C242: Eve of Battle
Alt title Teaser: Outside Assistance
Date published: 7/25/2025.
Sorry for the info dump, I just found it interesting, so treat it like a history lesson about two servants. I can sincerely say that Hermaeus Mora would be my Opp in any multiverse he can extend his little tentacles into.
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The arrival of Caenis is a welcome surprise as her strength is already exceptional for a lancer, the exact empowered version of Cu Chulainn with the exception of her noble phantasms power that is lesser than the other lancers simply due to the factor of causality providing a sure hit attack. Though this is only due to the 'Masters Perspective' which is what quantifies the entire history of the servant into representable stats.
There are three primary reasons why certain servants like Caenis' legend that denmark her as lesser in terms of trump cards against someone like Cu Chulainn, yet the reality is that her abilities are far more disastrous and powerful.
The first factor that demarks this supposed weakness is the Masters mana that is used to provide the servant with strength, as her master is currently Washio, that is not as much of a problem as even Martha who would oppose dragons due to her legends, would feel empowered and pull off a few tricks with it.
The second factor is Cultural Sphere which is split into two sub parts: land which is explained as: the location that is related with the servants origin and legend. Greece, similar to Chulainn's Ireland, both fall under Europe, so both are weakened marginally in Japan. The other being Recognition where the servant follows the role they held in their legends.
An easy comparison is Cu Chulainn again. He is described as a hound but his role in history was defending a location from the army of Medb. As such if Chulainn was to protect a location, he would receive a boost in his stats due to 'Recognition'. It's not a major boost but it could be a difference in a pivotal fight.
In comparison. Caenis' legend rotated around her adventures with the Argonauts but there is also the later male aspect which was deemed a king that fought against the gods in the Centaurromachy, where 'he' got nailed into the ground by spears and tree roots to die as 'he' held an indomitable body that prevented his death by any weapon.
Her role was closer to that of a ruler class which would be one aspect of her legend but as a summoned lancer, another aspect had to be considered. This also has to do with the fuyuki grails arrangement known as Container Parameters.
This data sets the power of each servant type but Caenis is higher in all aspects which forces her noble phantasm (np) to be weaker than normal in the grails effort to 'balance' her out.
Nevertheless, Washio and co were more than happy to have her join them. Of course they must disregard the pile of rubble caused by her spar with Heracles. His father gave her the stink eye for a while before his mother had him repair it with a wave of his hand.
The exposure to the advanced time magic was a new sensation for both Rin and Sakura who took out notepads from who knows where and began to jot down. Though eventually Washio is able to snap out of the mystical wonder and drag the two away to properly strategize once more.
With a third servant, especially one so powerful that they are comparable with a madness enhanced Heracles is surely a strong opener for the upcoming fight. The general consensus is to have Berserker take down Saber while Lancer would fight Assassin with Archer supporting both from a distance. Archer might even have to fight against Caster and Ruler, buying time until either of the two finishes the fight against their opponent.
It is at this time that Sheba walks in, watching them all cutely strategizing, she cant help but smirk and ruin their imagination. "Hey kiddos, sorry to burst your bubbles but that guy who was the master of saber had done something to assassin about and hour ago. His hair went all red and now he looks very bloodthirsty, also it was Sabers master who defeated him in one on one combat."
The entire mood is dampened as they have to rethink their strategy. The first is the unknown of how Saber's master gained the power to equal a servant and defeat him before corrupting him? Illya steps in to mention the corruption and a vague idea of how it works as well as what happened to her 'onii-san'.
"Possession and some sort of half-servant spirit. That means our enemy, overall, has a total of 5 servants if we believe that Caster and Ruler were also corrupted, even if they arent, it is unlikely to be our allies against them." Washio explains the situation for everyone to really show home how unmatched they really are but Sheba seems to smile at their misery as she points at the map which is laid out on the table the kids are gathered around.
"Oh but don't you have an open path right here?" She points to a segment of the river which has a clear shot towards Ryuudou Temple. Everyone looks at Ceanis in the corner of the room, slamming down beer and chocolate. She has a confused expression on her face.
"Ughhhh, Lancer, are you able to direct the river water like a tidal wave to strike the temple?" Washio hesitantly asks as he doesnt really want to destroy the temple but weaken the enemy early on.
"Mmmhmm, I could do it even without the river hic…but it would surely be stronger with it. As it is connected to the ocean, hic…my noble phantasm can handle it with ease." She confidently states even though she is obviously drunk. She also has some candy that she is chewing down, stuffing her gullet as she points her finger around the map with no sense of seriousness. Candy and alcohol at the same time has ruined this recently summoned woman.
"Hah, Then we will rely on you tomorrow to grant us victory"
"Hee hee, leave it to me" Caenis exemplifies her muscles.
Sheba has had her fun and takes her leave as the group separates to rest for the night. Though her steps slow as she begins pondering the situation. A cheeky evil smile spreads on her face, an expression that gave rise to the legend of the demonic business woman. She sneakily approaches Washio when no one is looking and says her piece to him, "Actually, how about this…."
The next morning arrives uneventfully as Shirou and his group are still besieging Ryuudou Temple with Caster maintaining the barrier thanks to the leyline while Martha strikes down any who get too close, jumping in and out of her 'master's' barrier, either swinging her fist or her cross staff at the enemy saber and corrupted Assassin.
On the other part of Fuyuki, Washio and his group make their way to the river. The group separates with Washio taking the closest location to the river, all alone with Sakura taking up the next zone and then Illya next and Rin last. Both Illya and Rin have the servants with them to protect them in case they encounter Shirou and his group or even caster. Sakura instead has a barrier to keep her safe as she technically qualifies as an innocent bystander.
Regardless, with all 4 spell casters lined up, they line up a surge of barriers before allowing Caenis to enter the river. Washio notices that his previously unused noble phantasm lights on his bracelet are drained away before using the new tokens that Archer had collected for Rin during his training and planning days to refill his gauge back up to full.
"Oh tranquil breach of the sea,
Allow the flow of waves be made known to my lord,
Bestow destruction and ruin to my enemies protections,
Unleash thy divine might, Poseidon Maelstrom"
With Caenis finishing her chant, the rivers flow is interrupted as the water around her begins to gather and rise up high. As the barriers are in place, the typhoon wave of water begins to surge forward, barrier by barrier until it reaches the temple.
It is at this point where the reason for Rin being last is revealed. Her barrier was actually ending just before the temple, the reason for this is to hide the giant wave and stop the two enemy groups from running away before the wave actually hits.
Of course this is only possible thanks to Rin's magical prowess along with the help of Sheba and Luna who was convinced by Sheba to join the fight to assist them. Both these ladies laid a hidden barrier to not alert Shirou and Caster to better hide everyone else's barriers.
The end result is quite devastating, as at the moment when the maelstrom arrived at Ryuudou Temple, all enemy forces had gathered around the central staircase. Shirou and his group had hoped to capture Martha and thus corrupt her, leaving Caster all alone and defenseless but the sudden appearance of the giant wave had ruined everything as even Caster's so called master had to get involved in the situation, primarily by running to a safe zone hidden within the temple. He had dragged both servants with him, allowing Caster to rest and not maintain the barrier as it would very likely be destroyed.
Of course Caster has an idea of who the owner of the giant wave was but unsure of how it was hidden for so long, that level of expertise would be on a similar level to her own or even higher as the magical pressure of a noble phantasm is not something that can be easily hidden.
Washio and his group quickly reunite with Rin along with the two servants and maid Sheba with Secretary Luna. "The plan worked" Washio states as he takes in the surrounding destruction. Chunks of the stairs are destroyed from the way, but the primary destruction is to the shrine buildings themselves as it was completely drowned.
Buried underneath a tree and chunks of dirt is the black haired Shirou along with Assassin and Saber. All three had huddled up together to keep themselves safe as the wave approached. While they didn't utilize any noble phantasms, the sheer power of their mana bursts combined with their enhanced strength allowed them to create a small opening in the wave. Afterall, it's an anti-fortress, not an anti-unit attack. The current result is already great for Washio and his group.
Archer alerts them of the current positions of the enemy master, at least Shirou and his group. Caster and co are still hidden, awaiting any sort of noises or alert as they are wary of a second wave, Caster is also meditating to regain her used up mana.
"Take them down" Shirou states as he points at Washio's group, though he did stop a bit when he noticed the new Lancer with a frown as he feels like the rules of the grail war have already been fractured and not even by him. Seeing Illya once again, all healed up from the bullet wound confuses him as he doesnt know of anyone who has such mystical means amongst the servants.
"You know the plan, analyze your foe and take them down. We will support you as well as we can, beware the enemy master. He might have some sort of trick up their sleeve" Washio proclaims as Berserker rushes at Saber with Luna providing buffs and obstacles for the saber servant, Lancer against Assassin while Sheba provides support and then Archer against his altered self (he does not know about alter egos and does not know Angra Mainyu by name).
Washio ensures that Sakura is set up securely on a secure hill with Illya next to her. Washio then rushes forward to confront Caster alongside Rin.
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Word count: 2041
Drop a comment if you wanna judge my writing or the story. I'll try to respond, especially if you're confused or anything.