The inspiration for this fic came from a recent Youtube video I watched made by Gigguk, about...
Fate/Alius Mundi (Isekai Battle Royale)
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Introduction
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The inspiration for this fic came from a recent Youtube video I watched made by Gigguk, about Rising of the Shield Hero and the popularity of the Isekai genre:
In particular, it was the offhand 'Fate/Stay Night is an Isekai Battle Royale' joke that did it. I was quite surprised that no one had thought of something like this before, and I was even more surprised at how well it could all work out. I'm hoping there might be other fics that take a similar direction. Please note that I do not possess a doctorate in Nasuology like some you might have, so apologies if I make any mistakes in that area. Enjoy! Comment! Follow!
Synopsis:
The year is 1994. The Fourth Holy Grail War is set to begin. However, this iteration may prove far more interesting than others. The Holy Grail summons forth not seven 'Heroes' from the annals history and legend, but seven wayward foreigners from strange and distant realities... Now, they must fight alongside their Masters in an unknown, yet familiar land. Worlds will collide, and the fate of all hangs in the balance...
In particular, it was the offhand 'Fate/Stay Night is an Isekai Battle Royale' joke that did it. I was quite surprised that no one had thought of something like this before, and I was even more surprised at how well it could all work out. I'm hoping there might be other fics that take a similar direction. Please note that I do not possess a doctorate in Nasuology like some you might have, so apologies if I make any mistakes in that area. Enjoy! Comment! Follow!
Synopsis:
The year is 1994. The Fourth Holy Grail War is set to begin. However, this iteration may prove far more interesting than others. The Holy Grail summons forth not seven 'Heroes' from the annals history and legend, but seven wayward foreigners from strange and distant realities... Now, they must fight alongside their Masters in an unknown, yet familiar land. Worlds will collide, and the fate of all hangs in the balance...
SERVANTS:
(UPDATED WHEN APPROPRIATE)
BE WARY OF EXTREME POTENTIAL SPOILERS
(UPDATED WHEN APPROPRIATE)
BE WARY OF EXTREME POTENTIAL SPOILERS
- Archer
-
Devil of the Rhine
True Name: Lt. Colonel Tanya von Degurechaff
Place of Origin: 'Japan'
Type: Reincarnation, Anti-Hero
Affiliation: Servant of Tokiomi Tohsaka
Alignment: Lawful Evil
Likes: Coffee, Diligent Work
Dislikes: Religion, Insubordination, Lolicons
Talents: Chess, Plotting
Natural Enemy: 'Being X'
Image Colour: Silver
Armaments: Imperial Flight Suit, SIG MKMS Submachine Gun
Parameters:
-Strength: C
-Endurance: C
-Agility: A
-Mana: A
-Luck: E*
-N.P: A+
Class Skills:
-Independent Action: A-
Able to remain in this world for up to seven days without the support of a Master, even after expending large amounts of Mana. Tanya can also simply use her Noble Phantasm to restore her Mana if necessary... But only if all other options have been exhausted.
-Magic Resistance: C
Provides protection against most mid-level spells and hexes. A standard attribute of veteran Flight Mages, who gain an increased tolerance to magic through constant exposure and usage.
Personal Skills:
-Rejection of the Heavens: EX*
A dreadful curse placed upon Tanya after provoking a higher power. She will never again find peace; trapped in an inescapable cycle of violence and destruction. If she does not accept the Lord into her heart, her soul will ultimately be consigned to oblivion. Her Luck is thus permanently reduced to E. However, the curse has only increased her ire towards Gods, granting her a significant Damage Bonus against Divine adversaries.
-Flight Mage Training: A+
The ability to cast Flight Mage Spells via Computation Orb. Tanya is the greatest prodigy in the history of the Imperial Mage Corps, being its youngest graduate ever, and one of the only members to ever achieve full mastery of all spell types. These spells include: Reinforcement spells, Combat spells, Illusion spells, Weapon Enhancement spells, and most importantly, Flight Control spells.
-Military Tactics: C-
Experience in the arts of warfare, from small skirmishes to global conflicts. Although the majority of her knowledge and strategies are based on information retained from her previous incarnation, Tanya is still a hardened veteran of the battlefield, holding the esteemed title of 'Argent', and the battalion under her command has an exceptionally low casualty rate.
-Clairvoyance: C
Grants exceptional perception and increased accuracy with projectile weapons. Tanya's eyesight is significantly better than it was in her previous incarnation, which needed glasses. Boosting one's perception via magic is one of the first things Flight Mages learn during training, and she was able to master it in under a week.
Noble Phantasm:
> Elenium Type-95: Cursed Are The Peacemakers <
-Rank: A+
-Type: Anti-Army
The magnum opus of the infamous Dr. Adelheid von Shugel, the Elenium Type-95 is the only quad-core Computation Orb in existence. It would normally be classified as a Man-made Miracle, on par with the works of Da Vinci or Edison. However, he was only able to create this functioning model through Divine Inspiration, transforming it into a Holy Relic. It was built specifically for Tanya, as she is the only mage with the power and skill to properly use it.
While it can be used in its dormant state, its true power can only be safely channelled through devout prayer. This massively increases its Mana production, and allows Tanya to cast incredibly powerful spells known as 'Gospel Magic'. However, overuse of this power comes at a dire cost. The 'blessing' of the Orb corrupts her very soul, warping her into a follower of God. She adamantly refuses to unleash its full potential, and only a Command Seal will change that.
- Assassin
- Berserker
- Caster
- Lancer
- Rider
-
Great Sage of Jura
True Name: Rimuru Tempest
Place of Origin: 'Japan'
Type: Reincarnation
Affiliation: Servant of Waver Velvet
Alignment: Lawful Good
Likes: Making Friends, Discovering New Things, Elf Girls
Dislikes: Arguments, Terrible Cooking
Talents: Shaperades
Natural Enemy: Sadistic 'Heroes'
Image Colour: Light Blue
Armaments: Chokuto, Mana-Suppressing Mask
Parameter:
-Strength: B-
-Endurance: A
-Agility: B+
-Mana: B
-Luck: A
-N.P: A
Class Skills:
-Independent Action: C
Able to remain in this world for one day without the support of a Master. Since his body is composed of Magicules, Rimuru would normally cease to exist immediately without a source of Mana. However, his status as a Reincarnation gives him a small grace period.
-Riding: A
Able to ride all manner of vehicles and creatures, excluding Phantasmal and Divine Beasts. Ranga, while technically qualifying as a Phantasmal Beast, is an exception, due to his bond with Rimuru. His loyalty is without question, no matter which world he is in.
-Magic Resistance: B-
Provides protection against mid-level spells and hexes, and near-immunity to elemental spells. Rimuru has a natural resistance to ice-, fire-, and electricity-based damage, thanks to the base Skills he gained upon reincarnation. Quite convenient, since most Slimes are weak to magic.
Personal Skills:
-Self-Modification: B
Capable of transforming and modifying one's own body. As a Slime, Rimuru can Mimic other creatures and people, provided he has absorbed their remains with his Predator Skill. He can also shift parts of his body freely, into wings, claws, tendrils, and other shapes. ...However, he cannot seem to change his gender.
-Otherworldly Transference: C
Allows for the usage of Abilities gained in another world. This Skill is exclusive to Reincarnation-Type Servants. The stronger the Servant's connection is to their past life, the higher its rank will be. Rimuru does occasionally reflect on his old life, but doesn't miss it all that much; he retained about 55% of his abilities.
-Familiar Bond: A
Allows one to summon a Familiar at will. Ranga is able to materialise from Rimuru's shadow at any time, since it is an inborn Skill of his race. Ranga himself is strong enough to prove a serious threat on his own, and can even increase his size if neccessary.
Noble Phantasm:
> Unique Skill - Great Sage: Empyrean Revelation <
-Rank: B-
-Type: Anti-Unit (Self)
A Unique Skill that was granted to Rimuru upon his reincarnation... As a 'reward' for retaining his virginity for 30+ years. It manifests itself as a 'voice' inside his soul, that automatically provides him with aid whenever he needs it. In combination with his other Unique Skill, Predator, Great Sage allowed Rimuru to become the most powerful Slime in history.
This enigmatic power allows Rimuru to gain information about any item, creature, location, magic, or other subject he knows of. Its analytical abilities are exceptional, but not infallible; the Skills and Noble Phantasms of other Servants remain hidden to it, as Rimuru does not possess the authority of a Ruler-class Servant. However, it can still offer insight into their effects, and costs no Mana to use.
> Storm Dragon Veldora: The Tempest Unsealed <
-Rank: A
-Type: Anti-Fortress
Veldora is an ancient and massively powerful High Dragon, who once ruled over the Great Jura Forest. Unfortunately, he is not the most tactful creature, and after a miscommunication which resulted in the destruction of an entire city, Veldora was sealed away in a cave by a human Hero... Until Rimuru unwittingly befriended him and decided to help out. With this power, Rimuru can temporarily release Veldora's seal and summon him to fight.
Dragons are considered as the most powerful species of Phantasmal Beast on Earth, and Veldora is no exception. He is almost impossible to subdue, has very few weaknesses, and his power over storms and lightning provide him with an immense advantage. However, he can still be killed. The only other downsides are the sheer collateral damage, and the massive Mana consumption; Veldora can only remain on the field for about three minutes at best. ...He also refuses to let anyone ride him.
- Saber
-
The Familiar of Zero
True Name: Saito Hiraga
Place of Origin: Japan
Type: Heroic Spirit, Familiar
Affiliation: Servant ofKiritsugu EmiyaLouise de La Vallière
Alignment: Neutral Good
Likes: Louise, Teriyaki Burgers
Dislikes: Gym Teachers, People Who Hurt Louise
Talents: Computer Science, Video Games
Natural Enemy: Louise's Parents
Image Colour: Pink
Armaments: Various Weapons/Firearms (On loan from Kiritsugu Emiya.)
Parameter:
-Strength: C
-Endurance: C
-Agility: C
-Mana: E
-Luck: C+
-N.P: B+
Class Skills:
-Magic Resistance: C
Provides protection against most mid-level spells and hexes. This passive effect is not granted by the power of the Gandálfr, so it was likely caused by long-term exposure to the magically dense atmosphere of Halkegenia.
-Riding: B*
Able to ride any vehicle, as long as it was created as a 'weapon' for the purpose of warfare. This Class Skill was granted by the power of the Gandálfr, acting as an extension of the Weapon Mastery Skill, and with similar limitations.
Personal Skills:
-Weapon Mastery: A*
Capable of masterfully wielding any weapon that can be held, as long as it was created for the purpose of warfare. This Skill is part of Saito's Gandálfr powers, and works even with modern weaponry like firearms. But only true tools of war can be used; something like a sharpened stick or pipe will not trigger the skill.
-Bravery: A
The will to fight on, under even the most overwhelming pressure, focusing solely on the battle at hand. If Louise is being threatened, no force on Earth will deter Saito from protecting her. All psychological stress is nullified, and Saito receives a Damage Bonus as long as this Skill is active.
-Familiar Bond (Inverted): A
Proof of one's bond with their Master. As a Familiar, Saito is strongly attuned to Louise, moreso than any other Servant. With this skill, he can sense whether she is in danger, and find her precise location with ease. He will always rush to his Master's side at the first sign of peril, bound to her by feelings stronger than mere loyalty...
Noble Phantasm:
> *Gandálfr: The Left Hand of God <
-Rank: B
-Type: Anti-Unit
The 3rd of the legendary blessings bestowed upon Void Familiars, the power of the Gandálfr was given to Saito after being summoned to Halkegenia, and forming a contract with Louise. This sacred moniker once belonged to one of the original Familiars of the Founder Brimir, and is unmistakable proof of Louise's status as a Void Mage. While Saito does not possess any magical potential whatsoever, this power more than makes up for it.
As the Gandálfr, Saito can wield any weapon at his disposal; from swords and spears all the way up to rocket launchers and jet fighters. He requires no training or knowledge of the weapon, even if he has never seen it before. Furthermore, while acting as the Gandálfr, all of his Parameters are increased by one rank, except for Mana and Luck. The caveat is that it is not a continuously active power; Saito has to consciously engage it to use his ablities. Without the blessing of the Void, he is no more than an average high-school student.
> Sentient Sword Derflinger: Blade of The Void <
-Rank: B+
-Type: Anti-Unit~Anti-Army
An antique falchion with a mind of its own, Derflinger was purchased by Louise for Saito at a bargain price. Despite his rusty exterior and blunt personality, he quickly became Saito's signature weapon and trusted partner. But there is more to him than meets the eye; he is thousands of years old, possibly forged by Brimir himself, and has a strong connection with both the Gandálfr and the Void.
As a result of this connection, Derflinger is able to absorb and dispel magic. He can cut through barriers and illusions with ease, and counter almost any offensive spell. In particular, creatures or constructs made of or dependent on magic are extremely vulnerable to this effect. He does have his limits: He cannot fully absorb Wind spells, due to their form, and absorbing too much energy at once will cause him to shatter. He also possesses no other powers, so against a non-magical opponent he is functionally just an ordinary steel sword.
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-1- -Another Beginning-
- Location
- [REDACTED]
Let us tell the story of a certain man. The story of a man who believed in his ideals more than anyone else, and by them-
Tch. I've already seen this one a dozen times. What else is there?
Twilight and crimson lightning raced out and crashed into each other. The two streams of light, like surging waves with simply the purpose of destr-
Seen it.
Truth, at times, crushes the world's lies,
But it cannot erase-
NO.
I am the bone of my swo-
Isn't there anything new?! ...Am I really going to have to settle for the cooking show?
.....
Hmm...?
Oh ho.
Well, well. How curious. This one might be worth a watch...
-=)=-=|=-=(=-
-Fate/Alius Mundi-
-=)=-=|=-=(=-
-1- -Another Beginning-
Blizzards howled outside the imposing castle of the Einzbern family. Despite the ancient Bounded Fields surrounding the estate keeping out the worst of the weather, it was still noticably cold within the great chapel. This was by design however, as the chapel was currently the site of a ritual of untold importance; one the Einzberns had been preparing for.
Here, Kiritsugu Emiya, chosen Master of the Fourth Holy Grail War, along with his wife Irisviel von Einzbern, sat kneeling in front of a shining summoning circle in anticipation of his Servant's arrival. Avalon, the legendary scabbard of Excalibur, was placed upon the altar. With this catalyst, they were guaranteed to summon one the Knights of the Round Table; each a formidable Saber in their own right. Perhaps, they could even call up the King of Knights himself.
The light and noise of the circle intensified, forcing the pair to back away as a massive storm of mana concentrated itself on the chapel. Lightning crackled along its edge, before suddenly releasing a blinding column of energy. The great beacon lingered for what seemed like an eternity, but eventually faded away. As Kiritsugu and his spouse regained their bearings, they looked towards the summoning circle, and beheld their Servant.
"Umm... Where's your Servant, Kiritsugu?"
Or rather, their LACK of a Servant.
"....."
Indeed, the summoning circle was completely empty. Kiritsugu carefully stepped forwards, his trained eyes inspecting every last corner of the chapel, but they found no signs of any Heroic Spirits. The only other mana signature in the room came from Avalon, still sitting pretty on the altar. In the end he came to the only logical conclusion.
"...The ritual failed. How?" The Magus Killer's voice was tinged with dissapointment and concern.
Irisviel gave him a slightly confused look. "Maybe you should have done the ritual properly after all?"
"No, that couldn't have been it. I told you, the Grail performs the actual summoning. The only real requirements are a circle and an eligible Master. The circle was perfectly functional, and we also verified the authenticity of the catalyst." He frowned. "So that would suggest that the Grail itself was the cause..."
"Ah!" Irisviel clapped her hands together. "Maybe someone else was busy summoning their Servant when we tried it! You know, like when you call someone on the phone, but they're already talking to someone else!"
Kiritsugu shook his head. "The Grail isn't some machine. It's the culmination of centuries of magecraft. There's no way for us to know if something went wrong with it, or why. It's possible some outside force could have interfered with the summoning, but I can't imagine how that might have happened. As far as I know, no Master has ever failed to summon a Servant..."
"Oh, don't be so pessimistic, Kiritsugu!" The homunculus smiled, and took his hands into hers. "'If at first you don't succeed, try and try again.' You can't give up on your dream at the first hurdle. Just give it another shot, and keep trying until it works, alright?"
"...Right. Let's see if-"
The summoning circle exploded.
-=)=-=|=-=(=-
"*cough* Iri, are you hurt?!" Kiritsugu picked himself up off the floor and called out to his wife through the smoke.
"N-no! *cough* I'm fine! Can you tell what's happened?!" He could barely make out the silhouette of Irisviel moving around nearby.
"I don't know! Some sort of delayed reaction from the ritual, maybe! Stay low- the smoke could be harmful!"
"Wait, is that you over there? I think it's starting to clear away already..." True to her word, the smoke filling the chapel began to disappear. Kiritsugu moved to help Irisviel to her feet. As the rest of the room became visible once more, the couple's eyes immediately shot towards the summoning circle. "Could it be...?" There, in the center, a shallow shape was revealed.
"....." The Magus Killer held his breath as the last of the smoke vanished...
"...There's two of them?"
Laying face-down in the circle were two very different people. One of them appeared to be a petite young girl with strawberry-blonde hair, who was dressed in a somewhat irregular school uniform with a long cape. The other one was a dark-haired teenage boy with a distinctive longsword strapped to his back. His clothing was even more unusual, as he seemed to be wearing a modern blue and white hoodie with a pair of jeans, and a short cloak over his shoulders.
"Aww, they're holding hands... How sweet!" Irisviel exclaimed. The boy had his left hand clasped tightly around the girl's right. Inscribed on the back of said hand were a set of runes. Kiritsugu made a mental note to examine them later.
Upon closer inspection he realised the boy's face had Asian features, in contrast with the girl, who he suspected might be of European descent. She was also giving off an exceptionally strong mana signature, similar to the sword carried by the youth. Neither of them had any injuries as far as could tell, but both were completely unconscious. He considered removing the boy's weapon, but decided to prioritize their wellbeing first.
"Iri, help me get them to the infirmary. We can sort this mess out later. You take the girl, and I'll take the boy." He carefully picked up the unconscious teenager, untangling his hand from the girl's. But when Irisviel bent down to take the girl, she suddenly gasped and flinched back in shock.
"H-her hand! But that's...! Kiritsugu, look at her hand!" She pointed with a trembling finger.
There, on the back of the girl's right hand, was a horrifyingly familiar marking- the crimson cruciform design of his own Command Seals.
Kiritsugu stared at the Seals in disbelief, before wordlessly holding up his own right hand. His fears were confirmed; the mark that proved he had been chosen as a Master by the Grail had vanished, leaving naught but a faint outline.
"What... What the hell is this...?!"
-=)=-=|=-=(=-
"What the hell is this?!"
Waver Velvet's cry of frustration rang through the forest clearing. He'd spent more than a week preparing for this pain-in-the-ass summoning ritual. Even with the catalyst he'd 'borrowed' from Lord El-Melloi, it was pretty much impossible for a mere student magus to obtain all the reagents needed to perform the ritual as described in his books. That meant his only option was to do the one thing a sane magus should never do- improvise.
(The book DID briefly mention another version of the ritual he could've used, but... Well, let's just say Waver drew the line at chickens.)
Using candles from the local store, a bag of barbeque charcoal, a shaker of 'Genuine Himalayan Rock Salt', some good old-fashioned chalk, and the aforementioned poultry, the young Master created his own ultra-low-budget summoning ritual. And amazingly enough, it had actually worked! Kind of. Technically. He summoned something, at least.
Sitting motionless in the middle of his makeshift circle was a shiny, translucent blue sphere. It was about the size of a medicine ball, and gave off a surprisingly strong mana signature.
Waver decided to analyse the strange object in the most scientific way possible; by poking it with a tree branch from a sensible distance. He observed that the 'blue ball' was springy and malleable, similar to jelly, and also slightly sticky. His branch couldn't penetrate the sphere's outer surface despite his prodding, and further contact yielded no visible reaction.
At this point, the reality of Waver's situation was starting to sink in. His whole plan of winning the Grail War, thus forcing El-Melloi to admit he was the superior magus (and hopefully let him get away with everthing he'd done), depended on him summoning a really, really awesome Servant... Which had apparently melted into a useless blob of mana.
Thus, it was time to panic. "Shit, Shit, SHIIIT! My life's over! I fucked it all up! Dammit, I knew you couldn't replace diamond dust with charcoal!"
He paced back and forth feverishly, clutching at his hair, as he tried to think of a way out. "What am I gonna do...!? Go back to England? No, I'd be lucky if the Tower settled for only expelling me. Stay here with that old couple? Maybe for a few weeks, but I can't keep them hypnotised forever..."
While Waver argued with himself, the mysterious blue blob behind him gently started to pulsate. "...What about Australia? They'd never find me in the Outback... Wait, no! I'd just die out there anyway! Maybe my best bet is to escape to India- they speak English there, right?"
*bLoMp*
"...Huh?" He felt something tap him on the back. He turned around... And came face to face with a gooey blue tentacle.
"GAH!" Waver fell flat on his ass and scrambled into the nearby bushes. After a minute or so, he slowly peeked out of cover.
"It's alive...?!"
The not-so-motionless little blob was sitting right where he had just been standing. Despite its lack of eyes or facial features, he got the impression that it was watching him. As if to verify his suspicion, the blue ball gave him a jaunty little wave with a tentacle. Waver cautiously emerged from the bushes with his hands up, feeling slightly embarassed.
"Um... Hello? I, uh, I come in peace? ...Please don't hurt me." Waver spoke, as the thing hopped towards him.
"Don't worry! I'm not a bad slime! I promise!" It replied.
"....."
"....."
"...You can talk?" Waver stammered.
"...Yes. Yes, I can." The 'slime' muttered.
"R-right. Uh... Do you want something from me?" He felt as though he'd disappointed it, somehow.
The slime gave him another 'look'. "What do you mean? Aren't you the 'Master' who summoned me here? As some kind of 'Servant'?"
Waver's jaw dropped. "You... You're my Servant?" The young Master stared at the slime for a moment, then turned and walked a few paces, and took a deep breath.
"YAHOO! I DID IT! I GOT A SERVANT! I'M NOT A FAILURE! SUCK IT, EL-MELLOI! YOUR ASS IS MINE!" He roared, and proudly presented the night sky with his two favourite fingers.
The slime watched its Master's shameless display of pride with a sense of bemused confusion. As Waver Velvet loudly celebrated his greatest succes as a magus, it gazed up towards the stars, filled with a wistful sense of nostalgia.
-=)=-=|=-=(=-
"...I might have gotten a bit carried away back there." Waver mumbled sheepishly.
"Don't worry about it. It's fine to celebrate your successes, right?" The slime replied. It and its Master had settled down on a fallen tree near the ritual site. Waver was fairly keen to learn more about his bizarre new Servant.
"Ah, I haven't even introduced myself! I'm Waver Velvet, and well, I'm your Master. Do you mind telling me your name? Uh, assuming you have one, I mean..."
The slime extended another tentacle towards him. "Hello, Waver! I'm Rimuru Tempest the Slime! It's nice to meet you, Master!" Waver gave Rimuru's tentacle an awkward handshake.
"Ri-mu-ru Tempest...? That's... Not a name I've ever heard in any legend. What kind of creature is a slime, anyway?"
"Oh right, you wouldn't know, would you? Well, I'm what people in my world call a 'monster'. They're living beings that are made of magicules, instead of-"
"Woah, woah, back up! What do you mean 'my world' and 'magicules'? Aren't you supposed to be a Heroic Spirit?"
"...'Heroic Spirit'?" The slime was silent for a moment, seemingly lost in thought. "Oh. Um, no. I'm not a legendary figure from Earth. I'm actually from another world."
"Y-you're an alien?!" Waver stuttered.
"Ehh?! No no no! I mean from like a different reality! One that's like in a fantasy story, with dragons and elves!"
"Wha- how- that's... There's no way that could be true, right? I mean, I've heard of the Kaleidoscope doing stuff like that, but he's the freaking Wizard Marshall! How the hell could a rookie like me summon something from another dimension...?"
"Well, I wouldn't worry about it. These things just happen sometimes, you know? I might not be a legend like Ghenghis Khan, but I think having a Servant from another world is way better!" Rimuru cheered.
"*sigh* I guess it doesn't really matter where you're from, as long as you can fight. Speaking of which... Which Class are you?"
"Hmm... Apparently, I'm a 'Rider'. I guess it kind of fits; I do ride around on Ranga a lot..." The slime mused.
"Ranga? Is that another monster or something?"
"Yup! Oh, I should probably try and call him, so he'll know what's going on."
Suddenly, the surrounding shadows seemed to shimmer and distort. To Waver's dismay, a massive wolf-like beast emerged from the darkness. A sharp pair of horns protruded from its star-patterned forehead, and it surveyed the area with gleaming yellow eyes.
"Lord Rimuru...? Where are we? This is not the Great Jura Forest. I sense magic in the air, but it is faint... We must be very far from home." Ranga's telephatic voiced echoed in Rimuru and Waver's minds.
"Believe it or not, Ranga, we're in a completely different world right now!"
"Another world? ...Incredible! You never cease to amaze, Lord Rimuru."
"He wasn't even surprised..." Waver muttered in astonishment.
Waver yelped as the great beast suddenly turned to face him, and bared its fangs. "My Lord, who is this human runt sitting next to you? He looks suspicious, and he smells like a bloody henhouse."
"Hey! I'm not suspicious at all!"
"This is Waver Velvet. He's a mage who summoned me into this world. He's going to take part in something called a Holy Grail War, and he brought me here to fight as his Servant."
"I'll commend him for summoning one as powerful as you, Lord Rimuru, but why would you support his cause? This runt should fight his own wars, not force this burden on someone else."
"Because he needs me. It's impossible for him to win without a Servant, and if I don't help him his life will be ruined. Besides, it's not like I'm doing it for free; there's an amazing prize up for grabs!"
"Y-yeah! Whoever wins the Grail gets to have any wish granted!" Waver added.
"Truly? That does sound like a worthy reward... Very well. If it is what my Lord desires, I shall lend my aid to this Velvet. ...As long as he does not lead you astray." Ranga bowed his head.
"Uh, thanks, big guy. I'll try to keep your Lord out of trouble, okay?" The great wolf vanished back into the shadows. The young Master glanced at his watch. "It's getting pretty late... We should head back to the house."
Waver started to head back towards the house he'd had been staying at, but abruptly stopped and smacked his forehead. "...Crap. I need to think of a place to hide you. Is there any chance you know how to astralise, or turn invisible?"
"Fu fu fu!" Rimuru chuckled. "I can do better than that! TRANS~FORM!"
A sudden puff of magic enveloped the slime. Waver gaped as the little blue ball reshaped itself into a very androgynous human roughly his age and height. He had blue hair and bright, golden eyes adorning an effeminate face. The shapeshifter wore his standard outfit; simple clothes and a dark blue coat, with a fur shawl around his neck.
"Ta-dah! Pretty cool trick, huh?" Rimuru said with a smile.
"...You have got to be the weirdest Servant anyone could ever hope to summon." Waver deadpanned. Rimuru decided to take that as a compliment.
Waver Velvet would later realise that he had been wrong. About a lot of things, actually, but especially that last part. This Grail War was only just beginning...
-=)=-=|=-=(=-
Tokiomi Tohsaka was not a lucky man. That is not to say he was constantly saddled with misfortune, or failed at everything in life. In fact, he was quite succesful, having worked hard to live up to his family name, despite his mediocre potential. But he felt as though whenever things were going his way, life would immediately throw him a curveball and ruin it.
Having to bury his father, less than a week after getting married. Fathering two sweet little daughters with incredible magical potential- and then having to choose which one to keep. And more recently, making a secret alliance with the Kotomines and the Church, as well as obtaining the perfect catalyst to guarantee victory in the upcoming Holy Grail War... ...Only to somehow call up a completely unrelated Servant instead.
He and the Servant in question were now sitting in his parlor, to establish a rapport and discuss their options. Tokiomi observed her carefully, while she poured milk into her coffee.
She was young; startlingly so. He had estimated her to be about twice Rin's age, if not less, due to her short and slender frame. With her messy blonde hair, pale blue eyes and fair skin, one might have mistaken her for a marionette, animated by magecraft.
But a puppet would not wear a military uniform. A puppet would not carry loaded weapons. Most importantly, a puppet wouldn't possess enough raw mana to level an entire city. Despite her childish looks, this girl carried herself like an adult, a dignified aristocrat, and even as she gently stirred her drink, she kept her guard up at all times.
"So. My name is Tokiomi Tohsaka, current head of the Tohsaka family, and Second Owner of the city of Fuyuki. Am I correct in assuming that you are Servant Archer, based on your weaponry?" Tokiomi inquired.
"That would seem to be the case, sir." She calmly replied.
"And that you are not, in fact, a Heroic Spirit, but a soldier from another world?"
Her eyebrows shot up. "...You are aware of the existence of other worlds?"
He nodded. "The founder of our family was the apprentice of a legendary magus known as Zelretch. He uses True Magic to travel between different realities, and we have been researching a means of replicating and harnessing that power for generations."
"Impressive. But it is clear that summoning me was not your intention. How were you able to bring me here?"
"...I am still wondering about that, myself. Perhaps Zelretch would know the answer, but trying to contact him nowadays is almost impossible. I presume it was the work of the Holy Grail, but why it would choose someone like yourself as a Servant is unclear."
Her eyes narrowed at the mention of the Grail. "Tell me more about this 'Holy Grail War'. I seem to have been provided all of the basic information upon my arrival. But I'm sure there are also formal rules and restrictions in place."
"Correct. There are a few 'rules of engagement', so to speak."
"The first is that all Masters are absolutely forbidden from fighting in public, as the existence of thaumaturgy must remain a secret. Second is that Masters are not permitted to leave the city once the battle has begun. Third, Masters may not receive aid from third parties or other mages. Finally, any Master who has lost their Servant and cannot continue to fight may take refuge in the local church, which acts as neutral ground."
"That's it? I expected a lot more, but I'm guessing everything beyond those rules is fair game. Since it acts as neutral ground, I assume the Church will be acting as the 'referee'?"
Tokiomi smirked. "That would be the case under normal circumstances, yes... But they will be making some exceptions for us."
A slight smile grew on the girl's face. "Aha. You've managed to make a deal with them, then... Does it have something to do with that priest you had with you?"
"Indeed. That man is my apprentice, Kirei Kotomine. He was unexpectedly chosen as a Master, so his father, the designated supervisor of this War, reached out to me on behalf of the Church. They have agreed to cooperate with us, in order to prevent the Grail from falling into the wrong hands."
"I see... And what of our opponents? Do we have any infomation on the other Masters?"
"We have ascertained the identities of three of the other Masters, and compiled detailed reports on them. You can review those later at your leisure. We still know nothing about the last two, however."
"What about their Servants? ...Can we expect to see other 'surprises' like myself?"
"Indeed. I believe you may already be aquainted with Kirei's rather... Unorthodox Servant."
The girl's calm demeanor abruptly faltered, as she nearly spat out her coffee. "That- that THING is a Servant?! How?! WHY?!"
"*sigh* I must admit, it is a highly appropriate, but extremely disturbing choice for an Assassin. In his defence, Kirei isn't too pleased with it, either."
"Ugh. I thought it was some kind of exotic pet..." She shuddered. "Let's hope none of the others are like that."
"Agreed. And with that, I believe we've discussed all of the relevant topics at hand. Do you have any other questions?
"...Just one more, sir." She looked Tokiomi straight in the eyes. "This Grail... It is the real thing, correct? It will grant any wish, without expection?"
Tokiomi smiled. "While it is not the true 'Cup of Christ' sought after by the Church, I can assure you that its powers are genuine. It can, and will, grant the victor anything they desire."
The girl was visibly relieved at those words, and returned his smile. "...Then, I think we are ready to start this War in earnest."
She stood bolt upright, raised her right arm, and saluted Tokiomi.
"Lieutenant Colonel Tanya von Degurechaff, of the Imperial Army 203rd Aerial Mage Battalion, reporting for duty! What are your orders, Master?"
- To Be Continued -
Tch. I've already seen this one a dozen times. What else is there?
Twilight and crimson lightning raced out and crashed into each other. The two streams of light, like surging waves with simply the purpose of destr-
Seen it.
Truth, at times, crushes the world's lies,
But it cannot erase-
NO.
I am the bone of my swo-
Isn't there anything new?! ...Am I really going to have to settle for the cooking show?
.....
Hmm...?
Oh ho.
Well, well. How curious. This one might be worth a watch...
-=)=-=|=-=(=-
-Fate/Alius Mundi-
-=)=-=|=-=(=-
-1- -Another Beginning-
Blizzards howled outside the imposing castle of the Einzbern family. Despite the ancient Bounded Fields surrounding the estate keeping out the worst of the weather, it was still noticably cold within the great chapel. This was by design however, as the chapel was currently the site of a ritual of untold importance; one the Einzberns had been preparing for.
Here, Kiritsugu Emiya, chosen Master of the Fourth Holy Grail War, along with his wife Irisviel von Einzbern, sat kneeling in front of a shining summoning circle in anticipation of his Servant's arrival. Avalon, the legendary scabbard of Excalibur, was placed upon the altar. With this catalyst, they were guaranteed to summon one the Knights of the Round Table; each a formidable Saber in their own right. Perhaps, they could even call up the King of Knights himself.
The light and noise of the circle intensified, forcing the pair to back away as a massive storm of mana concentrated itself on the chapel. Lightning crackled along its edge, before suddenly releasing a blinding column of energy. The great beacon lingered for what seemed like an eternity, but eventually faded away. As Kiritsugu and his spouse regained their bearings, they looked towards the summoning circle, and beheld their Servant.
"Umm... Where's your Servant, Kiritsugu?"
Or rather, their LACK of a Servant.
"....."
Indeed, the summoning circle was completely empty. Kiritsugu carefully stepped forwards, his trained eyes inspecting every last corner of the chapel, but they found no signs of any Heroic Spirits. The only other mana signature in the room came from Avalon, still sitting pretty on the altar. In the end he came to the only logical conclusion.
"...The ritual failed. How?" The Magus Killer's voice was tinged with dissapointment and concern.
Irisviel gave him a slightly confused look. "Maybe you should have done the ritual properly after all?"
"No, that couldn't have been it. I told you, the Grail performs the actual summoning. The only real requirements are a circle and an eligible Master. The circle was perfectly functional, and we also verified the authenticity of the catalyst." He frowned. "So that would suggest that the Grail itself was the cause..."
"Ah!" Irisviel clapped her hands together. "Maybe someone else was busy summoning their Servant when we tried it! You know, like when you call someone on the phone, but they're already talking to someone else!"
Kiritsugu shook his head. "The Grail isn't some machine. It's the culmination of centuries of magecraft. There's no way for us to know if something went wrong with it, or why. It's possible some outside force could have interfered with the summoning, but I can't imagine how that might have happened. As far as I know, no Master has ever failed to summon a Servant..."
"Oh, don't be so pessimistic, Kiritsugu!" The homunculus smiled, and took his hands into hers. "'If at first you don't succeed, try and try again.' You can't give up on your dream at the first hurdle. Just give it another shot, and keep trying until it works, alright?"
"...Right. Let's see if-"
The summoning circle exploded.
-=)=-=|=-=(=-
"*cough* Iri, are you hurt?!" Kiritsugu picked himself up off the floor and called out to his wife through the smoke.
"N-no! *cough* I'm fine! Can you tell what's happened?!" He could barely make out the silhouette of Irisviel moving around nearby.
"I don't know! Some sort of delayed reaction from the ritual, maybe! Stay low- the smoke could be harmful!"
"Wait, is that you over there? I think it's starting to clear away already..." True to her word, the smoke filling the chapel began to disappear. Kiritsugu moved to help Irisviel to her feet. As the rest of the room became visible once more, the couple's eyes immediately shot towards the summoning circle. "Could it be...?" There, in the center, a shallow shape was revealed.
"....." The Magus Killer held his breath as the last of the smoke vanished...
"...There's two of them?"
Laying face-down in the circle were two very different people. One of them appeared to be a petite young girl with strawberry-blonde hair, who was dressed in a somewhat irregular school uniform with a long cape. The other one was a dark-haired teenage boy with a distinctive longsword strapped to his back. His clothing was even more unusual, as he seemed to be wearing a modern blue and white hoodie with a pair of jeans, and a short cloak over his shoulders.
"Aww, they're holding hands... How sweet!" Irisviel exclaimed. The boy had his left hand clasped tightly around the girl's right. Inscribed on the back of said hand were a set of runes. Kiritsugu made a mental note to examine them later.
Upon closer inspection he realised the boy's face had Asian features, in contrast with the girl, who he suspected might be of European descent. She was also giving off an exceptionally strong mana signature, similar to the sword carried by the youth. Neither of them had any injuries as far as could tell, but both were completely unconscious. He considered removing the boy's weapon, but decided to prioritize their wellbeing first.
"Iri, help me get them to the infirmary. We can sort this mess out later. You take the girl, and I'll take the boy." He carefully picked up the unconscious teenager, untangling his hand from the girl's. But when Irisviel bent down to take the girl, she suddenly gasped and flinched back in shock.
"H-her hand! But that's...! Kiritsugu, look at her hand!" She pointed with a trembling finger.
There, on the back of the girl's right hand, was a horrifyingly familiar marking- the crimson cruciform design of his own Command Seals.
Kiritsugu stared at the Seals in disbelief, before wordlessly holding up his own right hand. His fears were confirmed; the mark that proved he had been chosen as a Master by the Grail had vanished, leaving naught but a faint outline.
"What... What the hell is this...?!"
-=)=-=|=-=(=-
"What the hell is this?!"
Waver Velvet's cry of frustration rang through the forest clearing. He'd spent more than a week preparing for this pain-in-the-ass summoning ritual. Even with the catalyst he'd 'borrowed' from Lord El-Melloi, it was pretty much impossible for a mere student magus to obtain all the reagents needed to perform the ritual as described in his books. That meant his only option was to do the one thing a sane magus should never do- improvise.
(The book DID briefly mention another version of the ritual he could've used, but... Well, let's just say Waver drew the line at chickens.)
Using candles from the local store, a bag of barbeque charcoal, a shaker of 'Genuine Himalayan Rock Salt', some good old-fashioned chalk, and the aforementioned poultry, the young Master created his own ultra-low-budget summoning ritual. And amazingly enough, it had actually worked! Kind of. Technically. He summoned something, at least.
Sitting motionless in the middle of his makeshift circle was a shiny, translucent blue sphere. It was about the size of a medicine ball, and gave off a surprisingly strong mana signature.
Waver decided to analyse the strange object in the most scientific way possible; by poking it with a tree branch from a sensible distance. He observed that the 'blue ball' was springy and malleable, similar to jelly, and also slightly sticky. His branch couldn't penetrate the sphere's outer surface despite his prodding, and further contact yielded no visible reaction.
At this point, the reality of Waver's situation was starting to sink in. His whole plan of winning the Grail War, thus forcing El-Melloi to admit he was the superior magus (and hopefully let him get away with everthing he'd done), depended on him summoning a really, really awesome Servant... Which had apparently melted into a useless blob of mana.
Thus, it was time to panic. "Shit, Shit, SHIIIT! My life's over! I fucked it all up! Dammit, I knew you couldn't replace diamond dust with charcoal!"
He paced back and forth feverishly, clutching at his hair, as he tried to think of a way out. "What am I gonna do...!? Go back to England? No, I'd be lucky if the Tower settled for only expelling me. Stay here with that old couple? Maybe for a few weeks, but I can't keep them hypnotised forever..."
While Waver argued with himself, the mysterious blue blob behind him gently started to pulsate. "...What about Australia? They'd never find me in the Outback... Wait, no! I'd just die out there anyway! Maybe my best bet is to escape to India- they speak English there, right?"
*bLoMp*
"...Huh?" He felt something tap him on the back. He turned around... And came face to face with a gooey blue tentacle.
"GAH!" Waver fell flat on his ass and scrambled into the nearby bushes. After a minute or so, he slowly peeked out of cover.
"It's alive...?!"
The not-so-motionless little blob was sitting right where he had just been standing. Despite its lack of eyes or facial features, he got the impression that it was watching him. As if to verify his suspicion, the blue ball gave him a jaunty little wave with a tentacle. Waver cautiously emerged from the bushes with his hands up, feeling slightly embarassed.
"Um... Hello? I, uh, I come in peace? ...Please don't hurt me." Waver spoke, as the thing hopped towards him.
"Don't worry! I'm not a bad slime! I promise!" It replied.
"....."
"....."
"...You can talk?" Waver stammered.
"...Yes. Yes, I can." The 'slime' muttered.
"R-right. Uh... Do you want something from me?" He felt as though he'd disappointed it, somehow.
The slime gave him another 'look'. "What do you mean? Aren't you the 'Master' who summoned me here? As some kind of 'Servant'?"
Waver's jaw dropped. "You... You're my Servant?" The young Master stared at the slime for a moment, then turned and walked a few paces, and took a deep breath.
"YAHOO! I DID IT! I GOT A SERVANT! I'M NOT A FAILURE! SUCK IT, EL-MELLOI! YOUR ASS IS MINE!" He roared, and proudly presented the night sky with his two favourite fingers.
The slime watched its Master's shameless display of pride with a sense of bemused confusion. As Waver Velvet loudly celebrated his greatest succes as a magus, it gazed up towards the stars, filled with a wistful sense of nostalgia.
-=)=-=|=-=(=-
"...I might have gotten a bit carried away back there." Waver mumbled sheepishly.
"Don't worry about it. It's fine to celebrate your successes, right?" The slime replied. It and its Master had settled down on a fallen tree near the ritual site. Waver was fairly keen to learn more about his bizarre new Servant.
"Ah, I haven't even introduced myself! I'm Waver Velvet, and well, I'm your Master. Do you mind telling me your name? Uh, assuming you have one, I mean..."
The slime extended another tentacle towards him. "Hello, Waver! I'm Rimuru Tempest the Slime! It's nice to meet you, Master!" Waver gave Rimuru's tentacle an awkward handshake.
"Ri-mu-ru Tempest...? That's... Not a name I've ever heard in any legend. What kind of creature is a slime, anyway?"
"Oh right, you wouldn't know, would you? Well, I'm what people in my world call a 'monster'. They're living beings that are made of magicules, instead of-"
"Woah, woah, back up! What do you mean 'my world' and 'magicules'? Aren't you supposed to be a Heroic Spirit?"
"...'Heroic Spirit'?" The slime was silent for a moment, seemingly lost in thought. "Oh. Um, no. I'm not a legendary figure from Earth. I'm actually from another world."
"Y-you're an alien?!" Waver stuttered.
"Ehh?! No no no! I mean from like a different reality! One that's like in a fantasy story, with dragons and elves!"
"Wha- how- that's... There's no way that could be true, right? I mean, I've heard of the Kaleidoscope doing stuff like that, but he's the freaking Wizard Marshall! How the hell could a rookie like me summon something from another dimension...?"
"Well, I wouldn't worry about it. These things just happen sometimes, you know? I might not be a legend like Ghenghis Khan, but I think having a Servant from another world is way better!" Rimuru cheered.
"*sigh* I guess it doesn't really matter where you're from, as long as you can fight. Speaking of which... Which Class are you?"
"Hmm... Apparently, I'm a 'Rider'. I guess it kind of fits; I do ride around on Ranga a lot..." The slime mused.
"Ranga? Is that another monster or something?"
"Yup! Oh, I should probably try and call him, so he'll know what's going on."
Suddenly, the surrounding shadows seemed to shimmer and distort. To Waver's dismay, a massive wolf-like beast emerged from the darkness. A sharp pair of horns protruded from its star-patterned forehead, and it surveyed the area with gleaming yellow eyes.
"Lord Rimuru...? Where are we? This is not the Great Jura Forest. I sense magic in the air, but it is faint... We must be very far from home." Ranga's telephatic voiced echoed in Rimuru and Waver's minds.
"Believe it or not, Ranga, we're in a completely different world right now!"
"Another world? ...Incredible! You never cease to amaze, Lord Rimuru."
"He wasn't even surprised..." Waver muttered in astonishment.
Waver yelped as the great beast suddenly turned to face him, and bared its fangs. "My Lord, who is this human runt sitting next to you? He looks suspicious, and he smells like a bloody henhouse."
"Hey! I'm not suspicious at all!"
"This is Waver Velvet. He's a mage who summoned me into this world. He's going to take part in something called a Holy Grail War, and he brought me here to fight as his Servant."
"I'll commend him for summoning one as powerful as you, Lord Rimuru, but why would you support his cause? This runt should fight his own wars, not force this burden on someone else."
"Because he needs me. It's impossible for him to win without a Servant, and if I don't help him his life will be ruined. Besides, it's not like I'm doing it for free; there's an amazing prize up for grabs!"
"Y-yeah! Whoever wins the Grail gets to have any wish granted!" Waver added.
"Truly? That does sound like a worthy reward... Very well. If it is what my Lord desires, I shall lend my aid to this Velvet. ...As long as he does not lead you astray." Ranga bowed his head.
"Uh, thanks, big guy. I'll try to keep your Lord out of trouble, okay?" The great wolf vanished back into the shadows. The young Master glanced at his watch. "It's getting pretty late... We should head back to the house."
Waver started to head back towards the house he'd had been staying at, but abruptly stopped and smacked his forehead. "...Crap. I need to think of a place to hide you. Is there any chance you know how to astralise, or turn invisible?"
"Fu fu fu!" Rimuru chuckled. "I can do better than that! TRANS~FORM!"
A sudden puff of magic enveloped the slime. Waver gaped as the little blue ball reshaped itself into a very androgynous human roughly his age and height. He had blue hair and bright, golden eyes adorning an effeminate face. The shapeshifter wore his standard outfit; simple clothes and a dark blue coat, with a fur shawl around his neck.
"Ta-dah! Pretty cool trick, huh?" Rimuru said with a smile.
"...You have got to be the weirdest Servant anyone could ever hope to summon." Waver deadpanned. Rimuru decided to take that as a compliment.
Waver Velvet would later realise that he had been wrong. About a lot of things, actually, but especially that last part. This Grail War was only just beginning...
-=)=-=|=-=(=-
Tokiomi Tohsaka was not a lucky man. That is not to say he was constantly saddled with misfortune, or failed at everything in life. In fact, he was quite succesful, having worked hard to live up to his family name, despite his mediocre potential. But he felt as though whenever things were going his way, life would immediately throw him a curveball and ruin it.
Having to bury his father, less than a week after getting married. Fathering two sweet little daughters with incredible magical potential- and then having to choose which one to keep. And more recently, making a secret alliance with the Kotomines and the Church, as well as obtaining the perfect catalyst to guarantee victory in the upcoming Holy Grail War... ...Only to somehow call up a completely unrelated Servant instead.
He and the Servant in question were now sitting in his parlor, to establish a rapport and discuss their options. Tokiomi observed her carefully, while she poured milk into her coffee.
She was young; startlingly so. He had estimated her to be about twice Rin's age, if not less, due to her short and slender frame. With her messy blonde hair, pale blue eyes and fair skin, one might have mistaken her for a marionette, animated by magecraft.
But a puppet would not wear a military uniform. A puppet would not carry loaded weapons. Most importantly, a puppet wouldn't possess enough raw mana to level an entire city. Despite her childish looks, this girl carried herself like an adult, a dignified aristocrat, and even as she gently stirred her drink, she kept her guard up at all times.
"So. My name is Tokiomi Tohsaka, current head of the Tohsaka family, and Second Owner of the city of Fuyuki. Am I correct in assuming that you are Servant Archer, based on your weaponry?" Tokiomi inquired.
"That would seem to be the case, sir." She calmly replied.
"And that you are not, in fact, a Heroic Spirit, but a soldier from another world?"
Her eyebrows shot up. "...You are aware of the existence of other worlds?"
He nodded. "The founder of our family was the apprentice of a legendary magus known as Zelretch. He uses True Magic to travel between different realities, and we have been researching a means of replicating and harnessing that power for generations."
"Impressive. But it is clear that summoning me was not your intention. How were you able to bring me here?"
"...I am still wondering about that, myself. Perhaps Zelretch would know the answer, but trying to contact him nowadays is almost impossible. I presume it was the work of the Holy Grail, but why it would choose someone like yourself as a Servant is unclear."
Her eyes narrowed at the mention of the Grail. "Tell me more about this 'Holy Grail War'. I seem to have been provided all of the basic information upon my arrival. But I'm sure there are also formal rules and restrictions in place."
"Correct. There are a few 'rules of engagement', so to speak."
"The first is that all Masters are absolutely forbidden from fighting in public, as the existence of thaumaturgy must remain a secret. Second is that Masters are not permitted to leave the city once the battle has begun. Third, Masters may not receive aid from third parties or other mages. Finally, any Master who has lost their Servant and cannot continue to fight may take refuge in the local church, which acts as neutral ground."
"That's it? I expected a lot more, but I'm guessing everything beyond those rules is fair game. Since it acts as neutral ground, I assume the Church will be acting as the 'referee'?"
Tokiomi smirked. "That would be the case under normal circumstances, yes... But they will be making some exceptions for us."
A slight smile grew on the girl's face. "Aha. You've managed to make a deal with them, then... Does it have something to do with that priest you had with you?"
"Indeed. That man is my apprentice, Kirei Kotomine. He was unexpectedly chosen as a Master, so his father, the designated supervisor of this War, reached out to me on behalf of the Church. They have agreed to cooperate with us, in order to prevent the Grail from falling into the wrong hands."
"I see... And what of our opponents? Do we have any infomation on the other Masters?"
"We have ascertained the identities of three of the other Masters, and compiled detailed reports on them. You can review those later at your leisure. We still know nothing about the last two, however."
"What about their Servants? ...Can we expect to see other 'surprises' like myself?"
"Indeed. I believe you may already be aquainted with Kirei's rather... Unorthodox Servant."
The girl's calm demeanor abruptly faltered, as she nearly spat out her coffee. "That- that THING is a Servant?! How?! WHY?!"
"*sigh* I must admit, it is a highly appropriate, but extremely disturbing choice for an Assassin. In his defence, Kirei isn't too pleased with it, either."
"Ugh. I thought it was some kind of exotic pet..." She shuddered. "Let's hope none of the others are like that."
"Agreed. And with that, I believe we've discussed all of the relevant topics at hand. Do you have any other questions?
"...Just one more, sir." She looked Tokiomi straight in the eyes. "This Grail... It is the real thing, correct? It will grant any wish, without expection?"
Tokiomi smiled. "While it is not the true 'Cup of Christ' sought after by the Church, I can assure you that its powers are genuine. It can, and will, grant the victor anything they desire."
The girl was visibly relieved at those words, and returned his smile. "...Then, I think we are ready to start this War in earnest."
She stood bolt upright, raised her right arm, and saluted Tokiomi.
"Lieutenant Colonel Tanya von Degurechaff, of the Imperial Army 203rd Aerial Mage Battalion, reporting for duty! What are your orders, Master?"
- To Be Continued -
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-2- -Another Awakening-
- Location
- [REDACTED]
-=)=-=|=-=(=-
-2- -Another Awakening-
"Mmmh... Nhg..."
The pink-haired girl stirred restlessly, before her eyes slowly fluttered open. There was an immediate sense of warmth and comfort, that reminded her of her own bed. This feeling turned out to be surprisingly accurate, as she found herself in a large and luxurious four-poster bed. She looked around for a moment, but as far as she could tell there was no one else in the room.
Her memory was muddled... But she was fairly certain the mysterious red marking on her right hand hadn't been there before.
"...Ouoi?"
The girl took a quick peek under the covers, confirming that her clothes hadn't been removed, before quietly getting out of bed. The room she was currently occupying was as vast and lavish as the bed; a small chandelier hung from the delicate plasterwork ceiling, shining with a strangely bright light. Peering through the room's foggy windows, she could barely discern some mountains amongst the moonlit expanse of snow, before the click of a door opening caught her attention.
"Ah!" A woman with a surprised expression stood in the doorway, holding a silver tray. Her silver-white hair and porcelain skin gave her an almost ethereal aura, which was accentuated by her beautiful face and eerie red eyes. The woman wore a long gold-embroidered dress, clearly marking her as a member of the aristocracy, and the tray she held was laden with an ornate tea set.
The pink-haired girl stared for a moment, before giving the lady a proper curtsy. "Merci beaucoup de m'avoir chez moi. Je m'excuse pour tout inconvénient que j'ai pu causer. Je m'appelle Louise Françoise Le Blanc de La Vallière. Puis-je demander votre nom?"
The woman appeared to be somewhat nonplussed by her request, and put the tray down on the nearby table. She closed her eyes and muttered under her breath for a second, as if trying to recall a forgotten memory.
"Um... 'Pardon, je ne pas Français parler...?'" She said without much confidence.
Now it was the girl's turn to look confused. The white-haired lady of the house seemed rather embarassed, desperately trying to think of something to say, but being unable to put it into words.
"Mh... Sprechen sie Deutsch?" That got a slight reaction out of the girl, but was quickly followed by a shake of her head.
"Do you know any English, maybe?" The woman made one last effort.
The girl's eyes widened. "...Y-yes! I mean, I am not sure what 'Fransay' or 'Doitsh' is, but I can speak fluent Albionese."
"Wonderful! I was starting to get a bit worried there... Could you give me your name again? I didn't understand it all the first time."
"Of course; my name is Louise Françoise Le Blanc de La Vallière. I would once again like to thank you for having me in your home, and apologise for any inconvenience caused on my behalf." Louise repeated the curtsy from earlier.
The lady returned her gesture in kind. "A pleasure to make your acquaintance. My name is Irisviel von Einzbern. There is no need for thanks; you are our honored guest, Lady Louise. Would you like some tea?"
A few minutes later, Louise and Irisviel were seated at the table, enjoying some freshly brewed Darjeeling with an assortment of cookies.
"Um. Lady Irisviel, how was it that I came to be in this place? I cannot seem to remember..."
"...Well, you suddenly appeared during a summoning ritual I was conducting with my husband. It was... Quite a shock."
The girl's face was filled with a looming sense of dread. "...Was there an explosion?"
"Yes."
Louise buried her face in her palms. "Oh Founder, I am SO sorry! This always happens to me! I can't believe I interfered in another noble's ritual! Please tell me nobody got hurt..."
Irisviel held up her hands in a placating gesture. "It's fine, it's fine, there was no serious damage done. Frankly, we were more worried about you and your companion."
"Compani- Aaah! I can't believe I forgot about Saito! Where is he? Is he safe?!"
"Please, stay calm! He's perfectly fine. My husband is watching over him, and we'll go see him as soon as he wakes up."
"Thank goodness..." From her reaction, it was obvious how much the boy meant to her. Irisviel wasn't entirely sure what the relationship between the two of them was, but she could make a pretty good guess.
"So his name is Saito... That's Japanese, isn't it? What a funny coincidence; my husband Kiritsugu is also from Japan!"
"...From Japan? That... No, it couldn't be...!" Louise leapt out of her seat, and ran towards the window. She frantically looked for a way to open it.
"L-Louise! What's wrong? What are you doing?!"
The window opened, and the cold night air blew into the room. Louise looked up towards the dark snow clouds, and the pale light that shone through them.
"...Louise?"
Slowly but surely, the clouds began to part, unveiling the full moon in all its majesty. The pink-haired girl stared breathlessly at the lone white orb in the heavens.
"...One moon. There's just one..."
Louise turned to face Irisviel. "Lady Irisviel, where exactly are we?"
"...Um, we're in Germany; near the Austrian border, to be precise."
"That's not what meant. ...Which planet is this?"
"It... It's Earth, Louise. Where else would it be?"
She stood completely still for a while. Irisviel was at a loss at what to next, but settled for closing the window. Then Louise moved back to the bed, laying down without a sound.
"...I can't believe it... This is it. This is Saito's world...!" She whispered.
"Louise, I don't understand. What's going on? What are you talking about?"
"...It's a long story; a really long story. When Saito wakes up, we'll-"
*BONK!*
"Wait, did you hear something?"
*CRASH!*
"What was that? It sounds like it's coming from-"
*BANG!*
*CLANG!*
"Kiritsugu?!"
"Saito?!"
-=)=-=|=-=(=-
[A few minutes earlier...]
"Mhhph... ...Huh?"
The dark-haired boy known as Saito Hiraga jolted awake. There was an unfamiliar ceiling above him, and he realised he couldn't remember when he'd fallen asleep. He found himself laying on a small metal cot, in a large but poorly lit room. Looking around, he saw heavy curtains covering the windows, and a massive set of cabinets and strange workbenches that took up most of the floorspace.
"Hm. So you decided to wake up after all." A male voice spoke.
The boy looked back. In the farthest corner of the room, right next to the door, was a man sitting on a chair. Somehow, Saito had completely missed him the first time. There was something behind the man, leaning against the chair. Something familar; his sword, tucked into its sheath.
"...Who are you? Where am I? What's going on?" asked Saito.
"I'm the one who's asking the questions here." The man rose from his chair. He was dressed in a grey suit, with black hair and a grim look on his face. Even in the low light, Saito could clearly see he was Asian. The man's very presence was putting him on edge.
"Hold on, is this-"
"State your full name." The man in grey cut him off without hesitation.
"I-it's Saito- Saito Hiraga. Are you with the government or something-"
"Who is the girl that was with you?"
"Louise is here?! Where is she? Is she safe?!"
"...The two of you know each other? ...I see. Who sent you here?"
"Wha- I don't even where 'here' is! Please, just tell me what's going on! Where's Louise?"
The man continued to ignore his questions. "Who sent you here? What is your objective?"
"Objective...? I don't-"
"What are your plans for the Holy Grail?"
"I have no idea what you're talking about! You've gotta believe me! Please, I just want to know-" Saito began to stand up from the bed.
The man in grey reached into his jacket and pulled out a handgun. Saito immediately went quiet, and sat back down. The man calmly performed a brass check before pointing the pistol at Saito.
"Then let me make things clear for you, Mr. Hiraga. I don't want to hear any more excuses; I want to hear answers. You are going to give me those answers. If you don't, I'm going to get them from someone else. 'Louise'; that was her name, wasn't it?"
The mere thought of Louise being alone in a room with this man made Saito's blood run cold. His eyes briefly shifted to his sword, and the nearby door.
The man obviously read his intent. "Don't even think about it. That door isn't opening until I say so. Now, let's try this again: Who are you working for?"
"N-nobody! I swear! I don't know anything!"
"What is the meaning of those runes on your hand?"
Saito glanced at the markings on his left hand. He knew exactly what they meant... But he wasn't about to tell this asshole. "Huh? Uh... I dunno? I've never seen them before."
The armed man glared at him. "...You think I can't tell when you're lying?"
He pointed at Saito's hand. "You knew which hand I was talking about, and you didn't seem the least bit suprised to see those runes. Which, by the way, I've already translated."
The man leveled the handgun towards Saito's forehead. "Last chance, Hiraga. Tell me; what does 'Gandálfr' mean?"
The boy stared at the barrel, desperately trying to come up with a way to escape and find Louise, but he couldn't see any way out. His only choice was to answer...!
"It means yer in for a world o' hurt, Question Man!"
The man turned away to find the source of the voice, his attention diverted for a split second. But that split second was all Saito needed; with a burst of adrenaline, he lunged across the room towards his sword, drawing it and pointing towards the man in a single smooth motion. As he held the blade, the Gandálfr runes began to glow faintly.
"Phew... Thanks for the save, Derf- I owe you one."
"No problem, partner. Let's deal with this spook, so we can find yer Master."
"...Tsk. A talking sword?" The gunman seemed more frustrated than surprised. "I'll admit I didn't see that coming. ...Alright, Mr. Hiraga. Whatever you think you're going to do with that thing, I can assure you, it's not going to work. Just put it down."
"You first." At this range, with the runes powering him up, Saito could easily outspeed and overpower him.
The man in grey sighed, and put away his gun. "Fine. We'll do it the hard way."
And then he blurred. Saito barely moved out of the way of an oncoming fist, before being slammed into the wall by a sudden knee to the stomach. The man deftly dodged his slashing counterattack, rapidly retreating to the back of the room and readying his pistol again.
"*huff* What the hell...?!"
"Damn, he's speedin' himself up with magic!"
"It'll be easier for both of us if you surrender now."
"Screw you! We're just getting started!" The glow of the runes intensified, and Saito swung Derflinger with all his might. The resulting shockwave shattered the windows, and would have thrown the gunman out of them if he hadn't dropped to the floor at the last second. He quickly returned fire with pinpoint precision, and Saito narrowly evaded and deflected the salvo.
When his magazine ran dry, Saito attempted to close the gap; the man drew a combat knife from his jacket, but it was instantly knocked out of his hands. He barely sidestepped the swinging sword, trying to keep the boy at bay with whatever furniture was at hand. However, his advantages of speed and surprise were lost, and he hadn't expected Saito to put up such a fight.
The man in grey made a feint, and grabbed Saito in a last-ditch effort, putting him into a chokehold. Saito overpowered him in less than a second, chucking him onto the floor. Before he could get back on his feet Derflinger was pointing at his throat.
"*huff* Surrender. It's over."
"So... You really were a Servant after all... But how did-"
"Shut up! It's MY turn now! I'm going to ask this once, and only once, okay!?"
"Where. Is. Louise?!"
*BOOM*
The door to the workshop was blasted into splinters, giving the man just enough time to reach for his holdout pistol and press it into Saito's chest. However, the boy with the sword wasn't paying attention to him at all.
Standing beyond the broken doorway was Saito's strawberry-blonde companion, brandishing a small wooden stick, and a gorgeous albino woman. Judging by the looks on their faces, neither of them were pleased with what they were seeing.
"Louise! You're oka-"
"What are you doing to Lady Irisviel's husband, you stupid dog!?" The girl screamed.
"H-hold up! He started it! He even threatened you!" The boy stammered, pointing down at his opponent.
"Kiritsugu Emiya. Why, might I ask, are you pointing a gun at that young man's chest?" The woman- Lady Irisviel- asked, in the tone of a wife catching her husband with fresh lipstick stains on his collar.
"Iri. I can explain." Kiritsugu replied with the resigned calmness of a man who knows that he's probably spending the next few nights on the couch.
"...I should hope so." A deep male voice spoke. Irisviel and Louise went pale, and turned to face the sudden and imposing figure of Elder Jubastacheit von Einzbern.
"For there is much that I wish to have explained..."
-=)=-=|=-=(=-
Deep darkness and stagnant air filled the great chamber. The abhorrent, squirming creatures that normally called this place home had temporarily migrated to the sewers, on behalf of their creator. Here, in the dreadful undercroft of the Matou family mansion, another Master was preparing to summon his Servant.
Kariya Matou winced as the Crest Worms writhed beneath his skin, blood starting to seep from his eye, but he refused to falter, continuing to chant the modified incantation given to him by his father. Zouken himself stood back in the shadows, grinning in perverse delight at his son's painful struggles.
"-But let chaos cloud thine eyes.
Thou, who art trapped in a cage of madness.
And I, who doth hold thy chains!
Thou, clad with the Great Trinity, come forth from the ring of constraint-
Guardian of the Heavenly Scales!"
The summoning circle burst into black flames, and a vile beacon of blood-red light shone forth. But there was something amiss; even as Kariya braced himself for the sudden drain of Mana, it felt far less drastic than he'd antipated, and the red light began to flicker and wane, as quickly as it had appeared.
Thankfully, the summoning was still a success; his Servant had materialised. A fearsome aura surrounded the hooded figure kneeling within the circle's centre.
Zouken gave a low chuckle. "It seems congratulations are in order, Kariya. For a moment there, I thought you had somehow failed, and wasted the precious opportunity I'd so generously given you..."
Kariya paid no mind to the ancient worm's mockery, and tried to focus on the task at hand. Clutching his side, he slowly limped into the circle.
Servant Berserker rose up to face him. A thick green cloak covered a set of light, rough-looking armor, made of stitched hides and steel; the type worn by brigands or sellswords, instead of knights or soldiers. Beneath the hood was a relatively handsome face, similar to Kariya's in his youth, with unruly dark hair. At first, Kariya was less than impressed with his appearance... Until he saw the eyes.
Lifeless. Cold. Unfeeling. The young man's eyes seemed as though they were made of darkened glass, and one could see naught but emptiness behind them. The same eyes Sakura had whenever she underwent her 'training'.
And then, he opened his mouth. "Why..."
"What the..." Kariya stepped back.
"Why have you brought me here...?" Berserker stared at Kariya and Zouken.
Zouken slithered closer, and examined Berserker. "It's still lucid...? Tch. What an annoyance. It looks like the Mad Enhancement didn't work properly. Without that, a Berserker is all but useless. Even now, you continue to disappoint me, Kariya."
Kariya grit his teeth. "No. No! I've come too far to give up now! Useless or not, he'll serve his purpose. I can still use the Blade Wings if it comes to that. Berserker; I, Kariya Matou, do hereby declare myself your Master! Your purpose is to serve-"
"...Pah! I wasn't talking to you." The green-clad Servant pushed past Kariya, and approached Zouken instead.
"You. You're the one who's in charge of that deadweight, aren't you? What does he want so badly that he'd let himself get tortured to death?" He jabbed a thumb towards his Master.
The old man chuckled loudly. "Gahaha! What a perceptive young man! Perhaps you're not so bad after all! Indeed, your Master is working for me. He willingly volunteered to throw his whole life away, all for some sentimental nonsense!"
"It's NOT nonsense!"
"Of course it is! You want to know the truth? Your Master, my worthless son, abandoned our family's legacy and the woman he claimed to love, and then came crawling back with a desperate ploy to win her affection! Pathetic! Gahaha!"
"NO! That's not it, you lying bastard! I'm not doing this for Aoi! I'm doing it for Sakura!" Kariya made a clumsy attempt to tug at Berserker's cloak, and turn him around.
"B-Berserker, please listen to me! If I can't get the Grail for him, that monster-" He pointed at Zouken, "-is going to torment and abuse an innocent little girl for the rest of her life! I have to save her, no matter what it takes!"
"...Is that true?" Berserker quietly asked Zouken.
"The girl in question is my property, freely given to me by her father. If Kariya is indeed successful in obtaining victory in the Grail War, I will allow her to leave. If he cannot... I'm certain she will provide me with a more worthy heir."
Zouken grinned. "The fact that she happens to be the offspring of his old flame has absolutely nothing to with it, of course."
"Please... If not for me, then for her! Help me protect Sakura...!"
The young man in green gave Kariya a strange look. "...You wanna save her? Protect her..." There was the tiniest, briefest glimpse of light in his eyes.
He smirked. "...I guess I can work with that."
Berserker thrust out his left arm. Flames enveloped it without warning, twisting and churning with searing heat. The fire burned with a terrifying primal power, and Zouken was enraptured by the process. Kariya watched in awe as the incandecent energy solidified into the shape of a bizarre, blackened shield.
Its form mirrored the flames it was born from, with a glowing red stone set into the centre. The shield simmered; merely looking at it made Kariya break out in a sweat. This was something foul, something forbidden... A symbol of Wrath.
Still smiling that sinister smile, he clapped his hand onto his bewildered Master's shoulder, who flinched at the impact.
"Alright, you crappy excuse for a Master, Slave Berserker is at your service! Let's get to it."
"...S-Slave...? Don't you mean 'Servant'?" Kariya stammered.
"You're a slave to your father, and I'm a slave to you. Names make no difference in the end; I'm just calling it as I see it."
Berserker strode towards the stairs, dragging Kariya along by his shoulder. "Come on Master, time is money. Let's get outta this worm-hole, and win us a Grail."
He stopped at the top of the stairs, and looked over his shoulder at Zouken. "Hey old man, could you give me some directions? I need to find a few things."
Zouken raised a hairless eyebrow. "...What sort of things?"
"Petty thieves, thugs, criminals, maybe some homeless guys. The kind of scum people won't miss."
The ancient worm gave him a sly look. "I see. You need materials. You can always find some vagrants hiding out in the local parks. There has been news of a serial killer, operating somewhere in the city, but nothing conclusive. Otherwise, try the local yakuza; their offices are near the dockyards."
"Thanks!"
"H-hey, wait! Where are we going? What are you going to do with those people?!" Kariya tried to escape the Servant's grip.
Berserker turned; a nightmarish grin plastered across his face.
"...We're going on a little recruitment drive."
The odd pair left the dark basement, and the sound of Zouken's cackles followed them.
-=)=-=|=-=(=-
Ryuunosuke Uryuu was having the single coolest night of his serial-killing career.
It all started when he found that dinky book lying around in his parents' storehouse. He didn't think much of it at first; some obscure ancestral heirloom, spouting drivel about 'noble blood'. But within its pages were piles and piles of brilliant ideas. Whoever this greater-than-great grandfather of his was, he knew how to party!
Normally, he would just dispose of the corpses of his victims, but this time Ryuunosuke had decided to do something constructive, and put their cadavers to use. Recycling was good for the enviroment, after all! ...Although it had caused him to gain some unwanted attention. Following the steps outlined by the book, he'd prepared one of the more promising rituals in the book. Granted, he hadn't really understood everything in there, but how difficult could summoning a demon really be? They did it all the time in games and on tv.
...Turns out, it was a bit harder than the movies made it look. This was his fourth try thus far. He wasn't sure what was missing, but he was having way too much fun to quit. But this time was different; while he taunted the little kid he'd tied up, some freaky tattoo got burnt onto his hand, and then this crazy light show started up, with scary fog and everything.
Now, Ryuunosuke was standing face to face with one of the most badass demons he'd ever seen, real or fictional.
A huge, red-eyed skeleton, clad in a pitch black robe with oversized, spiky pauldrons that left his ribcage exposed, and wearing a small fortune's worth of ostentatious jewelry. Its bony hand held a humongous baroque staff made of gold, crowned with a set of gleaming multi-coloured gemstones. It was like something straight out of Dungeons & Dragons.
Without a doubt, this guy was the real deal; an archfiend, or maybe a duke of hell (those were a thing, right?). The demon's gaze swept over the room, seemingly taking in every detail- particularly the television set in the corner. Ryuunosuke could only stand there in silence.
"....."
"....."
"....."
Wow. This was even more awkward than he'd imagined it would be.
At last, the demon broke the silence, speaking with a deep rumble. "...Am I... In Japan?"
"...Uh, yes! You're in Fuyuki City." Ryuunosuke replied.
"...Which prefecture is that, again...?"
"Hyōgo Prefecture, in Kansai."
The demon was silent for another moment. "What year is it?"
"1994?"
More silence. "You... You are responsible for bringing me here, then?"
"O-oh! Yeah, that was me! I'm Ryuunosuke Uryuu! Pleased to meetcha!" He stuck out his hand. The demon looked at it, with a sense of confusion. Or was it amusement? Honestly, this guy was hard to read.
"I am Ainz Ooal Gown, of the Supreme Beings." He took notice of the wriggling shape just behind its summoner, making a futile attempt to escape.
"...What is that?"
"Aha! This-" He dragged the kid back by his ankle, "-is a present! Figured a big demon like you could use a nice snack, or a sacrifice... A snackrifice...?"
Ainz also took notice of the blood and decapitated heads lying around. "Is this... The first time you've tried to summon a... Demon?" He asked.
"It's the first time it actually worked! Fourth time's the charm, as they say!"
"...You have experience with murdering innocent people?"
"Dude, I'm the BEST at murdering- especially women and children. The hard part was figuring out how to remove all the evidence; after that, it was smooth sailing. I'm up to about fifty now, I think."
The demon's eyes glowed a little brighter. "I see. And what of the Holy Grail, then?"
"Holy Grail? You mean like the one from Indiana Jones? What about it?"
"...Nevermind. It is of no concern to you."
The demon marched up to the serial killer. "Ryuunosuke Uryuu. You have done me a great service in calling me to this world. For this reason, I have decided to grant you a very special reward."
"Really!? Cooool! What're you gonna give me?"
" ...I shall give you-''
The elder lich clutched the foolish human's chest.
"-all that a man such as you deserves."
In that singular moment, the repulsive soul known as Ryuunosuke Uryuu achieved true bliss- a heavenly ecstasy unlike anything he had ever felt during his killing spree... And then ceased to feel anything at all.
Ainz watched the madman's carcass crumple onto the ground, bleeding from every orifice. There was a muffled thump as the bound child in the corner finally passed out.
He gave a long-suffering sigh. This was going to be one of those days...
- To Be Continued -
-2- -Another Awakening-
"Mmmh... Nhg..."
The pink-haired girl stirred restlessly, before her eyes slowly fluttered open. There was an immediate sense of warmth and comfort, that reminded her of her own bed. This feeling turned out to be surprisingly accurate, as she found herself in a large and luxurious four-poster bed. She looked around for a moment, but as far as she could tell there was no one else in the room.
Her memory was muddled... But she was fairly certain the mysterious red marking on her right hand hadn't been there before.
"...Ouoi?"
The girl took a quick peek under the covers, confirming that her clothes hadn't been removed, before quietly getting out of bed. The room she was currently occupying was as vast and lavish as the bed; a small chandelier hung from the delicate plasterwork ceiling, shining with a strangely bright light. Peering through the room's foggy windows, she could barely discern some mountains amongst the moonlit expanse of snow, before the click of a door opening caught her attention.
"Ah!" A woman with a surprised expression stood in the doorway, holding a silver tray. Her silver-white hair and porcelain skin gave her an almost ethereal aura, which was accentuated by her beautiful face and eerie red eyes. The woman wore a long gold-embroidered dress, clearly marking her as a member of the aristocracy, and the tray she held was laden with an ornate tea set.
The pink-haired girl stared for a moment, before giving the lady a proper curtsy. "Merci beaucoup de m'avoir chez moi. Je m'excuse pour tout inconvénient que j'ai pu causer. Je m'appelle Louise Françoise Le Blanc de La Vallière. Puis-je demander votre nom?"
The woman appeared to be somewhat nonplussed by her request, and put the tray down on the nearby table. She closed her eyes and muttered under her breath for a second, as if trying to recall a forgotten memory.
"Um... 'Pardon, je ne pas Français parler...?'" She said without much confidence.
Now it was the girl's turn to look confused. The white-haired lady of the house seemed rather embarassed, desperately trying to think of something to say, but being unable to put it into words.
"Mh... Sprechen sie Deutsch?" That got a slight reaction out of the girl, but was quickly followed by a shake of her head.
"Do you know any English, maybe?" The woman made one last effort.
The girl's eyes widened. "...Y-yes! I mean, I am not sure what 'Fransay' or 'Doitsh' is, but I can speak fluent Albionese."
"Wonderful! I was starting to get a bit worried there... Could you give me your name again? I didn't understand it all the first time."
"Of course; my name is Louise Françoise Le Blanc de La Vallière. I would once again like to thank you for having me in your home, and apologise for any inconvenience caused on my behalf." Louise repeated the curtsy from earlier.
The lady returned her gesture in kind. "A pleasure to make your acquaintance. My name is Irisviel von Einzbern. There is no need for thanks; you are our honored guest, Lady Louise. Would you like some tea?"
A few minutes later, Louise and Irisviel were seated at the table, enjoying some freshly brewed Darjeeling with an assortment of cookies.
"Um. Lady Irisviel, how was it that I came to be in this place? I cannot seem to remember..."
"...Well, you suddenly appeared during a summoning ritual I was conducting with my husband. It was... Quite a shock."
The girl's face was filled with a looming sense of dread. "...Was there an explosion?"
"Yes."
Louise buried her face in her palms. "Oh Founder, I am SO sorry! This always happens to me! I can't believe I interfered in another noble's ritual! Please tell me nobody got hurt..."
Irisviel held up her hands in a placating gesture. "It's fine, it's fine, there was no serious damage done. Frankly, we were more worried about you and your companion."
"Compani- Aaah! I can't believe I forgot about Saito! Where is he? Is he safe?!"
"Please, stay calm! He's perfectly fine. My husband is watching over him, and we'll go see him as soon as he wakes up."
"Thank goodness..." From her reaction, it was obvious how much the boy meant to her. Irisviel wasn't entirely sure what the relationship between the two of them was, but she could make a pretty good guess.
"So his name is Saito... That's Japanese, isn't it? What a funny coincidence; my husband Kiritsugu is also from Japan!"
"...From Japan? That... No, it couldn't be...!" Louise leapt out of her seat, and ran towards the window. She frantically looked for a way to open it.
"L-Louise! What's wrong? What are you doing?!"
The window opened, and the cold night air blew into the room. Louise looked up towards the dark snow clouds, and the pale light that shone through them.
"...Louise?"
Slowly but surely, the clouds began to part, unveiling the full moon in all its majesty. The pink-haired girl stared breathlessly at the lone white orb in the heavens.
"...One moon. There's just one..."
Louise turned to face Irisviel. "Lady Irisviel, where exactly are we?"
"...Um, we're in Germany; near the Austrian border, to be precise."
"That's not what meant. ...Which planet is this?"
"It... It's Earth, Louise. Where else would it be?"
She stood completely still for a while. Irisviel was at a loss at what to next, but settled for closing the window. Then Louise moved back to the bed, laying down without a sound.
"...I can't believe it... This is it. This is Saito's world...!" She whispered.
"Louise, I don't understand. What's going on? What are you talking about?"
"...It's a long story; a really long story. When Saito wakes up, we'll-"
*BONK!*
"Wait, did you hear something?"
*CRASH!*
"What was that? It sounds like it's coming from-"
*BANG!*
*CLANG!*
"Kiritsugu?!"
"Saito?!"
-=)=-=|=-=(=-
[A few minutes earlier...]
"Mhhph... ...Huh?"
The dark-haired boy known as Saito Hiraga jolted awake. There was an unfamiliar ceiling above him, and he realised he couldn't remember when he'd fallen asleep. He found himself laying on a small metal cot, in a large but poorly lit room. Looking around, he saw heavy curtains covering the windows, and a massive set of cabinets and strange workbenches that took up most of the floorspace.
"Hm. So you decided to wake up after all." A male voice spoke.
The boy looked back. In the farthest corner of the room, right next to the door, was a man sitting on a chair. Somehow, Saito had completely missed him the first time. There was something behind the man, leaning against the chair. Something familar; his sword, tucked into its sheath.
"...Who are you? Where am I? What's going on?" asked Saito.
"I'm the one who's asking the questions here." The man rose from his chair. He was dressed in a grey suit, with black hair and a grim look on his face. Even in the low light, Saito could clearly see he was Asian. The man's very presence was putting him on edge.
"Hold on, is this-"
"State your full name." The man in grey cut him off without hesitation.
"I-it's Saito- Saito Hiraga. Are you with the government or something-"
"Who is the girl that was with you?"
"Louise is here?! Where is she? Is she safe?!"
"...The two of you know each other? ...I see. Who sent you here?"
"Wha- I don't even where 'here' is! Please, just tell me what's going on! Where's Louise?"
The man continued to ignore his questions. "Who sent you here? What is your objective?"
"Objective...? I don't-"
"What are your plans for the Holy Grail?"
"I have no idea what you're talking about! You've gotta believe me! Please, I just want to know-" Saito began to stand up from the bed.
The man in grey reached into his jacket and pulled out a handgun. Saito immediately went quiet, and sat back down. The man calmly performed a brass check before pointing the pistol at Saito.
"Then let me make things clear for you, Mr. Hiraga. I don't want to hear any more excuses; I want to hear answers. You are going to give me those answers. If you don't, I'm going to get them from someone else. 'Louise'; that was her name, wasn't it?"
The mere thought of Louise being alone in a room with this man made Saito's blood run cold. His eyes briefly shifted to his sword, and the nearby door.
The man obviously read his intent. "Don't even think about it. That door isn't opening until I say so. Now, let's try this again: Who are you working for?"
"N-nobody! I swear! I don't know anything!"
"What is the meaning of those runes on your hand?"
Saito glanced at the markings on his left hand. He knew exactly what they meant... But he wasn't about to tell this asshole. "Huh? Uh... I dunno? I've never seen them before."
The armed man glared at him. "...You think I can't tell when you're lying?"
He pointed at Saito's hand. "You knew which hand I was talking about, and you didn't seem the least bit suprised to see those runes. Which, by the way, I've already translated."
The man leveled the handgun towards Saito's forehead. "Last chance, Hiraga. Tell me; what does 'Gandálfr' mean?"
The boy stared at the barrel, desperately trying to come up with a way to escape and find Louise, but he couldn't see any way out. His only choice was to answer...!
"It means yer in for a world o' hurt, Question Man!"
The man turned away to find the source of the voice, his attention diverted for a split second. But that split second was all Saito needed; with a burst of adrenaline, he lunged across the room towards his sword, drawing it and pointing towards the man in a single smooth motion. As he held the blade, the Gandálfr runes began to glow faintly.
"Phew... Thanks for the save, Derf- I owe you one."
"No problem, partner. Let's deal with this spook, so we can find yer Master."
"...Tsk. A talking sword?" The gunman seemed more frustrated than surprised. "I'll admit I didn't see that coming. ...Alright, Mr. Hiraga. Whatever you think you're going to do with that thing, I can assure you, it's not going to work. Just put it down."
"You first." At this range, with the runes powering him up, Saito could easily outspeed and overpower him.
The man in grey sighed, and put away his gun. "Fine. We'll do it the hard way."
And then he blurred. Saito barely moved out of the way of an oncoming fist, before being slammed into the wall by a sudden knee to the stomach. The man deftly dodged his slashing counterattack, rapidly retreating to the back of the room and readying his pistol again.
"*huff* What the hell...?!"
"Damn, he's speedin' himself up with magic!"
"It'll be easier for both of us if you surrender now."
"Screw you! We're just getting started!" The glow of the runes intensified, and Saito swung Derflinger with all his might. The resulting shockwave shattered the windows, and would have thrown the gunman out of them if he hadn't dropped to the floor at the last second. He quickly returned fire with pinpoint precision, and Saito narrowly evaded and deflected the salvo.
When his magazine ran dry, Saito attempted to close the gap; the man drew a combat knife from his jacket, but it was instantly knocked out of his hands. He barely sidestepped the swinging sword, trying to keep the boy at bay with whatever furniture was at hand. However, his advantages of speed and surprise were lost, and he hadn't expected Saito to put up such a fight.
The man in grey made a feint, and grabbed Saito in a last-ditch effort, putting him into a chokehold. Saito overpowered him in less than a second, chucking him onto the floor. Before he could get back on his feet Derflinger was pointing at his throat.
"*huff* Surrender. It's over."
"So... You really were a Servant after all... But how did-"
"Shut up! It's MY turn now! I'm going to ask this once, and only once, okay!?"
"Where. Is. Louise?!"
*BOOM*
The door to the workshop was blasted into splinters, giving the man just enough time to reach for his holdout pistol and press it into Saito's chest. However, the boy with the sword wasn't paying attention to him at all.
Standing beyond the broken doorway was Saito's strawberry-blonde companion, brandishing a small wooden stick, and a gorgeous albino woman. Judging by the looks on their faces, neither of them were pleased with what they were seeing.
"Louise! You're oka-"
"What are you doing to Lady Irisviel's husband, you stupid dog!?" The girl screamed.
"H-hold up! He started it! He even threatened you!" The boy stammered, pointing down at his opponent.
"Kiritsugu Emiya. Why, might I ask, are you pointing a gun at that young man's chest?" The woman- Lady Irisviel- asked, in the tone of a wife catching her husband with fresh lipstick stains on his collar.
"Iri. I can explain." Kiritsugu replied with the resigned calmness of a man who knows that he's probably spending the next few nights on the couch.
"...I should hope so." A deep male voice spoke. Irisviel and Louise went pale, and turned to face the sudden and imposing figure of Elder Jubastacheit von Einzbern.
"For there is much that I wish to have explained..."
-=)=-=|=-=(=-
Deep darkness and stagnant air filled the great chamber. The abhorrent, squirming creatures that normally called this place home had temporarily migrated to the sewers, on behalf of their creator. Here, in the dreadful undercroft of the Matou family mansion, another Master was preparing to summon his Servant.
Kariya Matou winced as the Crest Worms writhed beneath his skin, blood starting to seep from his eye, but he refused to falter, continuing to chant the modified incantation given to him by his father. Zouken himself stood back in the shadows, grinning in perverse delight at his son's painful struggles.
"-But let chaos cloud thine eyes.
Thou, who art trapped in a cage of madness.
And I, who doth hold thy chains!
Thou, clad with the Great Trinity, come forth from the ring of constraint-
Guardian of the Heavenly Scales!"
The summoning circle burst into black flames, and a vile beacon of blood-red light shone forth. But there was something amiss; even as Kariya braced himself for the sudden drain of Mana, it felt far less drastic than he'd antipated, and the red light began to flicker and wane, as quickly as it had appeared.
Thankfully, the summoning was still a success; his Servant had materialised. A fearsome aura surrounded the hooded figure kneeling within the circle's centre.
Zouken gave a low chuckle. "It seems congratulations are in order, Kariya. For a moment there, I thought you had somehow failed, and wasted the precious opportunity I'd so generously given you..."
Kariya paid no mind to the ancient worm's mockery, and tried to focus on the task at hand. Clutching his side, he slowly limped into the circle.
Servant Berserker rose up to face him. A thick green cloak covered a set of light, rough-looking armor, made of stitched hides and steel; the type worn by brigands or sellswords, instead of knights or soldiers. Beneath the hood was a relatively handsome face, similar to Kariya's in his youth, with unruly dark hair. At first, Kariya was less than impressed with his appearance... Until he saw the eyes.
Lifeless. Cold. Unfeeling. The young man's eyes seemed as though they were made of darkened glass, and one could see naught but emptiness behind them. The same eyes Sakura had whenever she underwent her 'training'.
And then, he opened his mouth. "Why..."
"What the..." Kariya stepped back.
"Why have you brought me here...?" Berserker stared at Kariya and Zouken.
Zouken slithered closer, and examined Berserker. "It's still lucid...? Tch. What an annoyance. It looks like the Mad Enhancement didn't work properly. Without that, a Berserker is all but useless. Even now, you continue to disappoint me, Kariya."
Kariya grit his teeth. "No. No! I've come too far to give up now! Useless or not, he'll serve his purpose. I can still use the Blade Wings if it comes to that. Berserker; I, Kariya Matou, do hereby declare myself your Master! Your purpose is to serve-"
"...Pah! I wasn't talking to you." The green-clad Servant pushed past Kariya, and approached Zouken instead.
"You. You're the one who's in charge of that deadweight, aren't you? What does he want so badly that he'd let himself get tortured to death?" He jabbed a thumb towards his Master.
The old man chuckled loudly. "Gahaha! What a perceptive young man! Perhaps you're not so bad after all! Indeed, your Master is working for me. He willingly volunteered to throw his whole life away, all for some sentimental nonsense!"
"It's NOT nonsense!"
"Of course it is! You want to know the truth? Your Master, my worthless son, abandoned our family's legacy and the woman he claimed to love, and then came crawling back with a desperate ploy to win her affection! Pathetic! Gahaha!"
"NO! That's not it, you lying bastard! I'm not doing this for Aoi! I'm doing it for Sakura!" Kariya made a clumsy attempt to tug at Berserker's cloak, and turn him around.
"B-Berserker, please listen to me! If I can't get the Grail for him, that monster-" He pointed at Zouken, "-is going to torment and abuse an innocent little girl for the rest of her life! I have to save her, no matter what it takes!"
"...Is that true?" Berserker quietly asked Zouken.
"The girl in question is my property, freely given to me by her father. If Kariya is indeed successful in obtaining victory in the Grail War, I will allow her to leave. If he cannot... I'm certain she will provide me with a more worthy heir."
Zouken grinned. "The fact that she happens to be the offspring of his old flame has absolutely nothing to with it, of course."
"Please... If not for me, then for her! Help me protect Sakura...!"
The young man in green gave Kariya a strange look. "...You wanna save her? Protect her..." There was the tiniest, briefest glimpse of light in his eyes.
He smirked. "...I guess I can work with that."
Berserker thrust out his left arm. Flames enveloped it without warning, twisting and churning with searing heat. The fire burned with a terrifying primal power, and Zouken was enraptured by the process. Kariya watched in awe as the incandecent energy solidified into the shape of a bizarre, blackened shield.
Its form mirrored the flames it was born from, with a glowing red stone set into the centre. The shield simmered; merely looking at it made Kariya break out in a sweat. This was something foul, something forbidden... A symbol of Wrath.
Still smiling that sinister smile, he clapped his hand onto his bewildered Master's shoulder, who flinched at the impact.
"Alright, you crappy excuse for a Master, Slave Berserker is at your service! Let's get to it."
"...S-Slave...? Don't you mean 'Servant'?" Kariya stammered.
"You're a slave to your father, and I'm a slave to you. Names make no difference in the end; I'm just calling it as I see it."
Berserker strode towards the stairs, dragging Kariya along by his shoulder. "Come on Master, time is money. Let's get outta this worm-hole, and win us a Grail."
He stopped at the top of the stairs, and looked over his shoulder at Zouken. "Hey old man, could you give me some directions? I need to find a few things."
Zouken raised a hairless eyebrow. "...What sort of things?"
"Petty thieves, thugs, criminals, maybe some homeless guys. The kind of scum people won't miss."
The ancient worm gave him a sly look. "I see. You need materials. You can always find some vagrants hiding out in the local parks. There has been news of a serial killer, operating somewhere in the city, but nothing conclusive. Otherwise, try the local yakuza; their offices are near the dockyards."
"Thanks!"
"H-hey, wait! Where are we going? What are you going to do with those people?!" Kariya tried to escape the Servant's grip.
Berserker turned; a nightmarish grin plastered across his face.
"...We're going on a little recruitment drive."
The odd pair left the dark basement, and the sound of Zouken's cackles followed them.
-=)=-=|=-=(=-
Ryuunosuke Uryuu was having the single coolest night of his serial-killing career.
It all started when he found that dinky book lying around in his parents' storehouse. He didn't think much of it at first; some obscure ancestral heirloom, spouting drivel about 'noble blood'. But within its pages were piles and piles of brilliant ideas. Whoever this greater-than-great grandfather of his was, he knew how to party!
Normally, he would just dispose of the corpses of his victims, but this time Ryuunosuke had decided to do something constructive, and put their cadavers to use. Recycling was good for the enviroment, after all! ...Although it had caused him to gain some unwanted attention. Following the steps outlined by the book, he'd prepared one of the more promising rituals in the book. Granted, he hadn't really understood everything in there, but how difficult could summoning a demon really be? They did it all the time in games and on tv.
...Turns out, it was a bit harder than the movies made it look. This was his fourth try thus far. He wasn't sure what was missing, but he was having way too much fun to quit. But this time was different; while he taunted the little kid he'd tied up, some freaky tattoo got burnt onto his hand, and then this crazy light show started up, with scary fog and everything.
Now, Ryuunosuke was standing face to face with one of the most badass demons he'd ever seen, real or fictional.
A huge, red-eyed skeleton, clad in a pitch black robe with oversized, spiky pauldrons that left his ribcage exposed, and wearing a small fortune's worth of ostentatious jewelry. Its bony hand held a humongous baroque staff made of gold, crowned with a set of gleaming multi-coloured gemstones. It was like something straight out of Dungeons & Dragons.
Without a doubt, this guy was the real deal; an archfiend, or maybe a duke of hell (those were a thing, right?). The demon's gaze swept over the room, seemingly taking in every detail- particularly the television set in the corner. Ryuunosuke could only stand there in silence.
"....."
"....."
"....."
Wow. This was even more awkward than he'd imagined it would be.
At last, the demon broke the silence, speaking with a deep rumble. "...Am I... In Japan?"
"...Uh, yes! You're in Fuyuki City." Ryuunosuke replied.
"...Which prefecture is that, again...?"
"Hyōgo Prefecture, in Kansai."
The demon was silent for another moment. "What year is it?"
"1994?"
More silence. "You... You are responsible for bringing me here, then?"
"O-oh! Yeah, that was me! I'm Ryuunosuke Uryuu! Pleased to meetcha!" He stuck out his hand. The demon looked at it, with a sense of confusion. Or was it amusement? Honestly, this guy was hard to read.
"I am Ainz Ooal Gown, of the Supreme Beings." He took notice of the wriggling shape just behind its summoner, making a futile attempt to escape.
"...What is that?"
"Aha! This-" He dragged the kid back by his ankle, "-is a present! Figured a big demon like you could use a nice snack, or a sacrifice... A snackrifice...?"
Ainz also took notice of the blood and decapitated heads lying around. "Is this... The first time you've tried to summon a... Demon?" He asked.
"It's the first time it actually worked! Fourth time's the charm, as they say!"
"...You have experience with murdering innocent people?"
"Dude, I'm the BEST at murdering- especially women and children. The hard part was figuring out how to remove all the evidence; after that, it was smooth sailing. I'm up to about fifty now, I think."
The demon's eyes glowed a little brighter. "I see. And what of the Holy Grail, then?"
"Holy Grail? You mean like the one from Indiana Jones? What about it?"
"...Nevermind. It is of no concern to you."
The demon marched up to the serial killer. "Ryuunosuke Uryuu. You have done me a great service in calling me to this world. For this reason, I have decided to grant you a very special reward."
"Really!? Cooool! What're you gonna give me?"
" ...I shall give you-''
The elder lich clutched the foolish human's chest.
"-all that a man such as you deserves."
In that singular moment, the repulsive soul known as Ryuunosuke Uryuu achieved true bliss- a heavenly ecstasy unlike anything he had ever felt during his killing spree... And then ceased to feel anything at all.
Ainz watched the madman's carcass crumple onto the ground, bleeding from every orifice. There was a muffled thump as the bound child in the corner finally passed out.
He gave a long-suffering sigh. This was going to be one of those days...
- To Be Continued -