Vol 2. Chapter 3. Someone Breaking the Script…

Before either of the Servant's could answer Rider's proposition, the loud cackle of Caster could be heard.

"Oh my, we can't have that now, can we?" Caster said aloud, before she turned her gaze to Lancer, who was standing in front of his Master.

"Master of Lancer, how about you finish your business with the now crippled Saber, while I handle Rider? Naturally, I will hold no hard feelings on who you chose to attack once you finish with her," Caster offered in a silky smooth tone.

Lancer turned around to look at his master with a torn look on his face.

As much as he'd like to finish his bout with Saber, he just felt too uneasy with leaving his Master unguarded, while Caster was close by.

Kayneth himself was unsure of what to do in this situation.

Caster's proposition was tempting, but then again, not having Lancer close by had almost led to him being hit by one of her attacks earlier.

But Kayneth would be damned if Saber slipped through his fingers, and ended up being killed by some other Servant.

As he silently thought through his options, he met Lancer's uneasy gaze.

Frowning, Kayneth quickly made up his mind.

"Lancer, finish Saber, I'll be on guard from an attack from Caster," he said in a stern tone.

Lancer's expression hardened, before he gave a nod. "Yes, Master," he said, before dashing away from his position, leaving only a gust of wind in his place.

A moment later, the sound of metal clashing against metal was heard, as Lancer's red spear slammed into Saber's invisible sword.

As the two clashed, Caster turned her gaze to look at the no longer smiling Rider.

"Now, Rider, do you care for a dance?"

~~Fate/False Order~~

Saber barely had time to react.

The sharp impact of Lancer's crimson spear against her blade sent violent vibrations up through her arm, traveling all the way to her shoulder.

Clenching her teeth, she fought against the surge of pain coiling through her damaged forearm.

She still hadn't recovered from the cursed wound, and fighting so soon after getting it, only agitated her sore forearm.

She shifted her grip on her sword, compensating for her weakened hand by tightening her fingers around the hilt.

The slight lag in her reactions was evident, and Lancer, ever the skilled warrior, did not miss it.

Lancer's speed was blinding, as he moved like the wind, darting in and out of Saber's reach with a flurry of thrusts and slashes.

His two spears moved in tandem, forcing Saber to stay on the defensive.

The red spear struck low, aiming for her legs, while the golden spear came from above, seeking to pierce her shoulder or neck.

Saber twisted her body, sidestepping one thrust and deflecting another with a swift, precise parry.

But even as she defended, she felt the strain in her muscles, the weakness in her grip.

Each block sent another wave of pain through her hand.

She bit down on the pain, channeling her frustration into focus.

Lancer was relentless, his strikes fast and sharp, designed to overwhelm her defenses.

He was testing her, probing for any signs of weakness, and Saber knew she could not afford to show any.

She countered his thrusts with a mixture of deft parries and calculated dodges, while nimbly moving around.

She could not match his strength with her current injury, but she could still anticipate his movements.

Her instincts guided her blade, as she anticipated the upcoming faint, and positioned herself to intercept the strike.

Lancer feinted left with the red spear, then quickly spun and slashed with the golden spear from the right.

Saber caught the motion out of the corner of her eye and reacted instinctively, raising her blade just in time to intercept the blow.

The two weapons clashed with a harsh ring, the force of Lancer's strike nearly pushing her back.

She could feel the tremor running up her arm, her injured thumb screaming in protest.

But she didn't yield.

Instead, she twisted her wrist, using the momentum of the block to spin herself into a low crouch, her blade sweeping upward in a quick, unexpected arc aimed at Lancer's exposed midsection.

Lancer's eyes widened for a fraction of a second before he leaped back, narrowly avoiding the strike.

Saber's sword sliced through the air where he had stood, a faint shimmer marking its passage.

She could feel her forearm throb after having used Mana Burst, which had placed her body under extreme stress momentarily.

She had successfully forced him back, however briefly.

Meaning that she could not afford to waste this moment.

Saber surged forward, brandishing her invisible blade in a position to slash at her adversary.

She struck with a series of rapid slashes, each one aimed at a different point—first his shoulder, then his leg, then his wrist.

Lancer deflected her attacks with a flurry of his own, his spears a blur of motion as they spun and struck like vipers.

But Saber's onslaught did not know retreat.

She was pushing him, forcing him to move, to adjust, to react.

Lancer's expression grew more focused, his brows knitting together as he fought to regain the upper hand.

He twisted his body, dodging a high strike and bringing his crimson spear down in a heavy diagonal slash toward her exposed side.

Saber saw the attack coming and twisted her body, turning her invisible blade at an angle to catch his spear and slide it past her.

She let the force of his attack carry her into a spin, and in one fluid motion, she brought her sword around in a horizontal sweep aimed at Lancer's neck.

Lancer ducked, the blade whistling just over his head, and thrust his golden spear straight at her chest.

Saber sidestepped, her armor scraping against the spear's shaft as it missed by mere inches.

She was close now, too close for Lancer to use the full reach of his spears effectively.

She pressed in further, her invisible blade flickering in and out of sight as it struck at his defenses.

But Lancer was not so easily cornered.

He twisted his body, pivoting on one foot, and swept the red spear in a wide arc to force her back.

Saber leaped back, just barely avoiding the blade's tip.

As she landed, her injured hand nearly slipped on the hilt of her sword.

She grimaced, clenching her fingers tighter, refusing to let go.

Lancer did not give her a moment to recover.

He charged forward, closing the distance in an instant, and unleashed a flurry of strikes with both spears.

Saber's sword moved like a blur, parrying and deflecting as best as she could.

But she could feel her strength waning, the pain in her hand growing sharper with each movement.

She needed to change the rhythm of the fight, to disrupt his relentless assault.

She pivoted on her heel, sidestepping a thrust, and then sprang forward with all her might.

Her sword swung in a wide, unpredictable arc, aimed at Lancer's torso.

He brought his spears up to block, but Saber was already shifting, twisting her body and bringing her sword down in a powerful overhead strike aimed at his head.

Lancer caught the blade by intersecting his spears in a desperate block, and for a moment, they were locked together, their weapons straining against each other.

Saber gritted her teeth, pushing back with all her might, her muscles screaming in protest.

But she could not break the deadlock.

Her injured hand trembled, her grip faltering.

And then, through the clash of steel and the ragged breaths of the two combatants, came a sound—a deep, booming laugh that seemed to roll across the battlefield like distant thunder.

It was followed by the low rumble of clacking hooves, a sound that was impossible to ignore.

Both Saber and Lancer turned their heads, still locked in combat, their gazes drawn toward the source of the familiar noise.

Lancer's eyes flickered with a hint of frustration, while Saber's narrowed in confusion.

What was Rider doing?

~~Fate/False Order~~

"Now, Rider, do you care for a dance?" Caster's voice was a silken taunt, her smile laced with mockery.

Rider's grin was all teeth, as he gazed up at the cunning witch that had ruined his plans with mere words.

"A dance, you say? Very well, Caster. But beware, for I do not tread lightly!"

With a crack of the reins, the Gordius Wheel surged forward, tearing through the air with a thunderous roar.

Sparks flew as the chariot took to the skies, leaving a trail of electric blue in its wake.

Waver clung on for dear life, his heart pounding in his chest as they shot toward Caster with blinding speed.

Caster's smile never faltered.

With a snap of her fingers, she conjured a dozen magic circles that shot a volley of green energy beams.

The sky was filled with green trails of light, like shooting stars, and they all moved with blinding speed towards the Master Servant duo.

Rider's response was immediate.

With a bellowing laugh, he urged the chariot into a sharp dive, evading the first wave of beams with a hair's breadth to spare.

But Caster's attacks seemed to have a life of their own, as they curved in midair, and continued their pursuit of Rider.

Seeing this, Rider cracked the rains, and the Gordius Wheel twisted and turned in the air, and blue thunder crackled out from the chariot.

As the lightning made contact with the Caster's attack, a small explosion of blue and green lights erupted, before dying down and revealing an empty sky.

Rider watched as Caster raised her arm, and pointed a finger at her direction.

"Waver, hold tight!" Rider shouted, his voice booming over the roaring winds. "This isn't going to be comfortable!"

After he spoke, Rider pulled the rains to the side, just as a bolt of green lightning passed where they had recently been.

Waver whimpered, as his knuckles turned white due to him desperately gripping the chariot's rails with all his might. "Rider, we can't keep dodging like this! We need to counterattack!"

Rider's eyes gleamed with a fierce light. "Aye, but first, we need to get close enough to land a blow!"

But Caster had no intention of allowing that.

She raised her hand, and with a flash of green light, she vanished from sight.

Rider grunted, pulling the reins hard to the left as the chariot soared over the water, searching for any sign of their elusive opponent.

"She's toying with us!" Waver cried out, scanning the darkness for any hint of Caster's presence.

Suddenly, the air crackled with static, and Caster reappeared high above them, with her arms outstretched.

"Celaeno." She intoned with a cold voice, as she unleashed a barrage of green thunder from her hands.

They rained down upon the Gordius Wheel, which intercepted them with its own blue thunder.

As the attacks met, they fizzled out, but there were the odd strikes that pierced through the blue thunder, and struck the chariot, causing it to rock back and forth.

Rider's expression hardened, and he cracked the reins. "Then we shall prove to her that Iskandar is not to be trifled with!"

The chariot roared to life, arcs of electricity dancing along its wheels.

With a mighty shout, Rider called forth a surge of lightning that exploded outward, clashing with Caster's thunder in a shower of sparks.

The sky lit up in a brilliant display of thunder, worthy of a son of Zeus, and the two opposing forces collided with a reverberating boom.

But Caster was undeterred.

With another snap of her fingers, she teleported once more, this time appearing a few feet behind Rider's chariot.

Her laughter echoed through the night as she conjured another volley of green energy projectiles, forcing Rider to twist the chariot into a steep ascent.

The Gordius Wheel climbed higher and higher, its wheels spinning faster as it tore through the sky, while emitting thunder, destroying Caster's attacks.

"Damn witch! She's craftier than I gave her credit for!" Rider barked, his eyes narrowing as he searched for an opening.

Waver's mind raced, trying to think of a strategy. "Rider, we need to outsmart her! She's using her speed and range to keep us at a distance. We have to force her into close quarters before she can use her teleportation!"

Rider nodded, his grin returning. "Then let's see how she handles the full power of the Gordius Wheel!"

With a mighty heave, Rider pulled the reins, and the chariot suddenly plummeted toward the earth.

The wheels crackled with blue energy, spinning so fast that they became a blur.

The air around them hummed with static, the very sky trembling as the Gordius Wheel unleashed a torrent of lightning in all directions.

The bolts of electricity arced outward, striking the shipping containers, cranes, and the very water below, creating a web of crackling thunder that spread throughout the docks.

Caster's eyes widened in surprise as the lightning closed in on her.

Quickly, she grabbed her cloak, and pulled it over her. And as it covered her, space folded with it, causing Caster to vanish from the sky.

Rider laughed heartily, his voice echoing through the night. "What's wrong, Caster? Finding it hard to keep up?"

But even as he taunted, he knew that Caster was far from finished.

And as if to prove his suspicion right, Caster reappeared on the ground, standing atop one of the massive shipping containers.

"Atlas."

An immaterial green cocoon encompassed the Gordius Wheel, freezing the chariot and its occupants in an instant.

Rider's eyes widened in shock, and there was an imperceptible sign of him fighting against the frozen space.

Caster's expression was calm, almost serene, as she gazed up at the chariot frozen midair.

"You're amusing, Rider," Caster said, her voice cutting through the night like a blade. "But playtime is over."

With a flick of her wrist, a dozen green magic circles materialized around her, each one glowing with an ominous green, as ball's of light formed atop each circle, slowly growing in size.

Smiling, Caster pointed a finger at the Master Servant duo. "I believe this is farewell, Ri—"

Just as she was about to finish her sentence, a familiar figure with yellow hair shimmered into existence behind Caster, while holding a long, sharp metal pipe crackling with electricity.

Caster seemed to have sensed his existence, as she twisted her body to look at him.

Her instinctive reaction saved her from the spear puncturing her heart from behind, as it skidded right by the spot her back had been, before she twisted her torso to look behind her.

Her move, however, did not save her from the figures' back up move. Caster's eyes widened with shock, right as a fist connected with her face.

The audible sound of something cracking echoed, before she was slammed onto the floor, with blood dripping from her nose.

In an instant, the magic circles dissipated into moats of mana, and the restrictive cocoon around Rider and his Master vanished.

Not giving Caster a moment to recover, Alistair swiped his 'spear' at the prone Caster who rolled to the side before yelling a spell.

"Argos!"

A glass like shield shimmered into existence, and intercepted the makeshift spear with ease.

Seeing his attack being so effortlessly blocked, Alistair jumped backwards, and while midair, cocked the arm holding the spear crackling with electricity back, before hurling it into the metal shipping container Caster laid on.

A loud crackle of electricity was heard, paired with the cries of a witch, as the spear impacted the metal box.

Just as Alistair landed back onto the container, he heard the sound of hooves in the distance.

Turning his head in its direction, he saw that Rider's chariot was charging at Caster's downed form.

Quickly, Alistair jumped off the container, just as Rider crashed through it, all while laughing boisterously.

Slowly the chariot came to a stop, and Rider turned to face Alistair, before shooting him a thumbs up.

"Thank you for the assistance, Alistair! You got us out of quite the pinch," he expressed with gratitude, while flashing a wide smile.

Alistair smiled back, while dusting his clothes from all the debris Rider's little stunt had created.

"No need to thank me, king Iskandar. I was biding time until I could get my revenge for the stunt she pulled…" Alistair's words trailed off, as his gaze turned to look in the distance, where Caster was floating in the sky.

Rider followed his gaze, and when he saw Caster, he gave an audible sigh.

"It would seem she teleported before I crashed into the container," he grumbled, before tugging at his reins again.

"Wait!" Alistair said, causing the tall man to turn his head in his direction, while raising his brow.

Frowning, Alistair pointed at Caster. "How does this sound, I'll handle Caster, and you go and help Saber," he said in a serious tone, causing the King of Conquerors to raise his other brow.

"Boy, do you think you can match Caster?" He said with more surprise than disbelief.

To his question, Alistair shook his head. "No, but I should be able to give her a hard time," he explained, causing the Servant of the Chariot to give a slight frown.

"And why do you wish to fight Caster alone?" He said with confusion, earning a smile from the Magus.

"I'd like to have the chance to meet my ancestor, and with how things are going, that's not going to happen. So I'd be grateful if you could ensure that she doesn't die," Alistair explained with a small smile tugging at the edge of his lips.

At his words, Rider remained silent, before breaking into a wild laughter, and smacking his chest with a fist. "Excellent, boy! I'll agree, but I'll consider us even after this!" Rider exclaimed, before grabbing the reins.

Alistair shot him a thumbs up in return. "I'd have it no other way," he said in a grateful tone.

Whipping his bulls with the reins, Rider gave a loud bellow of laughter, as he shot off into the distance.

Turning his head, Alistiar looked up at Caster.

"Round three."

~~Fate/False Order~~

Saber and Lancer gazed to the side, where Rider's chariot could be seen barreling towards them.

Both Servant's removed their gaze away from Rider and met each other's eyes.

There was a moment of silence, before the two nodded at one another.

Swiftly, the two loosened their weapons, untwining them, allowing the pair to jump back a few meters.

As the two landed, they readjusted their stance, and pointed their weapons at the trespassing Rider

With a final roar, Rider yanked the reins, and the chariot came to a sudden stop between the two combatants.

"Enough!" Rider's voice boomed, his tone carrying both authority and a hint of amusement.

His fiery red hair flowed wildly in the wind as he stood tall, towering over both Saber and Lancer from his chariot. "This battle has gone on long enough, don't you think?"

Saber stepped back, lowering her sword slightly, her eyes never leaving Rider's imposing figure.

"Rider, this is not your fight," she said, her voice calm but laced with tension. "Lancer and I must settle this."

Rider's laughter echoed across the field once more.

"Oh, I know, I know! But as much as I enjoy watching a good duel, I can't let you two hack each other to pieces while I stand idly by." He glanced at Lancer, who remained silent, his expression unreadable but his body tense, ready to spring into action at a moment's notice.

Rider's gaze returned to Saber, and he grinned. "Besides, it would be a shame to see such a fine warrior fall before her time. I'd hate to disappoint your descendant."

Saber blinked, taken aback. "Descendant?"

She had seen the resemblance, but she had killed her only child in the battle of Camlann, so she had disregarded the possibility outright, despite the odd feeling she had when looking at him.

Rider's grin widened, and he nodded toward the distant figure of a young man holding his own against Caster in the background.

"That young man, the one who bears your family name, he fights with a similar spirit. I can see where he gets it from."

Saber's heart skipped a beat.

Rider claimed that he held the same surname as herself, and given how the boy looked, she found it harder and harder to mentally deny any link between the two.

Even when considering how impossible it should be.

But now was not the time to dwell on it.

Lancer, who had been silent until now, finally spoke, his voice low and measured. "Rider, you may be strong, but this is not your concern. Our battle is one of honor, and I will not allow anyone to interfere once more."

Rider chuckled, raising an eyebrow. "Ah, Lancer, there is no need to rush, is there? Why not slow things down, and have a battle of words instead?"

Lancer's eyes flashed with irritation, but he did not respond.

Instead, he adjusted his grip on his spears, clearly unwilling to back down.

Rider's expression hardened, and his eyes fixed a harsh look onto Lancer.

"If you're determined to continue this fight, then I'll have to step in." He reached for his sword, and drew it forth with in a swift motion.

Just as Rider drew his blade, Lancer made a dash for Saber.

Before Lancer could react, Rider leapt from his chariot with surprising speed for a man of his physique and stature, landing in between the two Servants.

Rider slashed with his blade, deflecting a strike from Lancer's red spear that had been aimed at Saber.

The impact sent a shockwave through the air, causing both Saber and Lancer to stagger back.

"Let's not be hasty," Rider said with a grin, effortlessly pushing Lancer's spear away. "There's no need to shed more blood here. At least, not yet."

Lancer's frustration was evident now. "Do you intend to play the mediator, Rider? To keep us from fulfilling our duties as knights?"

Rider laughed, the sound rich and hearty. "Something like that. But mostly, I just don't want to see good warriors wasted." His gaze shifted to Saber, who had regained her balance and was watching him with a mix of caution and curiosity.

"You, Saber, are one of the finest I've seen. A true knight, through and through. It would be a shame to see you fall because of a mere wound."

Saber frowned, her grip tightening on Excalibur. "I do not need your pity, Rider."

"Pity?" Rider gave a brief bout of laughter, as if the mere thought of such a thing was ridiculous.

"No, my dear. Respect." Rider's expression turned serious, the playful edge in his voice vanishing. "But respect doesn't mean I'll let you throw your life away."

Lancer, growing impatient, lunged forward with a thrust aimed at Rider's side, but Rider was faster.

He sidestepped the attack with a fluid motion, swinging his sword in a wide arc to force Lancer back.

The two exchanged blows, Rider's sword clashing against Lancer's twin spears in a flurry of sparks and metal.

Despite his size, Rider moved with surprising agility, his movements a blend of raw power and precise control.

He didn't press the attack, merely keeping Lancer at bay, creating space between him and Saber.

It was clear he had no intention of seriously harming Lancer, but rather of disrupting the flow of their duel.

"Enough!" Rider's voice cut through the night as he parried another of Lancer's strikes, this time knocking the spear from his hand with a powerful swing.

The weapon spun through the air, landing several feet away.

Lancer snarled, his remaining spear poised to strike, but Rider held up a hand.

The Servant of the Spear barely held back, leaving a few inches between the tip of the spear, and Riders hand.

"Lancer, cease this foolishness immediately! You're dancing in the palms of Caster, who is certainly pitting us against one another for her benefit!"

Saber looked at Rider, her feelings were a mess from what she had learnt earlier, but her face displayed only controlled confidence. "Rider, you may be right. But I cannot abandon my honor."

"And I wouldn't ask you to," Rider replied, his tone softer now.

"But there's a time for battle, and a time for strategy. Right now, what you both need is to save your strength in the face of a greater enemy."

The three stood in silence, the tension between them slowly dissipating.

Saber and Lancer exchanged glances, both recognizing the wisdom in Rider's words, though neither willing to fully admit it.

And then, cutting through the stillness of the night, came a deafening scream.

It was a sound of pure terror, echoing across the battlefield, sending chills down their spines.

The air seemed to vibrate with the force of it, and all three Servants froze, their eyes wide with shock.

"What was that?" Saber whispered, her voice barely audible.

Rider's expression darkened, his jovial demeanor replaced by a frown. "It seems our reprieve is over. We seem to have another fight on our hands."

Without another word, Rider mounted his chariot once more, his eyes scanning the horizon for the source of the scream. Saber and Lancer exchanged one final look, an unspoken agreement passing between them. The battle could wait—whatever awaited them now was far more dangerous.

~~Fate/False Order~~

{Two steps to the right.}

Quickly, I followed Morgan's instructions, allowing a bolt of lightning to harmlessly pass through where my head had been moments ago.

This was getting a bit tedious.

I get the whole, 'make yourself look as strong as possible' part of the plan, but this was just getting a bit too tedious.

I really liked watching the Servant's fight, and doing what amounted to 'play fighting' with Morgan's puppet, was tedious and boring…

At least her battle with Rider was cool.

Silver lining I guess.

Stepping to the side, I conjured three more lances of ice, and launched them at 'Caster', with blinding speed.

Naturally, she dodged them, before conjuring a dozen more knock-off versions of Medea's magic circles, before they suddenly fizzled out of existence, not even bothering to fire.

{Behind you!} Morgan screamed through the mental link.

Quicky, I turned around, only to drop my jaw.

A knight wearing purple armor, covered by shadows and who's visor was leaking a menacing red glow, was standing not thirty meters away from me.

His gaze seemed to fix itself onto me, before shakingly raising his hands to his head, and digging his fingers into his helmet, causing a screeching sound of metal rubbing against metal.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRTTTTTTTTTHHHHHHHUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUURRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

His scream was disgusting, as if a corpse was screaming, paired with it easily being 80 decibels, caused me to clutch my ears, before nervously gazing at him.

Berserker lowered his arms, and fixed his gaze at me, as his body shook like someone suffering from Parkinson's disease.

No... you were meant to appear where the others were... after all, I'm not Arthur... I'm a guy....

{Run!} Morgan's voice sounded frantic.

No fucking shit… 

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153 Hours, 32 Minutes And 32 Seconds Until Zero 

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A/N

Welcome back, my reader Overlords, please add this to your library and give me some comments, stones and Reviews, as it would be much appreciated.

Predictions?

Ideas?

Now, how was the chapter?

I felt that I should give Rider some love, as my guy gets clowned on too much in the community, despite being a powerhouse in his own respect.

I hope that the descriptions were decent, as I am currently writing this while under the influence... yes it was a good idea, and no, I'm not an alcoholic... merely an avid wine enjoyer... Now shush!

Please, fill me in, as I am interested in your thoughts!

Anything you'd like to see? If so, ping me a comment, or ask me on my discord server!

Btw, I have made a Discord server for the fic, come on and chat with me!

https://discord.gg/eJpSFD4H

Now I'm wasted as fuck, so have a nice day, and send me some stones or some more alcohol, I need motivation, or some shit like that.