Fate/Blackened Sugar

[] "Bring Miyu back!"

"Bring Miyu back!" you ordered as Assassin smiled before taking off. She kicked off the ground and made her jump, her body vanishing out of sight while you watched her go. You then turned your attention to the battle happening in the distance, the sight of the air being cut, of monsters being cleaved and of Heroes doing battle against the forces of darkness.

You would have laughed if it wasn't so beautiful. You looked down at your gemstone Luvia gave you before you spoke into it, "How's things?"

"Couldn't be better if that's what you're asking. Artoria needs some time to rest before she could join the others but we're doing well for three Servants facing a number this many. Rider has warned us not to get too close unless we want the Pyramid's power to affect these monsters. Which could easily make this fight turn ugly," Caren reported from the looks of it while you watched throngs of Sphinxes fall and shatter upon being hit by pink light.

"All you need to do is hold out. Assassin's just entered the Pyramid. Now it's just the hard part of getting this plan to pan out," you sighed as you leaned against a tree by your side.

"Funny. I was wondering if you were still making out with her," Caren snorted followed by a scandalized cry from Luvia near her.

"And you call yourself a nun. In any case, there's only a limited number of Sphinx. All you have to do is whittle their number until Mr. Ozymandias steps out of his Pyramid. Either way, the noise you're making should give Assassin the chance to kidnap Miyu," you replied as you narrowed your gaze up the top of the Pyramid, "Just watch out for that attack from before."

"We can't let that attack reach the city. Just that attack was enough to weaken a Heroic Spirit like Artoria. We won't survive another hit. Fortunately it seems to be the type of thing that can't be fired consecutively," Caren observed down at the battlefield, "This plan all hinges on us working together and doing our part. Make sure you support Assassin over there."

"You don't have to tell me," you sighed before you cut off the line.

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Lancer gasped as she caught herself from being hit by a Sphinx, only to perform a counter which resulted in the beast losing its head. She then turned and split the head of another before she slashed through two more in one swing. Compared to the specific Sphinx she fought alongside that Shinobi, these ones were nothing.

There were many of them but with Servants to support her, she was able to hold on her own. She tried restraining her hands and instincts as she glanced at the man also wielding Harpe in his hands. His stench never failed to irritate her, it reminded Lancer of that Derrinsmith but ten times worse than usual. He was after all, the man who killed her.

"Lancer! Focus!" Sakura ordered before Lancer weaved beneath the swings of the Sphinxes before she jammed her scythe underneath one and cutting.

Rider glanced at her and she grit her teeth. She couldn't stand the way he was looking at her. That look of pity he has behind that mask of his can't be hidden. Lancer braced herself and swung her scythe around her cleaving a clearing in the wall of flesh which surrounded her.

Rider saw this and was surprised before she turned and cut apart several Sphinxes in his way, leaving both him and her staring at each other.

"Perseus..." Lancer hissed.

"Medusa..." Rider murmured.

The two of the pivoted and cut their foes coming up behind them, splashing blood in the air as Sphinxes fell one by one.

"When this is over, I have a score to settle with you!" Lancer barked as she slashed through three Sphinxes at once.

Rider grimaced behind his mask before replying, "In your state? Don't even try."

"Haha! Let the little lady try. She might just surprise you, boy," Saber replied as he hammered his fist down a Sphinx before lifting it up and swinging it at its brethren. He had yet to draw his sword and had been fighting mainly with his fists.

Minerva stood by with the other Masters and was watching the battle silently. She had her arms crossed as she looked past the battle and towards the Pyramid. This was going to be a long night.

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Assassin moved towards the entrance of the Pyramid. Running while under the cover of her presence concealment, Assassin immediately felt the effects of the Pyramid hit her with the force of a speeding truck. She almost tripped over and lost control of her concealment. It was like a great weight had fallen on her shoulders, leaving her gasping for air upon coming close to the Pyramid.

It was only obvious that they would up their security. Assassin grit her teeth and reached deep inside her and let out a breath, feeling a certain curse begin to crawl all over her body. Her right eye changed to become more serpent-like as her teeth sharpened while she slowly got up her feet. This was a small price to pay.

It felt like there was something coiling and squeezing at her beating heart but she took another step before breaking into a run once more. She had to find Miyu and fast. Running through the entrance of the Pyramid, Chiyome found that the sentries guarding the front had vanished.

Running up the staircase from the entrance, the interior of the Pyramid quickly shifted. She looked back to see that the entrance had vanished leaving only a glowing mural. Assassin noticed the ground vanishing leading to a pitfall trap so she made her move and ran towards a passage and slid inside it.

Once she was in, the entrance shut behind her, leaving her inside. The Pyramid shuddered as its interior changed and twisted once more.

Observing the walls, she could feel the Pyramid slowly gathering power once more.

"I don't have time," Chiyome breathed as she held out her hand and summoned forth black serpents to emerge from her shadow. They lunged forth and allowed her to connect her senses with them. They went further beyond where she stood and sought out passages which she could take faster than she could going by herself.

There was only two ways she could go through while discarding the many others as traps and dead ends.

Up... Or down...

Up meant going to the chamber where Miyu should be held while going down meant descending to the necklace the Blackened Servant felt protecting. One was her ultimate mission while the other was an insurance for the battle ahead.


[] Go Up and Save Miyu
[] Go Down and retrieve the Blackened's Necklace

[] Go Down and retrieve the Blackened's Necklace.

Assassin hesitated before she considered her options. She didn't have much time left on the clock and the curse of the Pyramid had been weighing down on her body more on more. But even then she felt that she could still go down a detour and make a grab for that necklace the Blackened was keeping safe.

Even when it's body and spirit origin had been corrupted to such an extent, it still made a point to protect it the last time she was here. Which could only mean it held a strong enough significance to him that he would go that far to safeguard it. Assassin moved and decided to descend the Pyramid while keeping a low profile.

With the uproar the others were making, that Blackened should have his attention split towards them. If she retrieved that necklace, would that bastard try and take it back? He seemed rather protective of it.

If she could lure him out of this pyramid then that would give the others the chance to pin him down outside. Assassin ran as fast as she could, darting through halls and passageways as she descended into the Pyramid.

Assassin kept moving, silently making her ways downwards as her snakes mapped out the rest of the pyramid. She could feel the entire building surge with power for some reason but she couldn't stop now. She had to make it or risk everything in the line.

Eventually, Assassin ran into an opening leading to a large chamber. She knew what this place was... Assassin looked over the steps and saw the necklace sitting on the same pedestal as she had left it yesterday, the ruined remains of the Leyline root obliterated behind it.

Assassin jumped and landed before the necklace, noticing that it was emitting a rather warm glow. Gentle light caressed it like that of the warm days of the sun, careful not to burn or char it black. Assassin could feel a presence not outside or in her surroundings, but within the necklace itself.

Chiyome held up her hand and moved to grab it, pulling it down from the pedestal and-

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You opened your eyes to notice that the battle was still going on as you stood at the edge of the woods. Snow fell from the sky as the clock ticked by n your watch. Your breath smoked as you looked onwards to see that the group of Heroic Spirts had managed to cut down a majority of the Sphinxes which came out of the Pyramid only for them to begin moving forward.

Artoria must have recovered enough to provide assistance to the others as they took the first step. They cut and cleaved through their foes but the closer they got to the Pyramid, the stronger the remaining monsters became.

You looked at the back of your hand and inspected your Command Seals, only to feel it sting as you felt the presence of someone behind you. You turned and were met with the appearance of a young woman with blonde hair and blue eyes. Her gaze met with yours as the two of you locked eyes, your fist clenching as she cracked a smile your way.

"Merry Christmas, Hans," Manaka greeted you.

Snow continued to fall between you two.

"Yeah, same here," you replied with a low tone.

"Think you'll be fine staying out here? You'll just catch a cold if you wait here," Manaka said as she walked towards you.

"Where's Ayumi?" you questioned her.

"Sleeping," Manaka answered as she held a finger to point to her head, "Don't worry, she'll be fine for now. Still, it's amazing how you came across this radical plan. Only you could have come up with it. You never cease to surprise, Hans."

"I'd appreciate it more if you cut this shit out. You're the one behind all of this. This is your mess and I don't plan on wiping your ass now that it's gotten this bad," you told her in a steely tone to which Manaka turned to face you.

"But I can't. You see, it's more akin to a computer program that's set to accomplish its task it was made for. The Beast will continue to churn out Blackened until the last Servant is defeated. You could say that beyond this point, I have no more influence on it," Manaka explained as she raised her hands, "Though I could mess with you here and there to see what you would do."

"Oh sure, I'm sure that's hilarious for you," you scoffed.

"But it is. Visiting this world taught me a lot of things. You have taught me much as well. Now all that's left is seeing the conclusion," Manaka said a she looked down her hands, "The reason I became this way was because I lacked something... All of this was just a simple simulation on my return to my original world. But at the very least, I figured I should have some fun."

"I don't share your perspective on what's fun or not, Manaka," you plainly told her.

"Of course not. Because even for a Magus, you're closer to a normal human being while I have a connection to the Root. I will never understand your perspective in full but... I could try," Manaka said as she walked past you, "I'm looking forward to our duel. Just how far will you go, Derrinsmith?

"As far as I could," you replied with a grim tone.

Manaka grabbed your sleeve and made you face her, her finger pressing upon your chest. You felt something white hot carve itself upon your heart before you lost your strength in your legs. You gasped and fell down holding on to your chest.

"You should catch up to Assassin if you can. Didn't you promise to save Miyu together?" Manaka asked before you formed icicles and tried stabbing her, only to find that Manaka had vanished.
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Assassin found herself in a vast white expanse. A warm breeze caused her hair to dance behind her as she held up her hand before her face. She could feel someone standing behind her, causing her to turn in surprise and face the person. She was met with the appearance of a woman with tanned skin and warm brown eyes.

She was wearing a white one piece dress and had her hands behind her back, the necklace Assassin sought to acquire was wrapped around her neck. Chiyome was at a loss for words, wondering if she fell for a trap or something but her worries seemingly evaporated once the woman before her spoke.

"Please. Save my King," the woman asked her.

Assassin stared at her and found that her throat had lost its voice, causing her to hold her neck in surprise. She then looked at the woman again whom was giving her a sad smile.

"Spare him from this torment. Free his soul from the clutches of the Beast," the woman asked as tears began to well up in her eyes, "Please... Save Ramses."

Assassin blinked before closing her eyes and wearing a determined look. She then held out her hand and nodded. She'll do it.

"Thank you... I will... Leave things to you," the woman said as she took off her necklace and handed it towards Assassin. Holding on to the necklace, Assassin was filled with warmth which caused even the coiling pain of her curse to subside.

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Assassin held the necklace in her hand upon returning to reality. She looked down and inspected it, the necklace bearing the scent of flowers before she turned to notice that no alarms had gone off. The Blackened must have yet to notice that she got this thing now. It would probably help distracting it during a fight.

Still, if it was this necklace, she could probably lure the Blackened out as it is. She didn't have to charge in and get Miyu now. But there's no telling what could happen if Miyu is left alone in the Pyramid. Would it be wise for Assassin to take on the Blackened alone now?

[] Assassin will ascend to where Miyu is alongside the necklace. With the necklace, she should be able to put up a fight.
[] Assassin will step out of the Pyramid and lure the Blackened out of his place. This will give the others the chance to fight him all at once.