Fate/Zero:Act 10 Part 5
-84:19:03
Emiya Kiritsugu clicked his tongue as he intently watched this unexpected turn of events.
The ship had already anchored after being moved to the appointed location, and the engine-powered life boat prepared for escape was also ready. Saber had also successfully regained her sure-kill Noble Phantasm. All that’s left was to summon back Rider and get him to free the sea demon – as he thought of this, Berserker, god knows what he was thinking, ceased to continue his long tangled battle with Archer and suddenly turned around and started attacking Saber.
However, upon close contemplation, this was already the second time that Saber was unreasonably challenged by Berserker. When they first met on the warehouse street, Berserker rushed towards Saber like a starving beast as soon as he lost his target. It could be explained as a coincidence if it only happened once, but that can’t be true now as a similar thing occurred again. Moreover, this time the opponent completely ignored the presence of Archer, who was his initial target, and suddenly changed over.
Of course, for Archer, whose pride far surpassed ordinary people, this insulting behavior was undoubtedly the greatest humiliation dealt to him.
“Are you crazy? You mad dog!”
Archer cursed as he accelerated Vimana and soon approached Berserker’s back, close enough that he could strike him down with one blow. Since they were so close to each other, the opponent would never be able to dodge the projected Noble Phantasms from Gate of Babylon no matter how good his skills in controlling may be – however, this decision wounded Archer.
Beneath the F15 innumerable scorching fireballs, like fen fires, were slowly shot out one after the other, and hit the following Vimana smack on.
“What!?”
This contraption, Flare Dispenser, was originally shot out as decoy heat sources in order to throw off the enemy’s heat-sensing weapons. However, after being eroded by Berserker’s prana and maddened, it metamorphosed into cruising fire bombs. Based on the air fight earlier, Archer had long ago surmised that the enemy doesn’t have a way of attacking his back, and therefore couldn’t react to this sudden counterattack on time. The Vimana plunged into the hive of roaring fire balls, lost control while surrounded by crimson flames, and fell towards the river surface in a spiral.
Although he finally obtained the result of felling Archer, it was nothing to the current Berserker. The vicious steel bird completely ignored the whereabouts of Archer, who had fallen into the river, and just stubbornly pursued Saber, mercilessly pouring down a rain of 20mm bullets upon her.
For Saber, although the F15 Berseker drove was a weapon she’s never seen, her borderline-intuitive sixth sense allowed her to immediately comprehend correctly the nature of this threat. Far before she was confronted with the initial strafe, Saber had detected that this attacking method would result in mass destruction. Then, she deduced that she may get Irisviel into the battle if she stayed on the river bank, so she once again leapt onto the water surface and sought a retreat on the river.
This was indeed her last resort, and the result made her sink into a more awkward situation.
Although Saber improvised with her shocking speed as a Servant to the maximum and galloped on the water almost as quickly as the jet fighter, this spacious river surface with no obstacles was undoubtedly the best hunting ground for the black knight who fired his strafe from above.
The bullets pouring out like torrential rain slipped past the galloping Saber, missing her by a hair, and splashed up tall sprays of water like streams of an upward waterfall.
Simple ammunition is no threat to Servants, no matter how big its caliber is. This is especially so with Saber, whose physical abilities were so supreme. Not only can she easily dodge them, but she can even deflect the rocket back with her sword if she wanted to. However – no matter how extraordinary the Heroic Spirit’s abilities maybe, she is still helpless in front of the firing speed of 1200 rounds per second of the M61 automatic rifle that the General Electric company took pride in. Moreover, this weapon has been attached with the properties of a Noble Phantasm by Berserker’s hand. Getting hit by one round is enough to kill.
“I was finally able to use my left hand…”
Saber was a bit resentful. Originally, she could have used her Noble Phantasm to attack without worry and sink Berserker above her with one blow, but the enemy’s adamant and continuous attacks didn’t give her any opportunity to counterattack. It was as if Berserker’s battle tactics read through Saber’s inner thoughts; it was both accurate and prudent. In order to hunt a lion, you have to keep chasing it and doesn’t give the lion a single chance to fight back until it dies of exhaustion; that is the only viable way. Now, Berserker was like a hunter that knew this far too well.
Suddenly, vigorous tremors spread from the river bank all the way into its surroundings. Only the present magi knew what this unexplainable tremor meant – the epicentre was probably the inside of the Reality Marble that Rider expanded. The powerful earthquakes that the raging and blundering sea demon made were finally beginning to affect the dimensions of reality. This also signalled that Rider’s Reality Marble had also finally approached its ultimate limit.
He must let Rider know of the situation here. Waver, after deciding as such, began to concentrate in summoning his Servant. For Waver, who has no experience with code words, he could only rely on speech to pass on his commands. However, Rider, who knew this well, did say that ‘I’ll leave a herald for you”.
The space beside Waver suddenly began to warp, and a cavalry soldier’s form emerged.
“I am Metillius of the Royal Guard, here to receive commands in the King’s stead!”
The elite and efficient Heroic Spirit gave a small salutation. Stunned by the other’s demeanor, Waver couldn’t speak for a while. However, he immediately realized that it was not the time to pay attention to such things, and picked up his courage to give directions to this Heroic Spirit he’s never met before.
“Remove the bounded field and place Caster to the appointed location as soon I give the signal. Can you do that?”
“It can be done – but please make it quick. Our army inside the bounded field can’t hold off that sea demon any longer…”
“I know! I’m very aware of that.”
As Waver muttered in irritation he also attended to Saber, who kept dodging the attacks of the black knight, with a heart full of prayers.
“Bastard, that bastard Berserker… is there no way to stop him?”
“– Let me go.”
Lancer said this resolutely, and disappeared after grasping the remaining crimson spear. The spearman that temporarily turned into spiritual form accurately materialized again on the body of the F15, steadying himself by grabbing the steel wings in which black prana flew with one hand.
“It all ends here! Berserker!”
As Lancer’s words ended, he uplifted Gáe Dearg in his right hand up high, and stabbed the spear tip towards the body of the plane that had changed into an alien.
The red spear that can cut through all prana circulation gleamed. It was indeed the archenemy of Berserker’s peculiar ability.
But the black knight has had his full share of the power of this attack after the battle in the warehouse street. The mysterious Servant, crazed but not without prudence, did not make the same mistake when faced with Lancer’s Noble Phantasm.
Berserker decisively discarded the F15 the moment the red spear was about to hit the plane’s body, and leapt high into the sky after using his arms to wretch off the important part of the plane. Then, the fighter jet hit by Gáe Dearg immediately turned into a pile of scrap iron and fell down with Lancer on its wings, splashing up a gigantic spray of water.
The plane part that Berserker robbed at the last minute was the section that was equipped with one Vulcan automatic cannon. The automatic cannon that dodged Lancer’s spear tip at the critical moment was still flowing with the inky black prana that it was previously filled with, and did not lose the properties of being the black knight’s Noble Phantasm.
“■〓〓〓〓■■■■■■〓〓〓〓!!”
Carrying the 200-kilogram-heavy six-barrelled cylindrical cartridge on his shoulder, Berserker once again aimed from the sky at Saber beneath him. The rotary cannon, reinforced with prana, accelerated and spun in the blink of an eye. Saber finally realized that she had nowhere else to turn in the moment before the torrential bullets were about to surge out.
This time, Berserker was jumping down from the plane, and aimed at Saber as he descended. The distance between the two was much closer than before. Saber had no time to dodge away before the bullet left the gun barrel. No matter which way she may dodge, she couldn’t get out of the range of that rain of bullets that was about to pour out.
“I can only make a gamble…!”
Saber was already ready for the worst when she prepared to use her Noble Phantasm. Just as she was about to swing her sword, a streak of silver light gleamed past from an impossible angle and struck Berserker, who was in mid-air and had nowhere to hide, head on.
Hammer, axe and arrows pierced the inky black armor. A giant sickle cleaved the body of the spiral gun in half. The rocket that hit the cartridge dead on ignited the remnants of the 20mm bullets, and blossomed into a giant crimson flower in the air. Berserker, taking a direct hit from the fragments and ravaging wind, was blew away helplessly, drawing a parabola in the air before falling into the river like a piece of rubble.
Saber turned her head around, astounded, to see Archer standing loftily on the top of Fuyuki bridge’s arch. Illuminated by the brilliance of the Noble Phantasms that surrounded him, with his back to the light, he let out a lascivious smile.
“Alright Saber, let me witness it. Let this king affirm your worth of your glory as a Heroic Spirit.”
Saber obvious had that thought in her mind too – she silently glanced at Archer, who was boasting, and returned her sight to the river surface, and once again gripped the golden sword tightly and readied her pose.
All obstacles have been eliminated. Right now, it is the time for the decisive battle.
Kiritsugu, who witnessed Berserker’s departure, was sitting on the life boat that was galloping towards safety, and aiming at one spot in the empty sky he shot out a flare. The roaring sulfurous flame was right above the line that connected Saber’s current position and the boat that Kiritsugu forsook.
“Right there! Right under it!”
Waver immediately saw the signal and yelled at the herald who was waiting for commands beside him. The Heroic Spirit Metillius nodded and immediately disappeared, returning to the inside of the bounded field where the king and his companions were waiting.
Before any words were to be said, the space that was eroded by the thoughts of the Heroic Spirits returned to the shape it was meant to have. Firstly, an alien shadow covered the night sky like a mirage, then its real form emerged; the giant and ominous body then fell into the water. That place was directly underneath where Kiritsugu shot the flare.
Following the reappearance of the sea demon, Rider’s chariot Gordius Wheel also once again leapt into the dim night sky. Its scar-covered form told of the degree of intensity of the battle that was played out inside the Reality Marble, but his majestic and awe-inspiring flying form was not diminished at all.
“– Seriously! Why did we have to do all that… Woah!?”
Rider was about to keep on complaining, but he immediately realized what was going to happen when he saw the strange light that Saber’s sword was pulsing with, and did a sharp turn to leave this dangerous area behind. On the other hand, Caster’s sea demon wouldn’t be able to dodge so dexterously no matter what. The giant throbbing meat lump could do nothing apart from shrieking to scare this unknown brilliance.
The time was ripe.
The King of Knights poured all the strength in her body into her wrists, which were grasping the hilt of sword tightly, and lifted the golden sword up high.
Light was gathering.
As if illuminating this holy sword was their ultimate duty, the light condensed endlessly, merging to for a ray of blinding brilliance.
Beneath the brilliance of this intensive and clear light, no one could speak a single word.
The figure of the hero that once illuminated the darkness of a battle-ravaged world blacker than night.
Unyielding for ten years, undefeated in twelve battles, this peerless achievement, this incomparable glory; they transcend time and space, and will never be forgotten.
This stunningly brilliant holy sword is indeed the dream that all warriors throughout time who have passed away in battle have pursued and longed for their entire life – the materialization of all their prayers that was named ‘glory’.
Taking pride in uplifting this determination, resolving to implement this belief, at this moment the King of Knights loudly chanted out the true name of this miracle she held in her hands.
Its name is –
The Sword of Promised Victory -
“Ex – caliber!!!”
Light was galloping.
Light was roaring.
The prana, accelerated by the factor of the dragon, unleashed from its bondage, turned into a streak of light. This torrent that poured forth stirred up countless whirls, and devored the sea demon together with the dark night.
Every single atom that made up the body of the demonic giant monster, which existed as terror materialized, were exposed to the scorching impact within the sea water that evaporated in the blink of an eye. The sea demon then gave out a shrill tragic shriek.
But Caster, who was in the thick flesh-and-blood fortress in the center of the sea demon that was yet to be completely burnt to ashes, was just silently staring at this moment of annihilation as if his body and mind were robbed away by that blinding light.
“…”
Yes – he had once seen this light in the distant past.
Back then, didn’t he also pursue this light as a knight?
That particularly vivid memory brought Gilles de Rais back to the distant past.
On the long-awaited coronation ceremony of King Charles at the city of Reims, a ray of light shone in from the colored windows of the cathedral.
As if it was a blessing, that pure white brilliance gently enveloped the nation’s saviors who stood in line at the side including Jeanne d’Arc, Gilles, and all others beside. Everyone was immersed in the happy tune of the Ars Nova.
Aaa, there’s no mistake – it was that light.
Even now, he could still remember it vividly. Even today, when he’s fallen to the level of demons and beasts and did as much evil as one can possibly do, the memories of that day did not fade at all and remained carved deeply into the bottom of his heart.
Even if his end was stained and full of humiliation and revulsion and despised by all – no one can deny that past glory, no one can overturn that glory, and it was still hidden deep in his own heart.
Something that even gods or fate will never be able to take away or stain…
One tear streaked past his cheek. Gilles de Rais felt somewhat at a loss.
Just what was he confused with, and what did he miss?
Just remember the past and admit to his wrongs – wouldn’t that be enough?
“Just what, did I…”
Before this murmur that had no audience left his mouth, the white light brought everything into another world.
Archer, standing on the high arch of the bridge and looking down upon all, couldn’t help but have a smile emerging on his face when he saw this light of destruction that burnt and consumed all.
“Do you see it, King of Conquerors? This is Saber’s light.”
Archer addressed the empty space beside him. Rider, who had just experienced a merciless fight, was letting the chariot pulled by divine bulls remain still in the air, and was gazing dazedly at the ultimate light Excaliber was emanating.
“Do you still not want to acknowledge her after witnessing that ray of light?”
Rider snorted, dismissing Archer’s question. However, what was on his face as not despite or mockery, but a solemnity as if he was looking out over a thing of tragic grandeur.
“It was indeed because she took upon her shoulders the hope of every man of the time that she’s able to display such might – it’s painful precisely because it is so blindingly brilliant. Who could have thought that the person carrying such a heavy weight is only a little girl who liked to dream?”
On the river surface, which the two of them looked down upon, Saber’s slender body was huffing painfully due to the intensive battle to the death that had just ended. Rider only knew what kind of heaviness was piled upon her young and delicate shoulders thanks to last night’s quiz. For him, whose personality is open and straightforward, this kind of ‘way of living’ is absolutely unforgivable.
“This kind of little girl is truly the final result of someone who discarded youthful romance and dreams, discarded love, and sunk into the eternal curse of ‘ideals’. It is truly painful, and one can’t bear to look upon it anymore.”
“This is exactly what’s lovely about her, isn’t it?”
Different from the King of Conqueror’s fully melancholic expression, the golden Servant’s smile was immeasurably obscene and did not hide his dirty desires at all.
“The overly-mighty ideal that she harbored within her would burn her into nothing but ashes at the end. Those tears that she would shed at her final moment… I imagine it would be very sweet to the taste.”
Complacent, Archer let his imagination run wild. With a flick of his eyes, Rider gave him a look of enmity.
“… It seems I still can’t like you, Babylonian King of Heroes.”
“Oh? You only discerned it now?”
This title made the sparkling golden Heroic Spirit burst fully into a smile.
“What do you plan to do, Rider? Want to use brutal force right now to unleash your anger?”
“Although it’ll be quite a joy to do that, tonight my strength would perhaps not live up to my feelings if my opponent is you.”
After Rider spoke the truth straightforwardly and with no exaggeration, he gave another look at Archer and said scornfully: “Of course, if you don’t want to let the chance pass and insist in fighting with me, this king would gladly do so at anytime.”
“No matter. I permit you to escape, King of Conquerors. I wouldn’t feel satisfied if I don’t defeat you at the height of your strength, anyways.”
Hearing this self-possessed declaration from Archer, Rider lifted his eyebrows as if pulling a prank.
“Hmm? Hahaha. Though you say that, the truth must be that your wounds caused by being sunk by Blackie haven’t healed properly either, right?”
“… All who provokes the king need to die to repent their sin!”
Seeing how the other didn’t take the joke well and that his twin red irises were full with a killing intent, Rider tightened the reins of the divine bulls with a smile and increased the distance between them.
“Decide the victor next time, King of Heroes. The owner of the Holy Grail, I imagine, would perhaps be the result of our battle.”
The only ones who are worthy to obtain the Grail are the Heroic Spirits at the level of ‘Kings’. That is, one of the two between the King of Conquerors and the King of Heroes. Undoubtedly, Rider himself still believed firmly in that point right now. The Heroic Spirit Alexander smiled fearlessly and left the top of the arch of the bridge, and as thus galloped towards the river bank where his Master was at.
“What would happen at the end?... Rider, I still haven’t decided if you’re the only one who’s worthy for me to grant the ultimate treasure to.”
Archer, who was muttering to himself, had another Heroic Spirits in his heart. In terms of the degree of attention he had, the interest of the King of Heroes was actually all piled upon her.
Tonight, witnessing with his own eyes that incomparable light lead the thoughts of the primeval Heroic Spirit back to the distant past.
– Once upon a time, there was a man.
He was a foolish and ridiculous fellow whom, despite having a body made of mud and soil, set his heart to stand shoulder to shoulder with gods.
Of course, his hubris and disrespectful arrogance offended the gods in heaven. The man suffered divine retribution and lost his life.
Even to this day, the King of Heroes still couldn’t forget the way that he passed away with tears streaming down his face.
Why are you crying? The King of Heroes had asked. Could it be that, only now, you are regretting having taken my side?
It’s not that –
He had answered.
“Who would understand you after I die? Who else would march forward by your side? My friend… when I think that you will live on all alone henceforth, I can’t help but shed tears…”
Like so, when he saw that man taking his last breath, the incomparable king realized – the way that this man, who was human but wanted to surpass humanity, had lived, was even more precious and more brilliant than all the treasures he had collected.
“You fool who stretch your hand towards realms not of men… There is only one person in heaven or earth who’s worthy of appreciating your destruction, and that is none other than I, Gilgamesh.
Sink into my embrace, oh you glorious and illusionary men. That is my decision.”
The golden majestic brilliance disappeared in the night mist, leaving only an evil laughter echoing long after.
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