. Why haven't you called in your little Snake?" Minerva asked as she lowered her gun.

"I... Wouldn't want to miss out... Punching your smug face... If she killed you first," you chuckled through the agonizing pain flaring on your left leg. Shit, it hurts so much, she really fired where your nerves were clumped up, huh? You tried enduring it with a bit of magecraft as you tried keeping her attention on you.

"Still quite the talker. I'll enjoy this, Brother. How about I take your other arm as a prelude to to our time together? Given you already had experience with the other being torn off," Minerva said as she sneered, "The gift Brie left you hasn't made you any less dangerous, huh? That goes to show just how much experience you have in the past ten years."

You drew a rune and launched glittering crystal towards her but Minerva simply rushed towards you. She weaved past your projectiles as you reinforced your legs to meet her. You poured magical energy into your hands as you swung at her but she simply dodged and grabbed your coat, smashing you into the floor where you coughed out blood.

Saber stood at the side with a grim look as he watched his Master pin you down.

"You're not even trying!" Minerva snarled as she raised her fist and punched you across the face, the blow strong enough to make you see stars, "You insult me, Brother, if you think party tricks like that can kill me!"

You chuckled as you met her gaze, your blue eyes meeting her amber ones, "Tell me something, Minerva. How's grandfather doing? Was he happy about your little escape from last year? The Luctworth went through much painstaking hoops to get that body you're using... So I wonder why a Unit like you is sent out here to kill me instead of being in the Manor? Ah, perhaps Grandfather got what he needed and simply kept the Aozaki's Secret while discarding you here? Don't tell me, Minerva, that you've been tossed out for me to kill?"

Minerva stared at you before she smiled and punched you across the face, "You're funny, Brother."

"Figures... You'll never amount to what he seeks. You're not the Pandora the Luctworth want. You're a failure just all the rest... And you know what's really funny? The absolute failure that Aozaki Touko made in the Last War managed to attain happiness... Happiness you'll never ever get to taste," you laughed as you grabbed her coat and pulled her face close to yours, "That's why you've been passive. You don't have drive... Not even the prospect of murdering me is enough to motivate you. But me? I'm very motivated. That's why a Doll like you has no shit against me."

Minerva pressed the gun against your throat and looked you in the eye.

"Do it," you goaded her. You grabbed the gun barrel and pressed it against your throat, "Fucking do it, you coward. Kill me. Kill me and what will you be left with? I'm all you have, Minerva. If I go, you become nothing. That's why that body is made. To kill Hans Derrinsmith. If I die, what happens afterwards?"

You looked her in the eye as you locked the barrel right beneath your jaw, angled to go through your neck out of your skull.

"Let's see, huh?" you growled.

"Minerva!" Saber snapped and Minerva was struck out of her stupor. Her eyes widened just as a Sphinx landed to her side and roared, only for Saber to rush in and deliver a kick which sent it flying.

Two more Sphinxes descended from the skies as Luvia and Sakura moved to defend themselves. Saber cut down the ones coming towards him before you shoved Minerva off of you. You rolled to the side and grabbed a sharp piece of debris from a gravestone while Minerva rolled to recover and aim at you. You threw the rock at her and knocked her gun off her hand before you held up your hand in the air, tossing out your own blood.

Your blood turned into black feathers which you used to rain down projectiles upon Minerva.

"Aegis!" she cried out as she defended against your blows before she yelled, "Saber! Kill him!"

Saber turned and fixed his gaze upon you. Kicking off the ground, he raised his sword and moved to plunge it into your chest. You braced yourself but someone got in your way. A Knight of Blue and Silver appeared wielding her hidden within Winds. She was able to repel Saber's blow with expert movement before delivering a counter which pushed him back.

"You're a little bit late, Miss," you breathed as you held your knee while on the ground.

"Forgive me, there was a lot of pests in the way," Artoria said as she sighed.

Saber tensed up before turning to the side and finding Chiyome with her blade drawn to stab him. He was able to detect and foil her assassination attempt before sending her sliding back on the ground. Assassin's eyes were filled with such bloodlust you only saw on the first night you met her.

Her eyes quickly turned to Minerva standing not too far away and she moved.

Artoria saw this and barked, "Assassin, you promised to stand down!"

However Chiyome wasn't listening as she jumped Minerva with her sword raised.

"Assassin, Stand Down," a voice gently ordered and Assassin's body was filled with crimson light before she was forced down to the ground by an invisible force.

"Saber!" Minerva barked as she looked down on a vulnerable Chiyome.

Saber moved but as he stood over Assassin, Caren held up her arm once more, spending her fourth Command Seal of the War, "Saber, Stand Down."

Thanks to his Magic Resistance, he was able to resist but he didn't push his luck once he saw Caren walking up from the side, dragging a wounded Lancer behind her. Saber and Assassin eyed Caren with livid looks but they were both wary of the array of Command Seals on her arm.

"You two will behave and I have Command Seals, I am not afraid to use them. By my Authority as Administrator, the War is hereby postponed for the time being. No battle will commence under this time," Caren said as she held out her right arm, only for your to see that her Seals were in the pattern of thorns.

Seven Seals, three left unused.

"Due to the interference of these Blackened, I have decided that all Masters must work together to take down the interlopers. The Grail has been taken and it's our job to get it back. If the Grail is destroyed or corrupted, then this War will be null and void," Caren then glanced at you and Minerva, "I don't think any of you would want that, would you?"

Minerva glanced at you and grit her teeth while you simply sighed.

[] "Always have a flair for theatrics, huh, Miss Hortensia?"
[] "We've come this far. Let's resume the Deathmatch at a later date, shall we?"
[] "Miyu's more important. We'll comply. So, what's the plan now, Caren?"
[] "Suppose we could call a truce... For now. No promises on not hurting Minerva though."