Gritting her teeth, Saber flipped up her sword just as Archer X ejected the spent cartridge of her gun, knocking off the firearm's trajectory in the process, then grabbed its blade with her armored fingers to bring down the hilt of her weapon onto the enemy. A classic move known as Mordhau. The shotgun was bent out of shape and Archer X bit back a wince from the following Mana Burst-enhanced strike to her midsection, forcing them apart.
Saber retreated to where Assassin X was crouching, the latter holding his side to stem the bleeding while the former returned to holding her sword the traditional way. Lancer shook himself free of lingering flames as he moved to beside a hunched-over Archer X. All four Servants took the moment to catch their breaths and assess their injuries.
Saber only had a light cut by her left cheek and some burns on her left shoulder from where the shotgun round had brushed her.
Lancer removed the two throwing stars stuck in his right leg with a grunt. He had also some mild burns from the fire attack, especially on his left side, but it hadn't damaged his looks that much. Magic Resistance seemed to protect him well even against foreign magic. Not 100%, but for the most part.
Archer X had received some pokes and cuts from her earlier skirmish on the containers, and that blow from the King of Knights had cracked her stomach armor and one rib.
Assassin X had taken some light cuts himself courtesy of Archer, as well as a little singing from the explosion due to his lack of armor, but the worst damage had come from Lancer.
"Saber! Assassin X!" Irisviel quickly closed her eyes and concentrated, a white aura surrounding her briefly. That same energy washed over the injuries of her allies, erasing the damage within a second.
Releasing an eased sigh, Assassin X got up and called back, "Many thanks, Irisviel."
"We're fine," Saber agreed. "Your healing magic works well." They both prepared for the next round.
Despite his burns, Lancer was still in a good mood. "Neither of you are willing to make this an easy kill." He liked that. But he couldn't allow himself to get caught up in the excitement, his partner was grumbling right next to him. "Archer X, are you-"
"I'm fine," was the reply, but it wasn't really the words that stopped him. Archer X rubbed her midsection. "Damn, never got hit that hard before, not even by Carolina. Girl's small, but she's tough." She then finally noticed his slightly shocked expression. "What's up with you, you're gonna swallow a fly with your mouth open like… that…"
Right… he'd only heard her with her synthesizer up till now. Archer X huffed in exasperation. "Yeah, I'm a woman underneath. Got a problem with that, pretty boy?"
"N-no, just a little… surprised. Your… demeanor…"
"Yeah, yeah, I'm not the ladylike princess type you're used to, Mr. Chivalry. Deal with it." The helmet lifted up to the sky. "Hey, 'Master!' Mind patching us up too?"
Four seconds passed, then both Servants were enveloped in emerald light. "Do not waste my contributions, Archer X." Kayneth sneered at them from his vantage point. "And we shall discuss your little deception later."
"Looking forward to it," Archer X muttered, rolling her shoulder. She was back at full health, though, as was Lancer.
The spearman shook his now-unsinged hair to the side and scolded her. "You should really be more respectful to our lord. It is only proper courtesy."
The visor stared at him for a while before shifting away. "…Whatever."
Saber for her part had simply stared with the occasional blinking at the rather ironic situation of her armored opponent's circumstances. She passed a quick look to Assassin, who simply said, "I know, right?"
He sounded a bit distracted, though, patting the spot where he had been injured before. Concern swelled in her despite the need to focus on their opponents. 'Is something wrong, Assassin X? Weren't you healed?'
'I was, but something's a bit peculiar.' While keeping his red eye at the opposition, he beckoned her closer. 'Take a look. My jacket's undamaged.'
Saber made to ask what the problem with that was before she truly saw. Assassin X's blood was still splattered over his flak jacket and the upper part of his pants, but the former had no tear at all. Just a clean, unblemished spot where Lancer's spear had stabbed him. Her green eyes narrowed as she telepathically told him, 'I think I see what you mean. That spear has been bothering me ever since he released it.'
'How so?'
'It's been disrupting my Invisible Air. Every time its tip clashes with my sword, the wind is chipped away, and by now, Lancer knows exactly what it looks like.'
Assassin X frowned underneath his mask at the revelation. 'Hmm… a similar thing happened just now: when I launched my Fire Ball Jutsu at Lancer, he thrust his spear through it to catch me. And it wasn't as though the flames were forced aside by its pressure, it's like they just disappeared while the tip made its way through.'
Both Servants puzzled over the information. Invisible Air, Assassin X's jutsu, his flak jacket; they were all composed of Magical Energy, same as Saber's magically woven armor… but when each of them came into contact with Lancer's weapon…
They reached a conclusion at the same time. "That's it." Saber eyed her partner who gave an encouraging nod. "We know the truth behind your weapon, Lancer." The addressed appeared amused at that statement. "Your red spear nullifies magic."
Lancer chuckled in confirmation. "And that's what your armor, Saber, as well as those curious spells your partner uses are made of. You'll have to give up on the reliance of them. You both might as well be naked before my spear."
He was slightly puzzled at the frigid glare Saber shot sideways towards Assassin X, who for his part looked a little nervous.
Archer X spoke up. "And I'm betting that to you, Assassin X, the two of us are naked before that freaky eye of yours." Lancer glanced at her in curiosity. "It's been telling you what I'm about to do before I do it this whole fight, hasn't it? That's how you managed to get away from Lancer even though you never saw him fight before."
"Maybe," Assassin X shrugged casually, "maybe not." He gave no sign that her theory was right.
Lancer shook his head in good humor. "Quite an interesting pair you both make."
"Yeah, well, I'm done taking chances at this point." A new gun appeared in Archer X's hands, a rifle with a long barrel and boxy scope mounted on top. A sniper model.
'That gun there's the fifth one she's summoned since we've started fighting.' The Copy Ninja told the King of Knights via their link. 'All of similar design but different builds. Even if you choose not to count the knives or grenade, that is a lot of ordinance for one single marksman. But they've all been Noble Phantasms, I'm sure of it. Nothing higher than D-rank, maybe, but still.'
'But regardless of her world of origin,' Saber replied, 'no single Servant should have that many separate Noble Phantasms. Are they connected somehow? And what's their upper limit?'
Any chance of continuing the "discussion" ended when both realized neither of them was Archer X's target. The sniper rifle was being trained right at Irisviel's head. In the millisecond before the trigger was pulled, Saber stepped into the line of fire and deflected the bullet. Its high caliber clanging against her veiled sword rattled her a bit, but she recovered quickly. "Irisviel, stay behind us." Assassin X had also moved to beside the homunculus.
"Sure, line up." Archer X calmly prepared another shot. "It'll help me save ammo." She peered through the scope and took aim.
Then a red tip hovered over the other end of the scope. "What's the meaning of this, Archer X?" Lancer had stopped smiling. "There's no honor in shooting down a defenseless woman."
"That isn't a 'defenseless woman', Lancer," even with the visor, he could feel the heat of the glare she threw at him, "that's a damn Master. Those two are on her leash, so if we take her out, it's an easy win. Two more out of the fight, just like that."
Kiritsugu tensed from his hiding spot at hearing this logic. Just his luck, there was a Servant in this Grail War that shared his pragmatism, and she belonged to an enemy. He trained the Walther at Kayneth's body. If I don't act now, Iri's going to die-
He paused and took a shuddering breath to calm himself. You can't just fire recklessly, you idiot. He may've set up additional precautions due to Archer X's warning. And even if you kill him, the shot might give away your location. Lancer might disappear, but Archers have Independent Action, and she obviously knows how firearms work. She could be able to track the shot's trajectory. Then there are the other Servants present.
Kiritsugu rubbed his sleeve against his forehead to get rid of the sweat gathered there, then continued to watch. …Just stay calm. Iri's as safe as she can be with Saber and Assassin X by her side. Wait for your moment.
And to his surprising relief, the enemy knight wouldn't budge. "Well, I refuse to end it 'just like that,' Archer X. You can handle Assassin X if you want, but I am in the midst of a duel with Saber, and your assistance there is unwelcome."
"Wha-you- a duel, you moron?! This is a fucking war! That honor shit stopped the moment he and I got mixed up into it. So get over yourself and help me finish these bastards off!"
"She does have a point, Lancer." All present turned to see Assassin X with a somewhat sheepish look in his eyes. "I'm afraid us tumbling into the middle of your duel pretty much ended it. My sincere apologies for that, by the way." He briefly glanced down towards Saber for the last part, who simply huffed in slight exasperation. At least he had the decency to say sorry. "So, this is war, now. And it's time to take it to the next level."
That's when the Servants realized he had been making those hand movements -a lot of them- this whole time.
Berserker X charged up a long flight of stairs, some cracking underneath the strength of his steps, blasted through a mountain gate …
And found himself in an empty garden. With no Servants around.
"OH, COME ON!"
He'd been running all over this stupid city and still couldn't find where the damn fight was happening. Am I really that bad at tracking their fucking presence? I'm sure as hell better than Yachiru, dammit!
The Servant of Madness (and No Sense of Direction) turned around in rising frustration, searching for some damn clue. He noticed a cave entrance close by that gave off a weird feeling. That ought to be where they are, he figured, taking a step towards it-
Then his eye, drifting past the gate, happened to catch something happening at the river that went through the city. It looked like a swell of water straight up to the sky. For him to notice that, even with his Servant eyes, from that far way? It had to be something big.
Something Servant-made.
Berserker X smiled. On second thought…
Irisviel had been watching the battle intently, keeping up the best he could with the Servants' movements, but then she heard something bubbling behind her. At first, she only spared a glance at her blind spot to see the water from a part of the river was beginning to churn. Then she stared in surprise as something rose from its surface.
As did all of the others present, Servant or human.
Save for one. "Water Style," Assassin X intoned while the massive liquid-yet-solid shape towered over the docks, "Water Dragon Jutsu!"
About thirty meters of liquid had risen out of the river. The water flowed and coiled like that of a massive serpent, waves rippling along its side, as it opened its fanged mouth as though to roar. There already was a rumble through the air from that much water rushing about. Twin yellow spots gleamed like eyes down at the enemy, staring slack-jawed up at the "creature." "What. The. Hell?" Archer X uttered. Lancer said nothing but shared her bewilderment. This… spell was nothing like what one would expect from one of the Assassin class.
Is it an illusion?! The Irish spearman tried to keep his thoughts calm, adjusting his grip on his spear. No… the sound of the water rushing, the droplets falling onto the ground, the moisture against my skin, it's too detailed to be a simple trick, and Magic Resistance should protect me from such bewitchment anyways. That thing is real!
His Master was astounded as well; even a first-class water magus would have difficulty molding water into such a large construct and maintaining it. He clicked his tongue in grudging deference. So, this is what a Servant from another world can do, eh?
Irisviel, Saber, and even Maiya and Kiritsugu from their hiding places shot a baffled look at the Heroic Spirit responsible for this construct, calmly standing there. They all knew he had a collection of jutsu stored inside his skull, but he never mentioned that he could do something like this. His Master shook his head with just a hint of humor. That mummed-up bastard is just full of tricks, isn't he?
Then the King of Knights snapped from her shock as she received a mental message from the Man of One Thousand Techniques. 'Get ready.' She nodded, discerning quickly what he was up to.
Far above them, Rider X chuckled as he hovered in his Alt-Mode Starship. This is a night of surprises.
Tokiomi eyed the horn in front of him. He hadn't heard any commentary about the battle for a while now. "Kirei? Why have you stopped?" He finally asked. "What's happening?"
"…Apologies, sir. There is a rather… unorthodox event occurring." The priest sounded his usual emotionless self for the most part, but there was a hint of confusion in his words.
"Unorthodox?" Tokiomi traded a look with Lancer X who had spoken up. "No offense meant, Kirei, but this entire Grail War has been unorthodox from the beginning."
"She does have a point," her Master agreed, "so, what could possibly-"
"One of the Servants just transformed part of the river into a giant serpent made of water and is attacking the opposing side with it."
Master and Servant looked at each other. Alright, that was a bit above expectation for both.
Out on Fuyuki Bridge, Waver felt like his jaw had fallen loose and clattered to the pavement below. He'd never seen anyone perform magecraft like that before. I-i-i-is this even magecraft?
Beside him, Saber X gawked at the dragon, then took an extra-long gulp from his bottle. "Thought I'd seen it all…" he murmured afterwards. Another tire blew out beneath them.
And Iskandar, King of Conquerors?
He clapped his hands and laughed heartily. Such incredible opponents awaited him!
The time for gawking had ended, for the dragon surged, maw wide open, down at the duo. Archer X snapped up her rifle and fired four times at different parts of its body, but it was simply a construct of water, without any vital parts to speak of; the bullets passed through harmlessly. Before she could trade the gun for something with more power, Lancer moved between them, spear at the ready. The armored woman was from a universe of highly advanced technology, as in space travel, with magic having long since become a thing of fantasy. She'd never encountered something like this. This left her with not so much as a hint of Magic Resistance. But the knight had B-rank in said Skill, giving him a fair chance of withstanding this attack. Besides, his Noble Phantasm was a far better counter.
No sooner did the crimson tip pierce the spot between the serpent's "eyes" was the jutsu negated. It collapsed into a small shower on top of the Servants, but the water pressure was laughable compared to before. And despite the tense situation, Diarmuid Ua Duibhne, first Knight of Fianna, couldn't help but feel elation. I suppose I should thank Assassin X for this opportunity. This is the first time I've ever slain a dragon before, even if it was a mere imitation.
But even as the area was clear to see again, neither said Servant nor his partner were anywhere to be seen. Both Lancer and Archer X glanced around to discern where they had gone, then the ground suddenly cracked apart in front of Lancer just as Archer X sensed a pressure from above.
Assassin X erupted like a geyser from the gravel, left hand pushing aside the spear while the right one jabbed a kunai straight for Lancer's eye.
Saber shot downwards without her armor, propelled by the release of Invisible Air behind her, at such a speed that Archer X could barely shift her weapon before she struck with a battle cry.
Lancer moved his head in the very last second before contact, so the blade only sliced along his temple. He then drove his knee into Assassin X's chest and spun his spear, forcing his enemy to let go and stumble backwards. But as he made to fall back for a proper lunge, the ninja reached in the hole he'd made, grabbed onto something, and yanked hard. A length of chain whirled from the asphalt, free for just a moment before it wrapped tightly around the spearman. He couldn't react in time. He set this up while underground before he attacked!
Archer X had brought her rifle up to meet the incoming slash, but no matter how advanced the firearm was, its durability meant nothing to Excalibur in its bare state. The rifle was sliced in half like a loaf of bread, and its owner quickly backtracking was all that kept the damage from being little more than a diagonal cut from her left shoulder to the right part of her stomach, blood spraying from the wound. Archer X growled at Saber as she landed on the ground, golden sword held in post-slash. My armor hardly slowed it down!
Lancer struggled against his bindings, but his spear had been forced against his chest, making it impossible to use the long weapon properly. Assassin X calmly adjusted his grip on the other end of his chain. "Your Noble Phantasm's magic-negating ability is limited to the tip, right? The entire spear can't disperse those chains made of mana, you'd have to run it through." The handsome Servant only grunted in irritation, confirming his theory.
He'd noticed with the Sharingan how every time Lancer used his secret weapon, it had been in a jabbing manner. Sure, that was the point of a spear, but against wide-spread attacks like the Fire Ball or the Water Dragon, the more logical move would've been to spin it in front like a shield. The only reason the Servant hadn't done that would have to be because his Noble Phantasm in its entirety wasn't capable of negating magic. Only the tip itself could.
Saber watched impassively as Archer X stumbled away from her, blood staining her black armor. She'd cast off her own silver defense to increase her speed. If my armor is of no help against Lancer's spear, then I simply need to strike first. And it seemed to have paid off.
Then Archer X suddenly caught herself from falling. "Like hell," a simple assault rifle appeared in her left hand, "am I going down," and Saber retook her guard at the SMG pointed towards her head, "from one little cut!" the Servant snarled before opening fire. Saber moved quickly to parry all of the bullets that approached her before realizing that only the right gun was aimed at her.
The ammunition from the assault rifle struck the chain links surrounding Lancer, shattering them before Assassin X could act. "You have my gratitude, partner," the free Servant called out with a smirk. "Allow me to offer recompense!" His knees bent before he launched himself sideways.
The Lancer class was famous for having many of the swiftest Heroic Spirits in history, and Lancer was no exception. He cleared the distance to where Saber was defending against Archer X's artillery in an instant, his spear flicking at the ground to knock something into the air. However, Assassin X was by no means slow. Especially when his comrades' lives were in danger. Two kunai buried themselves into key spots of Lancer's right bicep, neutralizing the entire arm. The red spear clattered to the ground from his numb fingers.
But even as he winced from the pain, the Servant continued to charge towards his enemy knight-class. Saber, removing your armor to trade its lack of defense against my spear for added speed is commendable, he praised her in his thoughts. Indeed, she was already shifting to meet him while still parrying bullets from Archer X's guns.
However, it was still a tactical error.
Assassin X was one step behind him when he noticed something falling down in front of his quarry. The same thing he'd knocked up earlier. The other spear, still wrapped in those bandages.
Oh, no. "Saber!" Assassin X tried to warn her. "Put your armor back- Argh!" He stumbled to the asphalt as a trio of bullets went through his left knee. Even as he fell, he desperately grabbed for something from his pouch in the hopes it could help.
Saber cut with a silent fury the gun trained on her partner to pieces before slashing at Archer X again. She backed away with a smaller cut across her shoulders but continued to fire, dispersing her opponent's armor before it could materialize properly. Thus Saber shifted merely in her dress to meet Lancer's thrust, her eyes widening at the familiar unraveling of bandages. He was right, it's another Noble Phantasm. Saber realized as the golden tip traveled past her clumsy swing. I miscalculated.
Gritting her teeth, the Servant of the Sword twisted her body around the thrust so that it could only slash her left forearm while leaving a cut on Lancer's shoulder. Three shuriken hurtled for Archer X just as she made to exchange clips and pump another salvo into Saber's unguarded back. The first one knocked the ammo from her fingers, the second went into her left forearm, and the third grazed her visor, cracking it. Another use of Mana Burst, and Saber leaped away from the enemy to where Assassin X lay, his arm still outstretched.
"Not good," Rider mumbled, standing up on the bridge's frame. His smile had faded. "Not good at all."
Saber X remained sitting, but his gaze sharpened. "Yup. Show's about to wrap up tonight."
"Wh-what are you two talking about?" Waver whimpered from his huddled-up spot.
"Lancer's gotten serious, pipsqueak," the otherworldly Heroic Spirit scratched at his stubble. "He wouldn't have gone for hiding that extra Noble Phantasm and using it now if it wasn't a game-changer. And Assassin X is slowing down. You can tell that water trick took a sizable chunk of his energy. I'm not sure that was his Noble Phantasm, though…" The scratching slowed as he pondered.
"I doubt it, too." Rider spoke up, crossing his arms. "Either way, he is tiring, and Saber has been injured by Lancer's secret weapon. Lancer will likely be going in for the kill, now, and judging by his moxie, Archer X is of same mind."
Waver pushed himself up from the metal, ignoring the sputtering of an engine beneath him; that had been the fourth car that showed signs of trouble since the battle at the docks had begun. "Isn't that a good thing for us?" he asked, wondering why the hell they were disappointed.
"Well, yeah," Saber X admitted, "but I'd been enjoying the fight. It'd be a shame for it to end-"
Exactly!" Rider stomped his left foot, the force reverberating along the metal. Waver squeaked as he clung more tightly and even Saber X wobbled slightly in his spot. The big Servant continued, ignoring the red-eyed glare thrown his way. "I've waited for at least one more Master to appear, but now it looks like Saber and Assassin X would fall soon. Then it would be too late."
"T-too late for what?" The Master asked meekly. "I-I thought the plan was to strike when they were all exhausted from fighting each other?"
Saber X shrugged, "Not how I like to do things, but it's a valid tactic, I guess."
Rider glanced at the both of them with an affronted expression. "True, I had hoped that all of the other Servants would converge onto that single spot, but isn't it obvious, Qrow?" The addressed lifted his right eyebrow. "It'd be a lot faster for us to clash with them in one big battle royale than just hunt them down one at a time."
"…Kandy, you'd have seriously bad odds of walking away from that kind of royale with me around." Waver glanced up between the two, feeling like he should stick with Saber X. He sounded pessimistic, and that the boy could agree with in this case.
Rider uncrossed his arms to plant them by his hips. "Oh, come now, my friend. It's a rare blessing to be able to clash with heroes of other times, much less other worlds. And if all twelve were to gather before us, then we could certainly triumph over them together!" He flashed a broad grin at his partner, proving that his confidence in him was sincere, then cast his arm towards the docks. Bet you wouldn't think like that if you knew about Misfortune, big guy… "Just look at Saber and Lancer! I'm certain they're from this world like me, and the way they've dueled with each other up till now has played the sweetest song of honor. And Archer X and Assassin X have each displayed a wide variety of combat while proving strong loyalty to their respective partners." The King's teeth shined even more with these words. "I respect them all, it'd be a shame to watch any single one, let alone all of them die so soon."
And Qrow Branwen couldn't help but feel a little excited himself. He had to admit, he'd been eager for a crack at those knights after watching them duke it out, and the ninja and armored brickhouse looked like they could make for a good night. Sure, we've all got to kill each other if we want to make the big wish, but it doesn't mean we can't have some fun, too.
Regrettably, the boy had only reached part of the same thinking. "That's the whole point that they die!" Waver yelled in frustration. "That's just how the Grail War works!" He received another flick to the forehead that sent him spinning around, tears shimmering in his wake.
Don't worry, Saber X made sure he wouldn't fall. 'Not sure that's gonna knock sense into him, Kandy Bar.' The black-haired Servant gave his partner a flat look.
'Throw him into the water enough times, and even the lamest duck will learn to swim.'
'…So we're chucking him off the bridge now?' Rider bellowed with laughter and Saber X smirked playfully while their Master slowly returned to his senses. All of which currently screamed, OW!
Iskandar returned to gazing at the battle ahead. "To win without destroying. To dominate without humiliating…" Waver and Saber X couldn't help but listen in awe to the passion behind these words. "That is the true meaning of conquest!"
Drawing his sword with a smirk, he split the air to summon forth the Gordius Wheel, lightning crackling across the nearby steel as the bulls rumbled. The entire chariot remained standing in the sky, awaiting its wielder. Rider sheathed his sword. "Enough observing, it's time to join the battle! Saber X! Boy! With me!" The electricity increased its dancing as he mounted his Noble Phantasm.
Whelp, no use trying to appeal to his sense of logic, he's got squat of that. Might as well make sure he doesn't get himself and the pipsqueak killed. Saber X gave a good-natured sigh as he gently pried the whining student loose from his perch and walked holding him by the collar to the Wheel. "Idiot, Idiot, Idiots!" Waver screeched before being tossed onto the transport. "You're both out of your minds!"
Saber X leaned against the railing with a smirk. "You could always stay up here with the pigeons." Rider loomed over him, echoing the expression.
Waver took one look back at the beams of Fuyuki Bridge, now appearing much narrower than before, and yelled with tears in his eyes, "I'll go! Take me with you, Idiots!"
"Haha, now that's our Master!" Rider's laughter echoed across the structure before it stopped. "Hey, Qrow," he asked the Servant walking away, "aren't you coming?"
"Oh, I am," the Servant of the Sword assured him with a lax wave of his hand, "but I'll get there my own way. Don't need to show up in some fancy lightning-spewing chariot, it'll just cramp my style- Hey!" A large arm snagged him by the back of his cape and reeled him in towards the Wheel. "I can get there myself, Rider, you know that!"
Rider sighed. It hadn't slipped past him that this Saber had a few tricks unusual for his class, nor that he took every opportunity to break away from him and the boy. It wasn't out of aloofness, either; Rider always sensed a hint of melancholy in his departures. Like he didn't really want to walk through life alone but saw no other way.
Well, even if he didn't know him, this man was the fate-chosen comrade of the King of Conquerors. And no comrade of the King of Conquerors ever had to go through life alone. "We step onto the battlefield as one, my friend!" The lightning reached its peak. "Onwards!"
"AT LEAST WAIT FOR ME TO GET ON THIS THING FIRST BEFORE TAKING OFF, YA MEATHEAD!"
"YOU'RE BOTH BLOODY MEATHEADS!"
The battle had taken another pause as both sides remained where they were. Panting, the Servant of the Shadows forced himself onto his uninjured knee with a wince. "Thanks for the save," he told his partner out loud while mentally inquiring, 'How are you doing?'
"I believe that's my line," Saber replied, Invisible Air long since returned around her blade. She cast a frustrated look at her left hand and the lack of movement there. 'Not good,' she admitted. 'He cut my tendon. I can't move my left thumb.' A foreign feeling of guilt rippled against her, prompting her to give the silver-haired man a small smile. 'Still, better than having my throat cut. What about you?' She noticed his panting hadn't stopped yet.
Assassin X released a sigh longer than the others before answering. '…I'm a bit tuckered out. That Water Dragon Jutsu took a fair chunk out of my supply, plus I've tossed around a few more moves out there.'
'Not to mention you've been keeping the Sharingan active this entire time.' Saber couldn't keep the concern from her thoughts. 'You'd told us that using it over long periods would tax your reserves. Take a break and guard Irisviel, I can handle them both.'
'No offense, Saber, but like hell am I doing that.' White energy flashed over his shot knee, erasing the damage there. Assassin X flashed a quick thumbs-up to Irisviel behind them and stood up tall left of his ally. Sure, his mana supply was finite, but even when he'd been alive, he could've kept going for a couple more hours before collapsing. And he was a Heroic Spirit now. 'I've still got plenty left in me, and I'm not going to let you fight these two alone.'
Artoria Pendragon's smile returned as she remembered just what sort of Assassin had become her partner. 'Just don't push yourself too much.'
Kakashi Hatake flashed her that eye-grin. 'Tell that to yourself.'
Lancer was smiling as well through Archer X pulling the kunai free of his arm. Blood trickled out of the open holes, and the limb still hung limply. The attack had been viciously precise. "They are really making us earn this victory," the male Servant commented to his friend in good humor before turning his grin to their enemies. "Both of you impress me through your strength of will!"
"Yeah, yeah, they're a pair of fucking cockroaches," Archer X muttered as she tossed away the knives to clutch her slash wounds and removed the throwing star in her arm, drawing curious looks from both of her adversaries. Interesting ways to say the same thing differently.
"What are the both of you babbling about?" Kayneth scolded them from afar. "You just botched your chance to finish them off, lackwits." Green mana nevertheless rippled over them again. The cuts in Archer X's main body sealed up (even her visor was repaired) while Lancer's injuries disappeared and he could use his right arm completely again.
The latter rolled his shoulder and flexed his fingers before smiling again. "Apologies, my lord." He accepted the criticism gracefully.
His partner, though? "Oh, I'm so sorry, Your Lordship," she sneered upwards at the sky. "If you're unhappy with our lack of progress, why don't we trade places? We'll hide and play cheerleader while you deal with Super-Knight and her pet magic ninja here!" An angry black thumb got jabbed at the duo. Lancer sighed. Not this again…
While an irritated growl rang through the air as an answer to her snark, Assassin X gently elbowed Saber. "Super-Knight, eh?" He teased with an undertone of honest respect.
A hint of playfulness danced in her green eyes. "You domake an exemplary pet," she retorted, getting a laugh out of both of them. Then she let the humor fade. "Irisviel," she called back to their "Master," "heal me too."
"I already did." The wife of their Master replied quietly. "I did it at the… at the same time as when I healed Assassin X…" The two glanced back at her face twisted in frustrated confusion, then at Saber's injury. "The magecraft should've worked. Saber, you should've been healed by now!"
But blood continued to trickle down her fingers.
The Sharingan glared at the green-suited Servant. "So, that's why you chose to hide that particular spear," Assassin X said evenly. "You wanted her to abandon her armor first."
"Such a fearsome eye," Lancer joked as he kicked up the red spear to catch it in his right hand and hold it before him diagonally. "Saber, you proved wise in understanding armor could not protect you from my Gáe Dearg. But casting it aside altogether was foolish." As the red spear went to rest on his shoulder, the golden spear now was held before him. "If you hadn't, you could've still defended against my Gáe Buidhe."
"Of course," Saber spoke, looking at her injury again. "A spear cursed to inflict unhealable wounds. I should've seen it sooner."
Assassin X didn't take his gaze off the smirking Lancer. "You know who he is?"
"A red spear that can defeat magic, a yellow spear that curses others, and a mole underneath the right eye that bewitches females." There was no doubt in her mind who this man was. She announced his True Name with all the reverence it was due. "First Knight of Fianna, Diarmuid of the Love Spot." An incredulous look rewarded her words, making Saber sigh. "Yes, that really is his True Name." Lancer just shrugged unaffected. "I'd have never imagined I would get the pleasure of meeting you in a duel."
"That's the beauty of the Holy Grail War," Lancer laughed. "But the honor is all mine. No Heroic Spirit of this world could have walked through the Throne of Heroes and be able to not recognize that golden sword." His enemies tensed up. The Celtic spearman's smirk grew. "To think I could battle the legendary King of Knights and injure her… And to find she has an Assassin at her side that can command the elements themselves… I truly am blessed."
"You're too kind, Mr. Love Spot," Assassin X raised his left palm in gratitude, the nickname earning him a laugh from his opponent. His other hand swiftly withdrew a roll of bandages from a pouch, then with a slight flourish, Saber's left forearm was tightly bound. She nodded her thanks to him; even if her thumb was disabled, this would at least dam the bleeding.
Unknown to all, Archer X was growing more irritated by the moment. What's this dipstick doing, giving our enemies this many kudos? We're supposed to kill them, not be buddy-buddy with them. And where's my praise-Wh-I-
She quickly slapped herself upside her helmet, the clang drawing everyone's attention. The armored Servant just clicked her tongue. "Fine, they're both Badasses with a capital B, let's finish this already."
Lancer remained confused for another moment, then recollected himself. "Ah, you're right, Archer X. Another blessing, I suppose, is having a capable partner that reminds me of my responsibilities."
"Oh, shut up…" she mumbled in response, unlike her usual demeanor.
Assassin X briefly sent a gimlet eye to Saber. 'Love Spot that bewitches women, hm?'
Saber returned it. 'My Magic Resistance is strong enough that I'm unaffected, but that doesn't mean that it can't work on female Servants period.'
'A bit early to tell, but this could be trouble.' Lancer continued unaware of their strategizing (or the slight turmoil in Archer X's mind). "Now that we know each other's names, I challenge you, Saber, to a proper clash between knights. Then again, you have a bit of a handicap now." His grin shifted to playful. "Do you wish that your partner would take your place, Saber?"
Her answer was to summon her armor once again and spin her veiled sword before positioning it in front of her. "Don't talk nonsense, Lancer," she chided him. "As if a little scratch would warrant any such actions." Assassin X glanced at her in slight concern, but she nodded resolutely as if to say, I can take him. Don't worry about me.
Assassin X suppressed a fond chuckle at her determination. She could give Naruto some good competition in that department. And Lancer was giving him an excited, almost hopeful look, as if silently asking him not to interfere. Heh, they're both so old, yet utter children when it comes to their chivalry. They're practically made for each other.
The other "X' Servant didn't share his good humor. "Okay, that's it," Archer X grumbled, stepping past her bewildered partner. "I'm wrapping this up now."
Lancer sighed. "Listen, Archer X, this is a matter between knights-" a black finger in front of his nose cut him off.
"No," she snarled, "You listen. I indulged your cockfight when all this started even though I knew it was a stupid move. I tried to keep that masked asshole off your back so you could dance around with the bitch king over there." Saber did not appreciate that moniker. Not that Archer X gave a damn. "But I've officially had it." Lancer actually shied back from her ranting. "I've had it with your damn code of honor bullshit, I've had it with that stuck-up prick of a Master you keep defending," she pointed a very angry finger at a certain Servant, "and I've had it with invisible magic swords and motherfucking SNAKES made out of motherfucking WATER!"
"Technically, it was a water dragon," Assassin X chimed in before Saber hushed him.
"Oh, SHUT UP, you've been the biggest fucking aggravation tonight!" Archer X raged. Her arms opened as mana particles shimmered in the air between them, then a heavy multi-barreled gun appeared in her grasp, the weight making her bend her knees.
Neither Servant felt intimidated despite the new weapon aimed at them or Irisviel further behind. Assassin X for his part simply readied a new kunai. "Your Noble Phantasm…" he spoke up coolly, drawing the others' attention, "it's an arsenal type, isn't it? All of the guns and other armaments you've used aren't so much Noble Phantasms as they are part of one collective Noble Phantasm. You summon what you need for the current moment, then wish it away when the job is done or you need a different one." Saber glared at the gun; so that was how it worked.
A Lancer with a spear combo that could theoretically pierce through any barrier and leave lasting wounds, and an Archer with a firearm for nearly any situation. A troublesome team.
"Winner, winner," the barrels began to revolve, "lead dinner." There wasn't so much as a whisper of humor in Archer X's words; she was as dead serious as she'd been all night. "All my life I've been a soldier, and the guns I used to complete my missions have become my Weapons of War." The helmet shifted a bit. "This is a War, not a tournament, Lancer. And I'm a soldier, not a knight." Her visor reflected the enemy. "This is how I go to war."
Lancer's face remained conflicted, but she was ignoring him now. Saber and Assassin X braced themselves as the barrels' spinning increased. Any second now, they'd have to ward off a flurry of bullets from a weapon that was almost certainly not D-rank, all while shielding Irisviel behind them too. And Lancer could jump in at any moment.
Still, neither one carried any fear in their hearts. Saber in fact personally wanted to teach her black-suited opponent that even soldiers should know to respect a code of honor. Assassin X's hands drifted towards one another to cast a new jutsu-
When his ears picked up an oncoming sound. He focused his hearing and was baffled. It had to be a mistake, but, "Anyone else hear clomping?" he called out over the gun's whirring. Saber and Lancer shot him incredulous looks while Archer X didn't even bother. She pulled the trigger-
ZZAKASH!
Just as a bolt of blue lightning struck the ground between them, blinding her. Archer X's visor was built to shield her from bright lights, but the suddenness still threw off her aim. The minigun's line of fire went wide, carving a diagonal path along the containers.
"OH, WHAT NOW?!"
"ULULULULULULUIIII!" A different cry overpowered her incredulous, furious yell as a massive object made itself known through the localized thunderstorm.
A dumbfounded Irisivel could only peer in awe at the sight above her. "A chariot…" she whispered.
Then it landed in the midst of the battlefield, effectively cutting off the combatants. The mighty bulls moaned through the dispersing smoke as all of the other Servants present gaped in awe at the powerfully ornate the animals would pull. Stray bolts bounced around it.
And behind the reins stood one little boy that looked like he was about to curl up into a babbling pile, a man of average height, unrefined appearance and an expression that just screamed exasperation, and a red mountain of a man that spread his arms wide.
Everyone tensed at the motion but paused when he spoke. "All of you, throw down your arms! A King stands before you!" The man proclaimed with a proud grin. He took a brief glance around himself to ensure he had their full attention before continuing. "My name is Iskandar, King of Conquerors. I have been called as Rider in this Grail War."
You could hear a pin drop in the minute that followed. Rider simply smiled as everyone was struggling to comprehend what had just happened, what he was just so brazenly announced.
High above, his "X" counterpart was himself baffled at the brazenness. He'd been preparing to strafe the Servants that had been battling all this time and had just barely managed to bank away from a collision with the bovine transport when it suddenly tore through the skies. …And to think they used to call me arrogant.
Then a tired huff sounded from the smaller man next to him. "Um, hi," he lifted a hand in a half-hearted greeting. "I'm Saber X, and, well," he jabbed a frustrated thumb at the unrepentantly happy controller of the chariot, "I'm apparently this guy's babysitter."
Wow, I got this done a lot sooner than I'd have thought. Hope you enjoy the two-on-two fight as well. I did my best to make sure all four Servants, canon and foreign, got to show their chops. There aren't any weaklings in this War. I'm doing my best to give all of them due respect.
Oh, and just to clarify, jutsu is very similar to magecraft, so Magic Resistance can offer protection against genjutsu and ninjutsu. The reason Assassin X's fire was able to somewhat injure Lancer was because he boosted it further with his od and it was point-blank.
Anyways:
Saber X-
Class: Saber
Master: Waver Velvet
True Name: Qrow Branwen
Titles: Corvid Reaper
Sex: Male
Source: RWBY
Region: Anima
Alignment: Neutral Good (with leanings toward Chaotic Good)
Strength: B+
Endurance: B
Agility: A
Mana: C
Luck: E-
NP: C
Class Skills-
Magic Resistance: Grants protection against magical effects.
C: Saber X has extensive experience with magic due to the work of his past life and can resist low-level spells easily, as well as devise a counter against some mid-level magic. He is no expert though; magic on the level of High-Thaumaturgy and Greater Rituals will assuredly prove too much for Saber X to handle.
Riding: The capacity to ride vehicles and animals.
C: Saber X can handle trained animals and modern automobiles easily (provided he is sober).
Independent Action: The ability to remain independent even when rejecting the mana supply from the Master.
B: A rather unusual Skill for his class, Saber X has always been a loner throughout his past life on account of Misfortune, often going on solo missions without being in contact with anyone else for weeks or even months. He can last two to three days in the world without a Master. It is nevertheless more optimal for him to avoid extended battles that may drain his mana supply.
Personal Skills-
Mind's Eye (True): Is a heightened capacity for observation, refined through training, discipline and experience. A danger-avoidance ability that utilizes the intelligence collected up to the current time as the basis in order to predict the opponent's activity and change the current situation. This is not a result of talent, but an overwhelming amount of combat experience. A weapon wielded by none other than a mortal, gained through tenacious training. So long there is even a 1% chance of a comeback, this ability greatly improves the chances of winning.
B: Saber X is a seasoned professional Huntsman who knows to keep a cool head in battle, especially with the threat of creatures from his world that were specifically attracted to negative emotions. As a side effect of his own power, he always expects things to veer towards the less optimal, so he is always at least partially ready to compensate with action. Saber X is also a heavy alcoholic yet can still fight effectively even under disorienting influences (provided he has not consumed too much of an intoxicant).
Aura: The ability to harness one's soul in the form of an energy field that surrounds its user's body. It enhances their physical abilities and healing as well as provides protection from attacks that could prove crippling or life-threatening. Upon its breaking, the user's Strength, Endurance, and Agility Stats decrease by one rank, but Aura can recharge with time and Magical Energy.
A: Saber X was trained formally and has been a veteran Huntsman for many years. His Aura allows him to shrug off regular attacks and weather assaults that could severely wound or kill an average Servant. Even with its breaking after extensive damage, Saber X can still fight effectively for a period of time.
Shapeshift: Is a Skill that refers to both borrowing bodies and appearance change.
C: Saber X was given the ability to shapeshift into a crow by his teacher and leader. He can freely assume human or animal form with a mere thought, though human speech is not possible as a bird. He generally uses this for reconnaissance and information-gathering, as even other Servants have difficulty realizing his true nature in said form. Saber X can also use this in combat to provide himself an unexpected edge or to retreat.
Noble Phantasms-
Harbinger: "The Dusty Old Crow's Tool of the Trade": C+ (Anti-Unit): A single-edged greatsword with a clockwork mechanism built in-between the hilt and the rest of the giant blade. The blade can be retracted into its base for a more compact mode which Saber X can carry on the back of his waist. On either side of the sword are two mounted shotgun barrels that, when the blade folds forward, can fire for ranged attacks via a trigger on the handle. Harbinger also possesses yet another form which is its deadliest: upon activating the gears, the blade splits into sections and folds backwards with the back becoming edged, thereby becoming a giant scythe blade. The handle telescopes and curves in two sections while the barrels can rotate into different directions and still fire as usual; Saber X sometimes uses the shots' recoil to increase momentum for his attacks. The scythe can unfold to form a war scythe, or the handle can remain its usual length to provide Saber X with a sort of bladed tonfa. Regardless of its form, he remains a near-unparalleled master with Harbinger.
Misfortune: "Sad to Say, I'm Your Bad Luck Charm": D- ~ B (Semblance): An extension of Aura known as a "Semblance"; an ability unique to each user. Misfortuneaffects the "winds of change" of the people around Saber X and Saber X himself to a lesser extent, shifting circumstances towards lesser favor indiscriminately. It can manifest in a branch snapping off and falling onto a person, the ground giving way when stepped on, failing to land or evade a strike by just a millisecond, etc. Even Servants with A-rank Luck are not immune to Misfortune, though high stats do somewhat counteract its effects. Saber X is incapable of deactivating Misfortune; it is therefore always active on a lower level. He also cannot control the effects or the recipients, including himself. Therefore, he tends to expect the worst in battles. He can consciously channel more of his Aura into Misfortune, thereby creating a wider area of effect and increasing the likelihood of luck failing, but still possesses no influence over target or specific effects. If Saber X's Aura is broken, Misfortune is inactive.