Fate/Blackened Sugar

[] "Thank you... For being here."



He was just a broken man. A man that chased atonement through multiple Hells. He had hurt, suffered and he knew pain above all else but it was the touch of warmth which allowed him to understand true pain. It almost made him laugh that for ten years he had fought on numerous battlefields, goodbyes remained the most painful things he had ever come across.

Farewells, severing bonds, and parting.

Hans held on to Chiyome tight and braced himself. Even if it was painful, even if it seemed unfair, he never regret opening up to this girl. Every second, every moment, he was happy. He was able to forget the gnawing guilt which ate him from the inside, he was able to think of others, of her and people he would have normally discarded.

Just as much as he had helped her, Hans knew that she had helped him as well. It felt... Good.

"Thank you..." Hans finally said as Chiyome's body began to fade, "For being here."

Chiyome's eyes widened as tears slid down her cheek. She smiled and hugged him in return.

"Live, okay? Don't dwell in the past. You're... You're much stronger than you think you are," Chiyome said as she held Hans' face, giving him a bright smile. It was a smile he would burn into his memory.

"I know. I'll keep going forward. Till we meet again," Hans replied with a nod.

"If I'm ever fortunate to see you again, I would stay by your side for good then. You can count on it," Chiyome replied as she wiped his tears, "Ah... I got so used to losing someone that I never knew what it'd be like if I were lost. It... Hurts just as much."

Hans' eyes widened as Assassin's body shattered into golden light. Her faint smile remained until the last possible moment, leaving his hand to grasp at nothing but air. The broken man was left falling to his knees, reaching to the golden motes of light which drifted to the air, becoming one with the Grail's light.

He held his hand up and saw the faint marks of his Command Seal before he clenched it into a fist.

"Yeah... It... Really hurts," Hans hissed as he closed his eyes. Breathing deeply, he slowly got to his feet and stared up at the Holy Grail's surging magical energy. The Crystallization should be finishing soon...

With this, the War was truly over.

Hans turned his back to the Grail and descended down the Throne's steps. Each foot fall hurt as his bum leg reminded him of his old injury. He forgot to reinforce it but he didn't care. He limped down the Throne, the image of Chiyome's smile lingering in his mind. He kept descending, the feeling of her warmth fading away, replaced by the cold.

He stepped away from the Light of the Grail to the Shadows of the Throne until he stopped at the last step.

"Thank you, for letting me say my goodbyes," Hans said as he looked down the Throne Room towards the open door, "Miyu's working hard right now, do you think we can reschedule this at another time?"

Minerva stepped out of the door carrying with her Hiyoko Sakatsuki. Minerva looked beaten up and bruised from the looks of it but Hiyoko was otherwise unharmed... No, he can smell blood on Hiyoko. She was wounded? Hans glanced at Minerva as she took a step forward and gave her reply.

"No. I'm afraid I can't do that, Brother," Minerva said as she met your gaze, "I've waited far too long for this... You manage to weasel your way out every time. I won't let you seize the Grail, that miracle of yours, it won't come true."

Minerva knelt down and set down Hiyoko's body.

"No more Servants, no more Command Seals, no more allies... Just you and me," Minerva said as she glared at Hans, rising up as she drew her handgun from its holster, "I will show no mercy."

"So that's it then. That's all you have to cling on. Can't say I dislike it... After all, I'm clinging on something important to me too," Hans growled as the Grail's Light shined behind him, "We're the same after all."

Minerva took aim and fired all while Hans erected a barrie-

BANG

Her bullet flew through his barrier and slammed into his stomach. It was like being struck with a sledgehammer, nearly knocking Hans off his feet. He looked down and saw a red stain soaking his clothes. The pain soon came as Hans was forced on his knees.

"Last shot!" Minerva cheered as she aimed for Hans' head and fired.

CLICK

Minerva's gun no longer fired. She was out of ammo.

She sneered as she tossed it aside, "Well that's disappointing."

"Minerva..." Hans snarled as he slowly got up.

"Standing up, huh? Good, that makes things more interesting," Minerva said as she cracked her knuckles, "Get up... So I can smash your head while you're on your feet!"

Minerva dashed towards Hans with a burst of speed. Magical Energy flowed through her body as she reinforced her flesh to go above and beyond humanity. She kicked off the ground to smash her knee right on his skull but Hans raised his hand.

"Eihwaz," Hans breathed as Runes glowed on his hand and caught her blow.

BANG

"Ho?" Minerva raised her eyebrow while looking down on the broken man. Hans remained on his feet, absorbing the impact despite his gunshot wound before he opened his Mystic Eye.



Minerva tensed and felt all strength leave her body. Her reinforcement was gon-?!

SMASH

A fist landed into her face, sending her sliding back.

Minerva blinked and fell down on one knee. That had been... A solid hit. Her eyes looked up as Hans remained standing before her, unfazed by his wound and exhaustion.

She grinned and moved, swinging her leg at his head while he leaned back to evade. Minerva reinforced her arms to harden them but Hans opened his Mystic Eye once more and cut off her power, allowing him to block it with his arm and deliver a backhand across her face. Bracing herself, she endured the blow before driving her own fist into his stomach, lifting him off his feet and throwing him backwards.

Hans smashed into the pillar near the Throne.

"You surprised me but... You're dying," Minerva said as she wiped the blood off her lips.

Hans coughed out blood but otherwise got to his feet, "I'm not dead yet. Don't write me off."

"This body was made to kill you," Minerva said as she spread her arms, "Do you think you have a chance?"

"Curse: Relinquish 3 years of my Life..." Hans growled as he stood up, a swirl of black energy gathering upon where his left arm should be. The black masses stuck together and formed what looked like a Blackened Arm made out of Curses. Clenching his fists, Hans was breathing heavily as he kept his eyes on Minerva.

"So you finally lost your mind..." Minerva giggled as her circuits blazed to life, marking her body as she smiled towards Hans, "Come then, Brother. Let's settle this!"

Hans grimaced as the Curse left arm he had began eating away at his flesh. He tried to maintain his consciousness as he got ready. He won't let her get past him.

"I won't let you touch Miyu," Hans answered in return.

[] Stand your ground and conserve your strength. She's stronger and faster, you need to understand her in order to fight back.
[] Knock her out of the Throne Room. Get her as far away from Miyu as possible. You're not taking your chances, you'll kill her now.
[] Don't waste any time. Summon Faux Pandora and end this in one go. You're not going to give her the chance to breathe.