Oh
Is it Goetia? It will be painfull for subaru
Why Sheba doesn't affect barusu?
Last edited:
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Save Scumming? It's on my Character sheet. (Re: Zero/Fate Grand Order)
- Thread starter Xorn
- Start date
- Crossover
Is it Goetia? It will be painfull for subaru
Why Sheba doesn't affect barusu?
Oh, goddamnit.
The thing that throws me off here is the idea that Subaru was cursed "a couple centuries back", just because it's really jarring to look up Okeanos (as a broader TYPEMOON fan but not one who's played FGO) and go, wait, that's supposed to be in 1573? I always thought it was Argonauts O'Clock, not the Age of Sail, but that's what I get for being a secondary, I guess.
Xorn
Master Procrastinator
- Location
- Somewhere I won't be able to rest in peace
It's explicitly stated to be malfunctioning.
For a singularity supposedly set in the age of sail, Okeanos is really lacking in any real reference to the era. It's kind of egregious enough to surpass early FGO writing problems, I actually believe that Higashide just decided to write the Argonauts arc he wanted to write and then threw Drake and Blackbeard in as a token nod to the era he was actually assigned.
Frankly, I like that decision, which is why I doubled down on it in this fic.
129: Those Who Reach the Heavenly Sword
Xorn
Master Procrastinator
- Location
- Somewhere I won't be able to rest in peace
129: Those Who Reach the Heavenly Sword
Alcides
Burning. It's all burning away, every last part crumbling and melting and burning in the depths of these sins.
Die. Die. Die.
Fated death accidental death wrongful death purposeful death convenient death why why why why why who who-
Who can we blame for this?
Choose a scapegoat and bury him crush crush and grind Retribution retribution retribution. See that the monster is not human. See that the monster was (never) once human. Put it away. Put it away. Hide it from the light, bury it-
Die.
Death by spears death by knives death by the sword death by arrows and arrows and arrows and arrows why why why why why why why who who who-
Who will save us?
-In the end, I surface, clinging to the last indelible truths.
I ████ humans. I despise the gods.
I rise from the mud with closed eyes, and hold my hands out as the Nemean Lion's pelt materializes in them.
"...Well?" The Caster of the Stars asks. "Are you ready to cooperate now?"
"Humans…" I mutter as I drape the pelt over my face. "are worthless. Let their works never again enter my sight."
If this kind of freak occurrence had happened under different circumstances, I would surely have focused upon my grudge against the gods. But I cannot afford that. Not right now.
Who will save us?
I, who ████ humans-
"I hate humans," I say. That is the word. Hate, is the word I must focus upon - no other. "You Demon Pillars can do as you wish with them."
"So you'll cooperate, then?" The Caster asks.
"Cooperate?" Scorn fills my voice as I materialize my bow. "Did I say that?"
If he is to command me, I must first test his resolve.
-I drown his world in mud and corpses.
***
It's a simple affair. Defeat Blackbeard's crew and reclaim the grail that Jason lent to him. He has a crew of nameless shades and a few Servants with him, but-
"[Nine Lives]."
-They won't matter.
There is nothing particularly special about my bow. It's a well designed weapon, and of a good size and draw weight for me, but it is ultimately a nameless armament. It is not a Noble Phantasm. I have no particular need for legendary weapons.
Any weapon, wielded by me, is the 'strongest'. Any necessary feats - trick shots, rapid fire and the like - can simply be produced by skill at the time of their necessitude. That is [Nine Lives] - a Noble Phantasm that simply achieves victory, whatever the occasion demands.
-In this case, I'll start out simple. Sink their ship with a single shot at full draw, and in the next instant, fire three arrows toward each occupant of the ship.
My arm blurs, and death rains down on the [Queen Anne's revenge].
However-
A blazing fire steps up to the edge of the ship.
A man in a kimono, his long red hair dancing like flames in the wind of the storm, grins as he pulls off an eyepatch to reveal a second piercing blue eye, and draws his sword. This must be the 'Hauroy Ralior' that the Caster of the Stars spoke of.
In the next moment, he begins his dance through my forest of arrows. Leaping from shaft to shaft, cutting down in mid-flight those that would impede his motion, swiftly crossing the gap between our vessels without fear or hesitation.
I draw back my bowstring once more - let's step things up a bit. The next arrow I fire glows, wreathed in energy, and as it leaves the bowstring it splits into nine lasers, writhing through the air like the heads of the Hydra to home in on their target. However, Ralior's sword tears through the air with a simple elegance - and my attack vanishes.
He's getting a bit too close. Let's make some distance.
Leaping from the ship, I call upon the river I used to clean the Augean stables, propelling me away from the swordsman atop the surface of the water as I continue to rain death upon him.
Miraculously, he continues to parry all of them, still sprinting over the shafts of my arrows like it's nothing - that's some skill he has there. My bow just won't be enough, it seems.
"[Cerberus]!" As we reach a rocky island, I make space again. The dog of Hades appears, its jaws snapping closed around the swordsman - but just a moment later, his its skull is split from the inside, as Ralior bursts outward, still grinning.
However, that brief moment was enough.
With a final catastrophic smash, I finish shaping one of the island's rocky crags to the required shape - and with a minimal effort I pry my improvised weapon from the earth. It's somewhere between a sword and an axe, hewn roughly from stone - but it will do.
He closes the gap, blade rippling with that same strange technique that cleaves all in its path.
A simple parry won't do. Dodging and countering is too risky. In that case-!
I simply need to match his technique.
Our swords meet - and with a blinding light and resounding crash, repel each other. And then again, and again, the earth splitting beneath our feet as light, sound, and heat pour out of our rapid clash - until finally, I beat him in speed, nine simultaneous slashes slipping past his guard at once -
His form flickers, and suddenly he's standing out of my range again.
"Haa… Haa… You're something else, you." He says, speaking for the first time.
I hate humans. But- "You're not bad yourself," I say, as I notice the smile starting to form on my face.
"You're like me, right? Type of guy that never met anyone on your level," He says.
He's right, of course. In all my life, the only ones who could match me were beasts far beyond humanity - and even then, I overcame every one of them, falling only to the cowardly use of poison after my labors were already finished. However-
"From where I stand, I still have not."
"Hah! That so?" He barks a short laugh. "I'm not the type'a guy to go makin' excuses, but I sure do wish I could use my full power - this body just ain't it."
I don't bother responding. It's not as though this vessel can contain all of my existence either.
"So I gotta bridge the gap somehow, even if it's gonna get a little gross. This brat's body has some tricks of its own. I don't like using 'em, but-" Hauroy raises his left hand, and a second sword materializes in his grip. "A guy like me doesn't get summoned much. But I got some records of another time, fighting a smokin' hot chick that used two swords - and against her I really realized, that between those who've reached the Heavenly Sword-"
He flickers through the air, appearing behind me.
"-any trick is fair game!"
I bound over his strike, backflipping over him while twisting in midair to deliver a rapid series of blows. He repels a few of them before moving with the same teleportation-like ability to attack from another position-
And so, as the earth, air, and sea break to pieces around us, our swords dance amidst the whirling storm.
***
For four days we clash, the deluge of blows between us never once pausing. At some point the surroundings melted away into a water-filled cyclone, but I paid it no notice. I paid nothing notice save the man before me.
Parry and strike. Parry, dodge, strike. Dodge and strike. Strike, parry, parry, dodge, strike.
The rhythm of our blows is like an old friend at this point. The sparkling coruscations of steel against steel lulling me into the delirium of total exertion. A grin is still plastered across his drenched face, and the matching smile on my own is making my cheeks sore.
I don't understand.
I never particularly enjoyed violence - no, I think I was afraid of it. Violence was something that came upon me, seized me, destroyed the things I loved. Even during my labors, when men praised me, the furthest my feelings ever went was the thought that I might be able to do something to turn the demons haunting me for my fellow men's benefit.
And yet, in this moment-
A discordant note sounds in our bladesong, and I'm faintly aware of Hauroy losing his grip on one of his swords.
There it is. This is as far as he can go - his Endurance is no match for mine. Again, his strange ability allows him to flicker backwards through the air to avoid me, but that won't be enough this time.
That motion is no Noble Phantasm, nor is it magic - it's a technique, a yet unseen capacity of the human body. All I have to do-
"[Nine Lives]."
-is match it.
I leap through the air to meet him, and his eyes widen, but his grin remains unmoved.
"[Black Serpent]!"
An abomination fills the space between us, a coiling horned abomination that every fiber of my body screams is certain death. It won't stop me, but if the precious seconds spent dealing with it, he may achieve something of note, so-!
"[Lernean Hydra]!" I summon my own serpentine abomination to deal with it, knowing instinctively that anything less will fail. The two coil around each other, plunging to the sea below, and as I blink through the air past them, I see-
"[Total…]!" Hauroy shots, and he begins to take a monstrous shape.
However- he's the one who said it. Between men like us- "[Reincarnation…"
"-Eclipse]!"
-any cheap trick will suffice.
"-Pandora]!"
***
Naturally, what occurred was the usurpation of the Gluttony Witch Factor by Alcides. Reid's transformation lasted a mere fraction of a second, before Roy Alphard's powerless body replaced him, and was struck down without a spare thought by Alcides.
But, in the moments that followed, a contest was initiated. To assimilate the consciousness of Reid Astrea was a task great enough for the previous bearer of Gluttony to lose his existence. Even for Alcides, a struggle was required. The weight of one soul against another, a battle of wills decided in a single instant - from the outside, it was an unremarkable affair that amounted to a momentary lapse in consciousness.
But from the perspective of the two fighters-
***
I find myself in a featureless void, shrouded with shadows - but somehow, I already understand what has happened, and what must take place in this place. Across from me, just a few meters away, Hauroy - no, Reid Astrea, stands, sword in hand.
"Pretty glad it came down to this, you," He says, rolling his shoulder. "You couldn't see it all, inside that brat like I was. Sword Saint, Reid Astrea - this is my everything, so get ready."
"Then I hope you won't mind seeing everything I have either - you aren't the only one held back by your vessel," I reply. "Usurper of the Heavens, ██████es - I'll take it all and blow you away."
"Swords, dragons, witches, and magic - ain't a need for any of them." He raises his sword, and the world behind it splits. The very definition of cutting is there, imposed upon reality in perfect clarity, and I-
I throw my shield. "[Herakles Kosmos]."
A barrier emerges. The absolute defense unique to my Lancer self, a shield that deploys a miniature world to absorb any attack - will not withstand this blow for long.
"Just pick up a stick, and swing it 'til ya win," He continues. "That's all my life is. That is-!"
And so, I raise my sword.
"[Marmyadose], fill yourself with heat," I rumble, and from my sword, a column of light erupts.
"[REID…" The sword comes down, and reality starts to slide apart along the length of the divide.
"[NINE…" I swing nine times with the speed of a god, each strike wreathed in energy enough to level a mountain, each directed to a different vital point to prevent any hope of deflection or avoidance.
"...ASTREA]!" My shield splits under the weight of a perfect sword.
"...LIVES]!" And then our strikes meet each other.
Blinding light. Unbearable Heat.
I die - and revive again, gaining resistance to the blow, as [God Hand] takes effect.
And then I die again. And again. And again.
Twelve times, burning through every life from [God Hand], and Chiron's Immortality from [King's Order], before at last as my thirteenth life's Battle Continuation activates - the cut is finally halted.
And then, the violence disappears, and we stand across from each other once more.
"Ahhh, really thought I had ya there!" Reid laughs, collapsing onto his back and laughing.
"To be honest, if you'd avoided my counterattack I might have been in some trouble," I say, following suit. "I'd probably have to use my Assassin tricks, and they can be unreliable at times."
"The hell am I gonna avoid a miles long nine-directional slash!?" He laughs, and I join him.
This really is reminding me of why I ████-
"...I hate humans," That's right. Cling to that. That reality, absolutely must not disappear.
"Back to bein' glum, you?" Reid sighs.
"Even so… I had fun," I mutter.
"Yeah. It was fun. Catcha later, H████les."
The split sky yawns open, and under familiar stars, I ascend.
"[Total Eclipse]."
Alcides
Burning. It's all burning away, every last part crumbling and melting and burning in the depths of these sins.
Die. Die. Die.
Fated death accidental death wrongful death purposeful death convenient death why why why why why who who-
Who can we blame for this?
Choose a scapegoat and bury him crush crush and grind Retribution retribution retribution. See that the monster is not human. See that the monster was (never) once human. Put it away. Put it away. Hide it from the light, bury it-
Die.
Death by spears death by knives death by the sword death by arrows and arrows and arrows and arrows why why why why why why why who who who-
Who will save us?
-In the end, I surface, clinging to the last indelible truths.
I ████ humans. I despise the gods.
I rise from the mud with closed eyes, and hold my hands out as the Nemean Lion's pelt materializes in them.
"...Well?" The Caster of the Stars asks. "Are you ready to cooperate now?"
"Humans…" I mutter as I drape the pelt over my face. "are worthless. Let their works never again enter my sight."
If this kind of freak occurrence had happened under different circumstances, I would surely have focused upon my grudge against the gods. But I cannot afford that. Not right now.
Who will save us?
I, who ████ humans-
"I hate humans," I say. That is the word. Hate, is the word I must focus upon - no other. "You Demon Pillars can do as you wish with them."
"So you'll cooperate, then?" The Caster asks.
"Cooperate?" Scorn fills my voice as I materialize my bow. "Did I say that?"
If he is to command me, I must first test his resolve.
-I drown his world in mud and corpses.
***
It's a simple affair. Defeat Blackbeard's crew and reclaim the grail that Jason lent to him. He has a crew of nameless shades and a few Servants with him, but-
"[Nine Lives]."
-They won't matter.
There is nothing particularly special about my bow. It's a well designed weapon, and of a good size and draw weight for me, but it is ultimately a nameless armament. It is not a Noble Phantasm. I have no particular need for legendary weapons.
Any weapon, wielded by me, is the 'strongest'. Any necessary feats - trick shots, rapid fire and the like - can simply be produced by skill at the time of their necessitude. That is [Nine Lives] - a Noble Phantasm that simply achieves victory, whatever the occasion demands.
-In this case, I'll start out simple. Sink their ship with a single shot at full draw, and in the next instant, fire three arrows toward each occupant of the ship.
My arm blurs, and death rains down on the [Queen Anne's revenge].
However-
A blazing fire steps up to the edge of the ship.
A man in a kimono, his long red hair dancing like flames in the wind of the storm, grins as he pulls off an eyepatch to reveal a second piercing blue eye, and draws his sword. This must be the 'Hauroy Ralior' that the Caster of the Stars spoke of.
In the next moment, he begins his dance through my forest of arrows. Leaping from shaft to shaft, cutting down in mid-flight those that would impede his motion, swiftly crossing the gap between our vessels without fear or hesitation.
I draw back my bowstring once more - let's step things up a bit. The next arrow I fire glows, wreathed in energy, and as it leaves the bowstring it splits into nine lasers, writhing through the air like the heads of the Hydra to home in on their target. However, Ralior's sword tears through the air with a simple elegance - and my attack vanishes.
He's getting a bit too close. Let's make some distance.
Leaping from the ship, I call upon the river I used to clean the Augean stables, propelling me away from the swordsman atop the surface of the water as I continue to rain death upon him.
Miraculously, he continues to parry all of them, still sprinting over the shafts of my arrows like it's nothing - that's some skill he has there. My bow just won't be enough, it seems.
"[Cerberus]!" As we reach a rocky island, I make space again. The dog of Hades appears, its jaws snapping closed around the swordsman - but just a moment later, his its skull is split from the inside, as Ralior bursts outward, still grinning.
However, that brief moment was enough.
With a final catastrophic smash, I finish shaping one of the island's rocky crags to the required shape - and with a minimal effort I pry my improvised weapon from the earth. It's somewhere between a sword and an axe, hewn roughly from stone - but it will do.
He closes the gap, blade rippling with that same strange technique that cleaves all in its path.
A simple parry won't do. Dodging and countering is too risky. In that case-!
I simply need to match his technique.
Our swords meet - and with a blinding light and resounding crash, repel each other. And then again, and again, the earth splitting beneath our feet as light, sound, and heat pour out of our rapid clash - until finally, I beat him in speed, nine simultaneous slashes slipping past his guard at once -
His form flickers, and suddenly he's standing out of my range again.
"Haa… Haa… You're something else, you." He says, speaking for the first time.
I hate humans. But- "You're not bad yourself," I say, as I notice the smile starting to form on my face.
"You're like me, right? Type of guy that never met anyone on your level," He says.
He's right, of course. In all my life, the only ones who could match me were beasts far beyond humanity - and even then, I overcame every one of them, falling only to the cowardly use of poison after my labors were already finished. However-
"From where I stand, I still have not."
"Hah! That so?" He barks a short laugh. "I'm not the type'a guy to go makin' excuses, but I sure do wish I could use my full power - this body just ain't it."
I don't bother responding. It's not as though this vessel can contain all of my existence either.
"So I gotta bridge the gap somehow, even if it's gonna get a little gross. This brat's body has some tricks of its own. I don't like using 'em, but-" Hauroy raises his left hand, and a second sword materializes in his grip. "A guy like me doesn't get summoned much. But I got some records of another time, fighting a smokin' hot chick that used two swords - and against her I really realized, that between those who've reached the Heavenly Sword-"
He flickers through the air, appearing behind me.
"-any trick is fair game!"
I bound over his strike, backflipping over him while twisting in midair to deliver a rapid series of blows. He repels a few of them before moving with the same teleportation-like ability to attack from another position-
And so, as the earth, air, and sea break to pieces around us, our swords dance amidst the whirling storm.
***
For four days we clash, the deluge of blows between us never once pausing. At some point the surroundings melted away into a water-filled cyclone, but I paid it no notice. I paid nothing notice save the man before me.
Parry and strike. Parry, dodge, strike. Dodge and strike. Strike, parry, parry, dodge, strike.
The rhythm of our blows is like an old friend at this point. The sparkling coruscations of steel against steel lulling me into the delirium of total exertion. A grin is still plastered across his drenched face, and the matching smile on my own is making my cheeks sore.
I don't understand.
I never particularly enjoyed violence - no, I think I was afraid of it. Violence was something that came upon me, seized me, destroyed the things I loved. Even during my labors, when men praised me, the furthest my feelings ever went was the thought that I might be able to do something to turn the demons haunting me for my fellow men's benefit.
And yet, in this moment-
A discordant note sounds in our bladesong, and I'm faintly aware of Hauroy losing his grip on one of his swords.
There it is. This is as far as he can go - his Endurance is no match for mine. Again, his strange ability allows him to flicker backwards through the air to avoid me, but that won't be enough this time.
That motion is no Noble Phantasm, nor is it magic - it's a technique, a yet unseen capacity of the human body. All I have to do-
"[Nine Lives]."
-is match it.
I leap through the air to meet him, and his eyes widen, but his grin remains unmoved.
"[Black Serpent]!"
An abomination fills the space between us, a coiling horned abomination that every fiber of my body screams is certain death. It won't stop me, but if the precious seconds spent dealing with it, he may achieve something of note, so-!
"[Lernean Hydra]!" I summon my own serpentine abomination to deal with it, knowing instinctively that anything less will fail. The two coil around each other, plunging to the sea below, and as I blink through the air past them, I see-
"[Total…]!" Hauroy shots, and he begins to take a monstrous shape.
However- he's the one who said it. Between men like us- "[Reincarnation…"
"-Eclipse]!"
-any cheap trick will suffice.
"-Pandora]!"
***
Naturally, what occurred was the usurpation of the Gluttony Witch Factor by Alcides. Reid's transformation lasted a mere fraction of a second, before Roy Alphard's powerless body replaced him, and was struck down without a spare thought by Alcides.
But, in the moments that followed, a contest was initiated. To assimilate the consciousness of Reid Astrea was a task great enough for the previous bearer of Gluttony to lose his existence. Even for Alcides, a struggle was required. The weight of one soul against another, a battle of wills decided in a single instant - from the outside, it was an unremarkable affair that amounted to a momentary lapse in consciousness.
But from the perspective of the two fighters-
***
I find myself in a featureless void, shrouded with shadows - but somehow, I already understand what has happened, and what must take place in this place. Across from me, just a few meters away, Hauroy - no, Reid Astrea, stands, sword in hand.
"Pretty glad it came down to this, you," He says, rolling his shoulder. "You couldn't see it all, inside that brat like I was. Sword Saint, Reid Astrea - this is my everything, so get ready."
"Then I hope you won't mind seeing everything I have either - you aren't the only one held back by your vessel," I reply. "Usurper of the Heavens, ██████es - I'll take it all and blow you away."
"Swords, dragons, witches, and magic - ain't a need for any of them." He raises his sword, and the world behind it splits. The very definition of cutting is there, imposed upon reality in perfect clarity, and I-
I throw my shield. "[Herakles Kosmos]."
A barrier emerges. The absolute defense unique to my Lancer self, a shield that deploys a miniature world to absorb any attack - will not withstand this blow for long.
"Just pick up a stick, and swing it 'til ya win," He continues. "That's all my life is. That is-!"
And so, I raise my sword.
"[Marmyadose], fill yourself with heat," I rumble, and from my sword, a column of light erupts.
"[REID…" The sword comes down, and reality starts to slide apart along the length of the divide.
"[NINE…" I swing nine times with the speed of a god, each strike wreathed in energy enough to level a mountain, each directed to a different vital point to prevent any hope of deflection or avoidance.
"...ASTREA]!" My shield splits under the weight of a perfect sword.
"...LIVES]!" And then our strikes meet each other.
Blinding light. Unbearable Heat.
I die - and revive again, gaining resistance to the blow, as [God Hand] takes effect.
And then I die again. And again. And again.
Twelve times, burning through every life from [God Hand], and Chiron's Immortality from [King's Order], before at last as my thirteenth life's Battle Continuation activates - the cut is finally halted.
And then, the violence disappears, and we stand across from each other once more.
"Ahhh, really thought I had ya there!" Reid laughs, collapsing onto his back and laughing.
"To be honest, if you'd avoided my counterattack I might have been in some trouble," I say, following suit. "I'd probably have to use my Assassin tricks, and they can be unreliable at times."
"The hell am I gonna avoid a miles long nine-directional slash!?" He laughs, and I join him.
This really is reminding me of why I ████-
"...I hate humans," That's right. Cling to that. That reality, absolutely must not disappear.
"Back to bein' glum, you?" Reid sighs.
"Even so… I had fun," I mutter.
"Yeah. It was fun. Catcha later, H████les."
The split sky yawns open, and under familiar stars, I ascend.
"[Total Eclipse]."
Compendium Update: Heracles
Xorn
Master Procrastinator
- Location
- Somewhere I won't be able to rest in peace
Compendium Update: Heracles
Herakles Kosmos: The Miniature World Enclosed by Terror
Rank: A+
Type: Barrier
Range: 0
Maximum Number of Targets: 1 Person
The shield used by the Lancer Heracles. Hesiod's description of the shield borrows four full lines from the Illiad's description of Achilles's shield, so in this work the two have an almost identical function - namely, the creation of a miniature world to intercept an attack. Anything less than an Anti-World Noble Phantasm cannot pierce the barrier, and its mere deployment causes a morale penalty in those witnessing it.
By the way, Heracles's spear as a Lancer is a relatively mundane armament. However, [Nine Lives] makes up for this - his signature technique as a Lancer is to throw the shield to ricochet off something behind his opponent, and then activate it in midair on the return strike so that it enlarges into what's basically a planet being dropped on the enemy - meanwhile, Heracles will attack head-on with a nine-pointed spear thrust towards every vital point.
Marmyadose: Sword of Perfect Devastation
Rank: A++
Type: Anti-Fortress
Range: 1-99
Maximum Number of Targets: 1000 People
The sword used by the Saber Heracles, forged by Hephaestus and granted to many great heroes of the past. In the days of the Round Table, this sword was at times used by Artoria Pendragon when she lent Excalibur to Gawain, and in terms of raw destructive power, it actually exceeds that weapon.
Lacking the holy attribute and special status of Excalibur, it is still less suited to be the weapon of a hero of justice. Nonetheless, for Heracles, a hero whose might makes right, and whose large bulk can handle it better than the King of Knights, it is the perfect weapon. Used in conjunction with Nine Lives, it creates an undodgeable, max-ranged, unblockable attack.
Herakles Kosmos: The Miniature World Enclosed by Terror
Rank: A+
Type: Barrier
Range: 0
Maximum Number of Targets: 1 Person
The shield used by the Lancer Heracles. Hesiod's description of the shield borrows four full lines from the Illiad's description of Achilles's shield, so in this work the two have an almost identical function - namely, the creation of a miniature world to intercept an attack. Anything less than an Anti-World Noble Phantasm cannot pierce the barrier, and its mere deployment causes a morale penalty in those witnessing it.
By the way, Heracles's spear as a Lancer is a relatively mundane armament. However, [Nine Lives] makes up for this - his signature technique as a Lancer is to throw the shield to ricochet off something behind his opponent, and then activate it in midair on the return strike so that it enlarges into what's basically a planet being dropped on the enemy - meanwhile, Heracles will attack head-on with a nine-pointed spear thrust towards every vital point.
Marmyadose: Sword of Perfect Devastation
Rank: A++
Type: Anti-Fortress
Range: 1-99
Maximum Number of Targets: 1000 People
The sword used by the Saber Heracles, forged by Hephaestus and granted to many great heroes of the past. In the days of the Round Table, this sword was at times used by Artoria Pendragon when she lent Excalibur to Gawain, and in terms of raw destructive power, it actually exceeds that weapon.
Lacking the holy attribute and special status of Excalibur, it is still less suited to be the weapon of a hero of justice. Nonetheless, for Heracles, a hero whose might makes right, and whose large bulk can handle it better than the King of Knights, it is the perfect weapon. Used in conjunction with Nine Lives, it creates an undodgeable, max-ranged, unblockable attack.
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Xorn
Master Procrastinator
- Location
- Somewhere I won't be able to rest in peace
Whoops. I was wondering why nobody was responding lol
- Location
- Somewhere North of south
Reid gave an amazing showing too imo, especially as a pure swordsman going against someone who qualifies for basically all Classes as a top tier Servant. He literally just had a single sword and very nearly defeated Herakles in his full power, that's incredible. I'm looking forward to seeing Reid vs Musashi at some point, hopefully - no way the author will tease that and not show it, right...?
- Location
- Somewhere North of south
He definitely gave as good as he got.
it seemed like Herakles winning was down to luck
Not sure we can call it luck when even Reid admitted he wouldn't be able to dodge the final Nine Lives with Marmyadose, though I admit I have no idea how he didn't die the previous twelve times it was used against him. I guess he interrupted the attack when he killed Herakles mid-swing with [Reid Astraea]?
Xorn
Master Procrastinator
- Location
- Somewhere I won't be able to rest in peace
He just killed Herk twelve times with his single attack at the same time that he was being annihilated by Marmyadose. Sufficiently strong attacks can take multiple lives at once, and [Reid Astrea] is an absurdly powerful attack when used by full power Heroic Spirit Reid. It technically ignores "all" defenses, but God Hand is just so absurd that it's able to overcome that, albeit only after the twelfth life has been spent.
I get that absurd insurmountable enemies are Fate's whole Thing but it's just so tiresome after a point man. Like, oooh, this fucker has like three separate abilities that all allow him to do anything, layered immortality, invulnerability and the aforementioned ability to do anything so he'll perfect parry the deluge of seven multiverses' worth of attacks with his pinky, and even if you manage to find some esoteric bullshit that can actually harm him he just goes "mine now 
" and whoops now he's level infinity plus one.
I'm really loving this story, just noticing that damn, reading Zero and two routes of FSN did not inoculate me to the levels of bullshit present lmao.
" and whoops now he's level infinity plus one.I'm really loving this story, just noticing that damn, reading Zero and two routes of FSN did not inoculate me to the levels of bullshit present lmao.
Unfortunately this is pretty accurate to canon Herakles lol, Nasu really made him that busted. Well it's more like the Fate/Strange Fake author who gave altered Herakles (Alcides) the ability to just steal NPs wholesale for some reason, so we have to live with that now.I get that absurd insurmountable enemies are Fate's whole Thing but it's just so tiresome after a point man. Like, oooh, this fucker has like three separate abilities that all allow him to do anything, layered immortality, invulnerability and the aforementioned ability to do anything so he'll perfect parry the deluge of seven multiverses' worth of attacks with his pinky, and even if you manage to find some esoteric bullshit that can actually harm him he just goes "mine now
I'm really loving this story, just noticing that damn, reading Zero and two routes of FSN did not inoculate me to the levels of bullshit present lmao.
130: Alcides
Xorn
Master Procrastinator
- Location
- Somewhere I won't be able to rest in peace
130: Alcides
On a snow-swept mountaintop in the year 2015, the long polar winter is still in full swing. Starlight filters down from an uncharacteristically clear night sky - the illusion magecraft used to simulate the day and night cycle of other latitudes has already been disabled. Indeed, anyone walking the halls of Chaldea at this time would be in near total darkness, and feel a bone deep chill, because at this moment, the lighting and climate control are considered superfluous.
And in the command room, lit only by workstation screens and the light of Chaldeas, everyone is screaming.
"Power levels are still dropping! Automatic termination of Cu Chulainn's connection in one minute-!" A staff member shouts.
"Override it! Engineering, are those damn backup generators online yet!? How long are you going to make me wait!?" Olga Marie Animusphere responds.
"Provisional spirit origin analysis complete! He's modified his whole existence to drain as much power as possible! Even with all of the power diverted, Natsuki Subaru's mana reserves are still going to be dropping-!"
"Rayshift complete, Saint George has returned to Chaldea!"
"Put his spirit origin in stasis with the others!" Olga shouts, before turning back to the communications console. "Mash, what's your call on Oda Nobunaga?"
"...Sever her connection with Chaldea," The Shielder says after a moment. "Even if the readings for her vitals are accurate, she can rely on Independent Action for at least some time."
"Do it!" The director says. "Someone tell me Subaru's status!"
"Vitals are all over the place, but his existence is stable! Location readings are consistent with envelopment in a Reality Marble!"
-In the middle of all this chaos, Romani Archman's phone beeps, and he glances at the screen.
***
Magi☆Mari: Just standing around in all this chaos? You're so hopeless, Romani-kun!~
Romani: I can't do anything! And besides, if you're watching won't you please please please ask Merlin to start supplying our generators again!?
Romani: Your producer is Merlin, right?
Magi☆Mari: Something like that♡!
Magi☆Mari: But if we're talking about offering support
Magi☆Mari: Let's talk about Beasts, first. The unique Servants who manifest at certain times to test the human order.
Romani: Is this really safe to just… talk about?
Magi☆Mari: As long as neither of us mention you-know-who, it should be!~
Romani: "Should be" doesn't fill me with confidence.
Magi☆Mari: Returning to the subject, you should already know that the emergence of Beasts is like a series of dominoes. When the first Beast of Humanity emerges, the rest follow, like a chain reaction.
Magi☆Mari: I'd say that right now, there's a 99% chance of a Beast emerging in Okeanos. In another world, that might not be the case but
Magi☆Mari: Accounting for the shadow following Natsuki Subaru, there are already somewhere between five to three-and-a-half Beasts active.
Magi☆Mari: Depending on how you're counting.
Magi☆Mari: Actually, if you count Cath Palug, it's six, maximum.
Romani: And one more makes seven - ISN'T THAT JUST ALL OF THEM!?
Magi☆Mari: Well, that's with me considering the counterpart Beasts who share the same number as separate instances. There's still no sign of III, for what that's worth.
Magi☆Mari: But as far as candidates for V, the Beast of Retribution goes
Magi☆Mari: Okeanos is overflowing with them.
Magi☆Mari: Cu Chulainn. Alcides. Dagon. Angra Mainyu. Sooner or later one of them will be able to push over the edge and attain Beasthood.
Romani: So what, is it just fate at this point? Beast V is sure to show up, and we're just waiting to see who it is? No, before that, I'm really concerned about the quantity of other Beasts you're announcing here!
Magi☆Mari: Just don't worry about them for now, Romani-kun!~ You can't do anything about them, so just pretend I never mentioned it!
Magi☆Mari: Back to the situation at hand, let's talk about V for a moment.
Magi☆Mari: According to P-san, V is a beast whose characteristic is [Retribution], but whether the retribution is directed at him or at another depends on the manifestation. It's like the Avenger class in that regard.
Romani: And again, your 'Producer-san' is Merlin, so he's not just making things up… right!?
Magi☆Mari: That's a secret♡!
Magi☆Mari: Anyway, from what P-san has seen, Beast V tends to manifest in pairs - one half to receive [Retribution] and one to execute it. One half is already in the Middle Eastern singularity, but P-San can't really tell which half it is.
Romani: …Okay, but what does all of this have to do with you not giving us mana!?
Magi☆Mari: Oh, nothing. P-san just wants your non-vital observation equipment offline in a bit. Sorry, it's for your own good!~
***
"▂▂▃▃▄▄▅▅!"
Once more, the monstrous scream of Cu Chulainn splits the air as I rain [Heavenly Arrows] down on him. Three copies of me, alternating the fire of all-piercing arrows, flicker away from him as he struggles to catch up on hideous misshapen wings.
…He's a difficult opponent. Somewhere between the Hydra and Reid Astrea, maybe even surpassing the latter - he's far and away the strongest 'monster' I've ever faced. His [Protection From Arrows] means that any shots made with less skill than the [Heavenly Arrow] will automatically miss, meaning I need to take my time with each shot. I could shoot fast enough if I still had access to [Nine Lives], but-
"[RIASTRAD]!"
Again his form shifts, a certain tightening in his muscles, and suddenly he flickers out of view- reappearing to stab two of my copies in their throats with the pieces of his spear still clutched in his deformed hands, and then flickering again into a just barely parried strike at my remaining copy. My bow shatters, and in desperation I smash my palm into the already opening set of jaws in his stomach.
[Palm of the Fist King]. Boiling blood scalds my arm as my blow tears his body in half, sending him flying away for a moment-
A stone sails past my head.
"[RIASTRAD]!"
"[Benkei Butsu]!" I conjure four clones, even as the once again reformed Cu Chulainn flickers back into melee range - he's reproduced the Leaper's Talent, then.
Two more stones sail past my head - that's enough of that.
Two bodies meet Cu Chulainn's charge as another one grabs the two remaining and hurls them towards the island where that irritating slinger is firing from.
My first and second body draw swords, delivering simultaneous blows that he parries with lightless thrusts of his spear-laden hands, breaking their weapons. His misshapen wings explode from his back as blades, slicing the second body to pieces as he brings his twisted legs forward in a scissor kick aimed at the head of the first.
My third body summons the first of my backup bows and readies a shot. Should I invoke its power?
No.
I despise the gods. Atalante's bow remains dormant.
My first body catches the legs aimed at its head, but Cu Chulainn's misshapen body, in a demonstration of just how many of his ribs have migrated to other parts of his body, lurches upwards, his unhinged jaw lunging for my throat.
I have no counters. Both of my hands are occupied, and the ultimate technique of Neiji Rockheart can only be delivered with a palm strike.
…Except, that was never Neiji's intent. He was a brawler, capable of using all of his body as the situation demanded. The [Palm of the Fist King] was only ever the start of his path; in the moments after he achieved it, he envisioned a truly divine martial art, far beyond just a single palm strike. Had he not been devoured by Gluttony, he would have gone much farther than this. But that chance was cut off. Like so many other humans, his destiny was cruelly denied, and he amounted to nothing, lost completely to history.
The rest are the same. The voices of the Eclipse, howling in my stomach. Each of them demanding, begging, crying for just one more chance. A last opportunity to complete their lives' works. Even in another world, even borrowing the body of another, even though they will doubtless be cut down, they continue to scream endlessly. And I, as an Avenger, draw power from this.
It makes me want to vomit.
I ████ humans. So, Neiji Rockheart, just this once, despite my better judgment, I'll show it to you. The pinnacle of that path you wished for. Your legacy, a divine martial art that surpasses all others.
"[Nine Lives Fist King]," I intone, and my knee tears off Cu Chulainn's face. The extended leg ejects his heart from his chest. A headbut knocks him backwards, my still tightly gripping hands tearing off his arms as my other leg shatters his pelvis.
…There it is. The cause for [Nine Lives] being disabled. My 'style' of surpassing all other wielders with every technique and weapon will not be complete until I fulfill the last will of all those voices of the Eclipse. I, who hate humans… can never do such a thing. Thus, for as long as the Eclipse continues, Nine Lives is sealed.
Boiling, acidic blood coats me as shattered crimson bones tear into my body with a will of their own, seeking my heart.
And as that body dies, my last one at this altitude fires at what remains of the Berserker-
"[RIASTRAD]!"
Suddenly, he teleports - not the now familiar near instantaneous movement of the [Leaper's Talent], but true teleportation - appearing behind me as his Noble Phantasm activates again to reform him, only barely letting me combine the Leaper's Talent with a roundhouse kick to gain some distance.
…A Command Spell. He needed one, to use his Noble Phantasm again in this state. But after firing it this many times, could his master still even be alive? Of course not! In which case-
"So your skill can falsify commands like that as well, Musashibou Benkei!" I shout at the new arrival, astride a Stymphalian Bird.
But his arrival gives me an opportunity.
So far, I've been locked into something like a stalemate, just barely keeping up with the Berserk Cu Chulainn. I could end it with [Reincarnation Pandora], but-
(A small, broken body, clutched in my hands.)
-I can't do that. Even now, even in this state, there's no possible way for me to willingly embrace madness. Cu Chulainn is incomprehensible to me for being willing to do so. And, even putting that aside, abandoning my reason might win me this fight, but it would remove all possibility of me winning against the biggest threat - it's going to be tough enough to beat Jason with my wits about me.
But, now that Benkei's here-
"[Reincarnation-!" I roar, thrusting a hand towards him.
"[Eighth-!" He shouts, reaching towards me.
So that's how it's going to be! Another exchange of Noble Phantasms! But that suits me just fine - I'll finish my Noble Phantasm first, and then cancel [Benkei Butsu] to erase this body before he can steal whatever he's after!
The bodies I sent to bring down that Archer will be more than far enough away, so-
***
"[Hamesh Avanim]!" David removes the head of one of the two demigods hurtling towards him. "Now, Abishag!"
"[Lord Chaldeas]!" Mash Kyrielight shouts, slamming a wall down between the Israelite King and the oncoming hail of arrows. "As I said, I really am not that person, King David!"
"Hm, are you really, absolutely, positively sure of that? Something about your body is-" He replies, but suddenly cuts himself off. "...So it's like that, huh? Is there really no other way?"
"...Very well," After a moment, the Archer sighs, dematerializing his sling to summon his harp in its place to begin a sorrowful song. "O Lord open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise. For thou desirest not sacrifice; else I would give it; thou delightest not in burnt offering."
A [Heavenly Arrow] tears through Mash's shield, sending the girl sprawling, and tearing off the Archer's arm, the residual force flinging him into the dirt as well.
"The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise."
Alcides hits the earth a moment later, already drawing for a finishing blow.
"[Sacrifice]."
Holy fire consumes everything.
***
-they died!?
"-Pandora]!"
"-Implement]!"
King's Order returns to me, and Benkei immediately begins to plummet out of sight. The familiar capabilities granted to me by my Twelve Labors - so why are there only two!? He destroyed the rest before giving them back to me!? Only the Stymphalian Birds and the River are here now!
And, worse still, I feel it. The writhing, inky black shape of the Gluttony Witch Factor - being torn away. If the Eclipse ends, I might regain Nine Lives, but - with Cu Chulainn in this state there's no way I'll be able to keep up!
But I still have that. The most hypocritical, twisted option, that will allow me to remain in this fight for just a short time longer. Cu Chulainn has already sunk to such depths. And besides, there's no need for honor, between those who have attained the Heavenly Sword.
I cling to the Eclipse. Allowing the Witch Factor itself to slip away, I embrace those souls, those existences within, sheltering them in my bosom. With complete awareness of my hypocrisy -
I invoke my authority, as the patron god of heroes.
…I realize now, that they were suppressed. The Gluttony Witch Factor had lulled them into sleep. The grudges I had encountered to this point were nothing. Now, the howling is deafening, and the strength gained from my Avenger Class skill is-
-My body starts to crack as the first of thirteen horns shatters.
This is the limit. An ordinary Spirit Origin can only withstand so much enhancement. Even the Oni horns encircling my head can only vent so much mana before I finally break down. A second horn shatters. At this rate… I have eleven seconds remaining before my body explodes.
But until then, I'll meet your expectations. I understand, now, Cu Chulainn. What you were trying to tell me, when you drove yourself to madness to match me.
It truly makes me ████ humans.
You and I are the same. Separated by centuries, born in different nations, and yet - I'm sure, if we had ever met, we would have been sworn brothers.
"▂▂▃▃▄▄▅▅!" He moves towards me in an impossible leap, with unparalleled speed - but I can stop him. I must stop him.
"[Nine Lives Glaciation]." Absolute zero. true cold, under which particles cannot even move, of which I am the only exception. I will freeze even that boiling blood of yours, Cu Chulainn-!
"[Pilgrimage of the Five Hundred Arhat]!" - and then, spectral figures bloom into existence, from beneath, catching me, carrying me up, out of the range of the frost, above the clouds, towards the stars themselves-!
"[RIASTRAD]!" And, far below, Cu Chulainn twists his body, reshaping all of his musculature for a perfect throw that pierces the light itself, and tears through my already cracked and breaking body.
***
…There's no resentment, really. I don't feel particularly bad about this loss. At least, not for my own sake. If anything, I just feel total admiration for Cu Chulainn and Musashibou Benkei for pulling this off despite everything.
But those voices, who shared this eclipse with me, I feel a little bad for letting them down. Those screaming voices, the howls of those who lost their existence.
Because, I think, this whole time, you guys were cheering for me.
I want to say it so badly. That word, that was forbidden by the last will of Heracles, before I became Alcides.
But if I do that, something truly unsightly might be born here. I remember another time, even without six prior Beasts preparing the way, that I somehow came to be in a Grail War as Alcides. There are only bits and pieces of it, but… I know I became a true monster. I wanted to stop that shameful display in its tracks this time.
But, looking up at my own shape, etched in the stars, I feel like it might be okay.
I can do it. Like this, I could manage it. With all my fellow heroes cheering for me, I can retain my desire for heroism. Step past Alcides. Move beyond my hatred, and become the one god worth his title.
The truth is, like every other Beast - I love humans.
The cracks in my body resolve into the lines of a constellation as I draw 'me' into 'myself'. The remaining horns crowning my head lengthen, twisting together around the crown of my head. [God Hand] Activates, and my heart begins to beat again.
Cu Chulainn - I really hope we meet again one day.
"[Nine Lives]," The eclipse finally ends as I surpass it - and my foe finally finds rest beneath nine perfect sword swings.
***
Sing, O muse, of the mightiest Hero of this world,
Whose every arrow is a falling star, whose sword cleaves heaven from earth.
Lower your heads.
Lower your heads.
Crown him with horns as with a laurel, and cry aloud for salvation.
Now is the time for Retribution, against this unjust world.
But who shall swing the blade? Who shall launch the arrows of vengeance?
Not us. Not us. None can bear it.
A Hero. Choose a hero, and hold him high.
Etch his name in the stars, and pray for salvation, and
Let his blood-stained arrow carve the path.
Oh Hercules, God of Heroes, hear our plea.
On a snow-swept mountaintop in the year 2015, the long polar winter is still in full swing. Starlight filters down from an uncharacteristically clear night sky - the illusion magecraft used to simulate the day and night cycle of other latitudes has already been disabled. Indeed, anyone walking the halls of Chaldea at this time would be in near total darkness, and feel a bone deep chill, because at this moment, the lighting and climate control are considered superfluous.
And in the command room, lit only by workstation screens and the light of Chaldeas, everyone is screaming.
"Power levels are still dropping! Automatic termination of Cu Chulainn's connection in one minute-!" A staff member shouts.
"Override it! Engineering, are those damn backup generators online yet!? How long are you going to make me wait!?" Olga Marie Animusphere responds.
"Provisional spirit origin analysis complete! He's modified his whole existence to drain as much power as possible! Even with all of the power diverted, Natsuki Subaru's mana reserves are still going to be dropping-!"
"Rayshift complete, Saint George has returned to Chaldea!"
"Put his spirit origin in stasis with the others!" Olga shouts, before turning back to the communications console. "Mash, what's your call on Oda Nobunaga?"
"...Sever her connection with Chaldea," The Shielder says after a moment. "Even if the readings for her vitals are accurate, she can rely on Independent Action for at least some time."
"Do it!" The director says. "Someone tell me Subaru's status!"
"Vitals are all over the place, but his existence is stable! Location readings are consistent with envelopment in a Reality Marble!"
-In the middle of all this chaos, Romani Archman's phone beeps, and he glances at the screen.
***
Magi☆Mari: Just standing around in all this chaos? You're so hopeless, Romani-kun!~
Romani: I can't do anything! And besides, if you're watching won't you please please please ask Merlin to start supplying our generators again!?
Romani: Your producer is Merlin, right?
Magi☆Mari: Something like that♡!
Magi☆Mari: But if we're talking about offering support
Magi☆Mari: Let's talk about Beasts, first. The unique Servants who manifest at certain times to test the human order.
Romani: Is this really safe to just… talk about?
Magi☆Mari: As long as neither of us mention you-know-who, it should be!~
Romani: "Should be" doesn't fill me with confidence.
Magi☆Mari: Returning to the subject, you should already know that the emergence of Beasts is like a series of dominoes. When the first Beast of Humanity emerges, the rest follow, like a chain reaction.
Magi☆Mari: I'd say that right now, there's a 99% chance of a Beast emerging in Okeanos. In another world, that might not be the case but
Magi☆Mari: Accounting for the shadow following Natsuki Subaru, there are already somewhere between five to three-and-a-half Beasts active.
Magi☆Mari: Depending on how you're counting.
Magi☆Mari: Actually, if you count Cath Palug, it's six, maximum.
Romani: And one more makes seven - ISN'T THAT JUST ALL OF THEM!?
Magi☆Mari: Well, that's with me considering the counterpart Beasts who share the same number as separate instances. There's still no sign of III, for what that's worth.
Magi☆Mari: But as far as candidates for V, the Beast of Retribution goes
Magi☆Mari: Okeanos is overflowing with them.
Magi☆Mari: Cu Chulainn. Alcides. Dagon. Angra Mainyu. Sooner or later one of them will be able to push over the edge and attain Beasthood.
Romani: So what, is it just fate at this point? Beast V is sure to show up, and we're just waiting to see who it is? No, before that, I'm really concerned about the quantity of other Beasts you're announcing here!
Magi☆Mari: Just don't worry about them for now, Romani-kun!~ You can't do anything about them, so just pretend I never mentioned it!
Magi☆Mari: Back to the situation at hand, let's talk about V for a moment.
Magi☆Mari: According to P-san, V is a beast whose characteristic is [Retribution], but whether the retribution is directed at him or at another depends on the manifestation. It's like the Avenger class in that regard.
Romani: And again, your 'Producer-san' is Merlin, so he's not just making things up… right!?
Magi☆Mari: That's a secret♡!
Magi☆Mari: Anyway, from what P-san has seen, Beast V tends to manifest in pairs - one half to receive [Retribution] and one to execute it. One half is already in the Middle Eastern singularity, but P-San can't really tell which half it is.
Romani: …Okay, but what does all of this have to do with you not giving us mana!?
Magi☆Mari: Oh, nothing. P-san just wants your non-vital observation equipment offline in a bit. Sorry, it's for your own good!~
***
"▂▂▃▃▄▄▅▅!"
Once more, the monstrous scream of Cu Chulainn splits the air as I rain [Heavenly Arrows] down on him. Three copies of me, alternating the fire of all-piercing arrows, flicker away from him as he struggles to catch up on hideous misshapen wings.
…He's a difficult opponent. Somewhere between the Hydra and Reid Astrea, maybe even surpassing the latter - he's far and away the strongest 'monster' I've ever faced. His [Protection From Arrows] means that any shots made with less skill than the [Heavenly Arrow] will automatically miss, meaning I need to take my time with each shot. I could shoot fast enough if I still had access to [Nine Lives], but-
"[RIASTRAD]!"
Again his form shifts, a certain tightening in his muscles, and suddenly he flickers out of view- reappearing to stab two of my copies in their throats with the pieces of his spear still clutched in his deformed hands, and then flickering again into a just barely parried strike at my remaining copy. My bow shatters, and in desperation I smash my palm into the already opening set of jaws in his stomach.
[Palm of the Fist King]. Boiling blood scalds my arm as my blow tears his body in half, sending him flying away for a moment-
A stone sails past my head.
"[RIASTRAD]!"
"[Benkei Butsu]!" I conjure four clones, even as the once again reformed Cu Chulainn flickers back into melee range - he's reproduced the Leaper's Talent, then.
Two more stones sail past my head - that's enough of that.
Two bodies meet Cu Chulainn's charge as another one grabs the two remaining and hurls them towards the island where that irritating slinger is firing from.
My first and second body draw swords, delivering simultaneous blows that he parries with lightless thrusts of his spear-laden hands, breaking their weapons. His misshapen wings explode from his back as blades, slicing the second body to pieces as he brings his twisted legs forward in a scissor kick aimed at the head of the first.
My third body summons the first of my backup bows and readies a shot. Should I invoke its power?
No.
I despise the gods. Atalante's bow remains dormant.
My first body catches the legs aimed at its head, but Cu Chulainn's misshapen body, in a demonstration of just how many of his ribs have migrated to other parts of his body, lurches upwards, his unhinged jaw lunging for my throat.
I have no counters. Both of my hands are occupied, and the ultimate technique of Neiji Rockheart can only be delivered with a palm strike.
…Except, that was never Neiji's intent. He was a brawler, capable of using all of his body as the situation demanded. The [Palm of the Fist King] was only ever the start of his path; in the moments after he achieved it, he envisioned a truly divine martial art, far beyond just a single palm strike. Had he not been devoured by Gluttony, he would have gone much farther than this. But that chance was cut off. Like so many other humans, his destiny was cruelly denied, and he amounted to nothing, lost completely to history.
The rest are the same. The voices of the Eclipse, howling in my stomach. Each of them demanding, begging, crying for just one more chance. A last opportunity to complete their lives' works. Even in another world, even borrowing the body of another, even though they will doubtless be cut down, they continue to scream endlessly. And I, as an Avenger, draw power from this.
It makes me want to vomit.
I ████ humans. So, Neiji Rockheart, just this once, despite my better judgment, I'll show it to you. The pinnacle of that path you wished for. Your legacy, a divine martial art that surpasses all others.
"[Nine Lives Fist King]," I intone, and my knee tears off Cu Chulainn's face. The extended leg ejects his heart from his chest. A headbut knocks him backwards, my still tightly gripping hands tearing off his arms as my other leg shatters his pelvis.
…There it is. The cause for [Nine Lives] being disabled. My 'style' of surpassing all other wielders with every technique and weapon will not be complete until I fulfill the last will of all those voices of the Eclipse. I, who hate humans… can never do such a thing. Thus, for as long as the Eclipse continues, Nine Lives is sealed.
Boiling, acidic blood coats me as shattered crimson bones tear into my body with a will of their own, seeking my heart.
And as that body dies, my last one at this altitude fires at what remains of the Berserker-
"[RIASTRAD]!"
Suddenly, he teleports - not the now familiar near instantaneous movement of the [Leaper's Talent], but true teleportation - appearing behind me as his Noble Phantasm activates again to reform him, only barely letting me combine the Leaper's Talent with a roundhouse kick to gain some distance.
…A Command Spell. He needed one, to use his Noble Phantasm again in this state. But after firing it this many times, could his master still even be alive? Of course not! In which case-
"So your skill can falsify commands like that as well, Musashibou Benkei!" I shout at the new arrival, astride a Stymphalian Bird.
But his arrival gives me an opportunity.
So far, I've been locked into something like a stalemate, just barely keeping up with the Berserk Cu Chulainn. I could end it with [Reincarnation Pandora], but-
(A small, broken body, clutched in my hands.)
-I can't do that. Even now, even in this state, there's no possible way for me to willingly embrace madness. Cu Chulainn is incomprehensible to me for being willing to do so. And, even putting that aside, abandoning my reason might win me this fight, but it would remove all possibility of me winning against the biggest threat - it's going to be tough enough to beat Jason with my wits about me.
But, now that Benkei's here-
"[Reincarnation-!" I roar, thrusting a hand towards him.
"[Eighth-!" He shouts, reaching towards me.
So that's how it's going to be! Another exchange of Noble Phantasms! But that suits me just fine - I'll finish my Noble Phantasm first, and then cancel [Benkei Butsu] to erase this body before he can steal whatever he's after!
The bodies I sent to bring down that Archer will be more than far enough away, so-
***
"[Hamesh Avanim]!" David removes the head of one of the two demigods hurtling towards him. "Now, Abishag!"
"[Lord Chaldeas]!" Mash Kyrielight shouts, slamming a wall down between the Israelite King and the oncoming hail of arrows. "As I said, I really am not that person, King David!"
"Hm, are you really, absolutely, positively sure of that? Something about your body is-" He replies, but suddenly cuts himself off. "...So it's like that, huh? Is there really no other way?"
"...Very well," After a moment, the Archer sighs, dematerializing his sling to summon his harp in its place to begin a sorrowful song. "O Lord open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise. For thou desirest not sacrifice; else I would give it; thou delightest not in burnt offering."
A [Heavenly Arrow] tears through Mash's shield, sending the girl sprawling, and tearing off the Archer's arm, the residual force flinging him into the dirt as well.
"The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise."
Alcides hits the earth a moment later, already drawing for a finishing blow.
"[Sacrifice]."
Holy fire consumes everything.
***
-they died!?
"-Pandora]!"
"-Implement]!"
King's Order returns to me, and Benkei immediately begins to plummet out of sight. The familiar capabilities granted to me by my Twelve Labors - so why are there only two!? He destroyed the rest before giving them back to me!? Only the Stymphalian Birds and the River are here now!
And, worse still, I feel it. The writhing, inky black shape of the Gluttony Witch Factor - being torn away. If the Eclipse ends, I might regain Nine Lives, but - with Cu Chulainn in this state there's no way I'll be able to keep up!
But I still have that. The most hypocritical, twisted option, that will allow me to remain in this fight for just a short time longer. Cu Chulainn has already sunk to such depths. And besides, there's no need for honor, between those who have attained the Heavenly Sword.
I cling to the Eclipse. Allowing the Witch Factor itself to slip away, I embrace those souls, those existences within, sheltering them in my bosom. With complete awareness of my hypocrisy -
I invoke my authority, as the patron god of heroes.
…I realize now, that they were suppressed. The Gluttony Witch Factor had lulled them into sleep. The grudges I had encountered to this point were nothing. Now, the howling is deafening, and the strength gained from my Avenger Class skill is-
-My body starts to crack as the first of thirteen horns shatters.
This is the limit. An ordinary Spirit Origin can only withstand so much enhancement. Even the Oni horns encircling my head can only vent so much mana before I finally break down. A second horn shatters. At this rate… I have eleven seconds remaining before my body explodes.
But until then, I'll meet your expectations. I understand, now, Cu Chulainn. What you were trying to tell me, when you drove yourself to madness to match me.
It truly makes me ████ humans.
You and I are the same. Separated by centuries, born in different nations, and yet - I'm sure, if we had ever met, we would have been sworn brothers.
"▂▂▃▃▄▄▅▅!" He moves towards me in an impossible leap, with unparalleled speed - but I can stop him. I must stop him.
"[Nine Lives Glaciation]." Absolute zero. true cold, under which particles cannot even move, of which I am the only exception. I will freeze even that boiling blood of yours, Cu Chulainn-!
"[Pilgrimage of the Five Hundred Arhat]!" - and then, spectral figures bloom into existence, from beneath, catching me, carrying me up, out of the range of the frost, above the clouds, towards the stars themselves-!
"[RIASTRAD]!" And, far below, Cu Chulainn twists his body, reshaping all of his musculature for a perfect throw that pierces the light itself, and tears through my already cracked and breaking body.
***
…There's no resentment, really. I don't feel particularly bad about this loss. At least, not for my own sake. If anything, I just feel total admiration for Cu Chulainn and Musashibou Benkei for pulling this off despite everything.
But those voices, who shared this eclipse with me, I feel a little bad for letting them down. Those screaming voices, the howls of those who lost their existence.
Because, I think, this whole time, you guys were cheering for me.
I want to say it so badly. That word, that was forbidden by the last will of Heracles, before I became Alcides.
But if I do that, something truly unsightly might be born here. I remember another time, even without six prior Beasts preparing the way, that I somehow came to be in a Grail War as Alcides. There are only bits and pieces of it, but… I know I became a true monster. I wanted to stop that shameful display in its tracks this time.
But, looking up at my own shape, etched in the stars, I feel like it might be okay.
I can do it. Like this, I could manage it. With all my fellow heroes cheering for me, I can retain my desire for heroism. Step past Alcides. Move beyond my hatred, and become the one god worth his title.
The truth is, like every other Beast - I love humans.
The cracks in my body resolve into the lines of a constellation as I draw 'me' into 'myself'. The remaining horns crowning my head lengthen, twisting together around the crown of my head. [God Hand] Activates, and my heart begins to beat again.
Cu Chulainn - I really hope we meet again one day.
"[Nine Lives]," The eclipse finally ends as I surpass it - and my foe finally finds rest beneath nine perfect sword swings.
***
Sing, O muse, of the mightiest Hero of this world,
Whose every arrow is a falling star, whose sword cleaves heaven from earth.
Lower your heads.
Lower your heads.
Crown him with horns as with a laurel, and cry aloud for salvation.
Now is the time for Retribution, against this unjust world.
But who shall swing the blade? Who shall launch the arrows of vengeance?
Not us. Not us. None can bear it.
A Hero. Choose a hero, and hold him high.
Etch his name in the stars, and pray for salvation, and
Let his blood-stained arrow carve the path.
Oh Hercules, God of Heroes, hear our plea.
ADVENT BEAST
V/Hero
Hercules
V/Hero
Hercules
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Servant Parameters - SPOILER (Read after Chapter 130)
Xorn
Master Procrastinator
- Location
- Somewhere I won't be able to rest in peace
Class: Beast V/Hero
True Name: Hercules
Alignment: Lawful Good
Armaments: As the situation demands
Saint Graph Output: Satellite Class
Bio:
The Beast of Heroes. The continuous enhancement Alcides received from [Total Eclipse] reached the breaking point - his ordinary saint graph, already straining to contain a dual-classed Heracles, exceeded its limits. By all accounts, he ought to have self-destructed.
-However, the realizations he achieved in his fight with Cu Chulainn allowed a second option, finally breaking the limits he imposed on himself to prevent Beasthood at the start of his corruption.
Not Heracles, because he will no longer bear the name of a goddess. Not Alcides, for he has surpassed his need for vengeance. Instead, he has chosen to use the name Hercules, taking his own constellation into his body and ascending to godhood once more.
Parameters
Strength: A+++
Endurance: A+++
Agility: A
Mana: A
Luck: B
NP: EX
Class Skills:
Independent Manifestation: A
Wherever the stars can be seen, Hercules is present.
Authority of Beasts: A
Personal Skills:
God of Heroes: A+++
Due to his authority as the Patron God of Heroes, Hercules can make use of all Noble Phantasms belonging to any of his classes.
Nega-Myth: A
Every Beast possesses a special Negation skill that completely nullifies the ability of certain foes to match them in combat. Hercules, naturally, possesses Nega-Myth, a skill with the effect of twelve different Nega-skills. The skills replicated are as follows:
Nega-Saber: The attacks, parameters, and Noble Phantasms of Saber class Servants in the vicinity are ranked down.
Nega-Archer: The attacks, parameters, and Noble Phantasms of Archer class Servants in the vicinity are ranked down.
Nega-Lancer: The attacks, parameters, and Noble Phantasms of Lancer class Servants in the vicinity are ranked down.
Nega-Rider: The attacks, parameters, and Noble Phantasms of Rider class Servants in the vicinity are ranked down.
Nega-Caster: The attacks, parameters, and Noble Phantasms of Caster class Servants in the vicinity are ranked down.
Nega-Assassin: The attacks, parameters, and Noble Phantasms of Assassin class Servants in the vicinity are ranked down.
Nega-Berserker: The attacks, parameters, and Noble Phantasms of Berserker class Servants in the vicinity are ranked down.
Nega Poison: Poisons are nullified completely, with the special exception of Hydra Venom.
Nega Curse: Curses are nullified completely.
Nega-Erosion: Continuous damage due to fire, acid, or other similar effects is nullified.
Nega Divinity: The Authorities of other Divine Spirits are counteracted.
Nega-Beast: The Nega Skills of other Beasts are nullified.
Noble Phantasms:
Shooting Down the Stars: Nine Lives
Type: Unknown
Rank: B-A+++
Range: "As the occasion demands."
Maximum Number of Targets: -
Twelve Labors: God Hand
Type: Anti-Unit
Rank: B+
Range: -
Maximum Number of Targets: 1 person
Unlike its manifestation under normal circumstances, as a Beast, Hercules can only lose one of his extra lives at a time. Also, it is worth noting that due to his Nega Skills, Servants of the seven typical classes will have any ability below EX rank reduced to at most B rank, and thus nullified by God Hand.
Twelve Glories: King's Order
Type: -
Rank: C-A++
Range: ???
Maximum Number of Targets: ???
In a laboratory setting, Hercules would have access to the powers of all twelve labors, but since Benkei destroyed all but the Stymphalian Birds and the River that cleaned the Augean Stables, this Noble Phantasm has already been largely nullified in this work.
Herakles Kosmos: The Miniature World Enclosed by Terror
Rank: A+
Type: Barrier
Range: 0
Maximum Number of Targets: 1 Person
Marmyadose: Sword of Perfect Devastation
Rank: A++
Type: Anti-Fortress
Range: 1-99
Maximum Number of Targets: 1000 People
???
Rank: EX
Type: Anti-Demise
Range: 1
Maximum Number of Targets: 1
The Noble Phantasm of the Heracles as an Assassin
True Name: Hercules
Alignment: Lawful Good
Armaments: As the situation demands
Saint Graph Output: Satellite Class
Bio:
The Beast of Heroes. The continuous enhancement Alcides received from [Total Eclipse] reached the breaking point - his ordinary saint graph, already straining to contain a dual-classed Heracles, exceeded its limits. By all accounts, he ought to have self-destructed.
-However, the realizations he achieved in his fight with Cu Chulainn allowed a second option, finally breaking the limits he imposed on himself to prevent Beasthood at the start of his corruption.
Not Heracles, because he will no longer bear the name of a goddess. Not Alcides, for he has surpassed his need for vengeance. Instead, he has chosen to use the name Hercules, taking his own constellation into his body and ascending to godhood once more.
Parameters
Strength: A+++
Endurance: A+++
Agility: A
Mana: A
Luck: B
NP: EX
Class Skills:
Independent Manifestation: A
Wherever the stars can be seen, Hercules is present.
Authority of Beasts: A
Personal Skills:
God of Heroes: A+++
Due to his authority as the Patron God of Heroes, Hercules can make use of all Noble Phantasms belonging to any of his classes.
Nega-Myth: A
Every Beast possesses a special Negation skill that completely nullifies the ability of certain foes to match them in combat. Hercules, naturally, possesses Nega-Myth, a skill with the effect of twelve different Nega-skills. The skills replicated are as follows:
Nega-Saber: The attacks, parameters, and Noble Phantasms of Saber class Servants in the vicinity are ranked down.
Nega-Archer: The attacks, parameters, and Noble Phantasms of Archer class Servants in the vicinity are ranked down.
Nega-Lancer: The attacks, parameters, and Noble Phantasms of Lancer class Servants in the vicinity are ranked down.
Nega-Rider: The attacks, parameters, and Noble Phantasms of Rider class Servants in the vicinity are ranked down.
Nega-Caster: The attacks, parameters, and Noble Phantasms of Caster class Servants in the vicinity are ranked down.
Nega-Assassin: The attacks, parameters, and Noble Phantasms of Assassin class Servants in the vicinity are ranked down.
Nega-Berserker: The attacks, parameters, and Noble Phantasms of Berserker class Servants in the vicinity are ranked down.
Nega Poison: Poisons are nullified completely, with the special exception of Hydra Venom.
Nega Curse: Curses are nullified completely.
Nega-Erosion: Continuous damage due to fire, acid, or other similar effects is nullified.
Nega Divinity: The Authorities of other Divine Spirits are counteracted.
Nega-Beast: The Nega Skills of other Beasts are nullified.
Noble Phantasms:
Shooting Down the Stars: Nine Lives
Type: Unknown
Rank: B-A+++
Range: "As the occasion demands."
Maximum Number of Targets: -
Twelve Labors: God Hand
Type: Anti-Unit
Rank: B+
Range: -
Maximum Number of Targets: 1 person
Unlike its manifestation under normal circumstances, as a Beast, Hercules can only lose one of his extra lives at a time. Also, it is worth noting that due to his Nega Skills, Servants of the seven typical classes will have any ability below EX rank reduced to at most B rank, and thus nullified by God Hand.
Twelve Glories: King's Order
Type: -
Rank: C-A++
Range: ???
Maximum Number of Targets: ???
In a laboratory setting, Hercules would have access to the powers of all twelve labors, but since Benkei destroyed all but the Stymphalian Birds and the River that cleaned the Augean Stables, this Noble Phantasm has already been largely nullified in this work.
Herakles Kosmos: The Miniature World Enclosed by Terror
Rank: A+
Type: Barrier
Range: 0
Maximum Number of Targets: 1 Person
Marmyadose: Sword of Perfect Devastation
Rank: A++
Type: Anti-Fortress
Range: 1-99
Maximum Number of Targets: 1000 People
???
Rank: EX
Type: Anti-Demise
Range: 1
Maximum Number of Targets: 1
The Noble Phantasm of the Heracles as an Assassin
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thenew
#1 Masters of the Bazaar Fan
- Location
- My Lodgings
Yeah, this is way past the point where I'd just say "fuck it" and Return By Death (though Subaru currently can't, to be fair.). Ritsuka had it fucking easy compared to this absolute nonsense, jesus christ. It's his third Singularity and there's already a Beast. What the fuck.
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- Location
- Norfolk, England
Welp, this worldline's fucked, everyone bail out.
- Location
- Omniverse #1345
Activate emergency "NOPE" procedures!
He brought his own Beasts as luggage!
- Location
- Somewhere North of south
So does this mean they have to turn Cu off now?