Chapter 2: Singularity F

I clicked my tounge in annoyance as I take off the skull of a skeleton with Kusanagi before whirling around and cutting another one in half.

These damn things are way to persistent.

"All hostiles eliminated, master."

I turned to the side and regarded Mashu, my new servant. She was made into something called a 'Demi-Servant' apparently. We don't know what her Noble Phantasm does yet, but it's a giant shield. Her class is apparently new, being known as Shielder.

"Good work, Uchiha, Kyrelight." The director says as we walk back to her.

I woke up in Fyuuki around four or so hours ago, since then I have fought off numerous skeletons wuth Mashu, successfully made contact with Roman, saved the Director, and am now slowly making our way to what we believe is the grail.

Thankfully I had all of my things that I need stored in a seal on my bicep. I changed into my combat attire and even kusanagi is with me.

"Everything here is burning… no signs of life either, what on earth is going on here?" The director started to talk to herself. "And what the heck turned Chaldeas gray… To not be able to see the future means that humanity disappeared…Could it be…deterrence didn't work in this singularity? Then, it must have been catastrophic here…The choice that brought destruction and downfall of mankind… this is the result of choosing the worst possible path…"

Mashu and I made eye contact before shrugging our shoulders.

"Oh, the Chief started talking to herself? She'll be fine, then." Roman said. "You're safe for the time being, why don't you rest a little?"

I frowned and was going to protest but remembered that Mashu is rather new to combat.

"I agree with the Doctor. Senpai, would you like a ration?"

"No thanks, I'm fine." I smiled softly as I held up a hand. "But how are you, Mashu? You are new to fighting after all."

"Physically tired…? Are you asking if I have had any issues since I became a Servant?" I inclined my head. "…I guess in some ways. I'm scared of fighting, but I'm 100% physically fit."

"That's good to hear. There's nothing wrong with being scared to fight, I was the same when I started to fight as well after all. However, there will come a time where you will have to shed that fear."

"No time to rest now, I'm detecting multiple organisms in your area!" Roman yelled.

"Tch! Master, your order?"

I frowned before shaking my head. "I'll take care of it. For now just rest, they're just skeletons after all."

I unsheathed Kusanagi, turned on my sharingan as a safety measure before flickering above one skeleton.

I fall down on top of it and crush it's skull with my foot before cutting through the head of another skeleton.

I mowed through the enemies, my sharingan making them appear as if they are moving at a snails pace.

"Good going, Master! It seems you are stronger then me..." Mashu looked at me with awe before she noticed my eyes. "Master, your eyes..."

"Mystic eyes!? Uchiha! Why haven't I heard that you possess such a thing!?"

"Because I have no intention on having numerous magi trying to steal my eyes." I deadpanned.

It's true as well. Magi are greedy by nature and will no doubt place a sealing designation on me if they hear about that fact that I have mystic eyes. I don't wish to have to fight all that often, not humans at least.

"Sorry, but talk later! You three need to run away from there immediately! I'm still seeing multiple contacts! Even more, this is---"

A figure covered in miasma, almost like a shadow, crashed down in front of us.

"Wha-! it can't be, is that-!?" Marie gasped while I got in a defensive position.

"It's a servant! Mashu, don't fight it! It's still too early for you to fight a Servant…!" Roman yelled frantically.

"Even if you say that, there's no way we can escape!" Marie retorted before turning to Mashu. "Mashu, fight it! You're a Servant too, you'll manage somehow right!?"

"….Yes. I'll give it everything I've got…!"

"I'll join you."

I've got numerous trump cards I can use if I have to.

"Uchiha! If you die, then everything will fall apart!"

"Director, we already established that I was at least as strong as Mashu."

I then looked at the shadow servant. The miasma surrounding it, her, seems to be weakening the servant. In a sense, this is actually the perfect opportunity for Mashu to gain experience. Same for me, so far I've only fought monsters after all.

"Mashu, focus more on defence and create openings for me to attack. When I yell 'Switch', try to push her off guard before switching places with me, understood?"

The enemy servant is obviously female, and she seems to wield two chained daggers of some kind.

Mashu didn't wait for the servant to attack and instead burst forward with her shield in an attempt to bash the enemy.

The servant jumped over Mashu and I flickered over to her before she could skewer Mashu. I blocked a dagger with Kusanagi, keeping track of the enemies movements rather easily thanks to the sharingan.

No, it goes beyond just being able to see the movement, I can also predict the next attack!

I continued to block the fast attacks of the enemy, making sure her focus stays on me while Mashu goes around the back.

With my muscles reinforced to the max, I jumped over a kick for my chest and used the shadow servants shoulder as a step to flip back into the air while sheathing Kusanagi and flashing through some hand seals.

'Fire Release: Grand Fireball Jutsu!'

After moulding the chakra in my throat, I spat out a 6m fireball straight at the shadow servant.

I landed on my feet at the ready, but wasn't prepared when four chains appeared out of the flames. One scratched my cheek, and another wrapped around my torso before sending me flying into a destroyed building, knocking the wind out of my lungs.

"Master!"

Mashu moved to engage the enemy, said shadow servant seems to be slightly winded from the flames but otherwise alright.

I get to my feet and wait for an opening, my breathing steady as I take my sword out and channel lightning chakra through it.

Lightning chakra not only increases speed, but it also adds a paralyzing effect even if the attack just grazes the enemy.

I focus on the fight, looking for any openings. Mashu was gradually getting tired as well as injured.

Narrowing my eyes, I saw the servant take a step back slightly in preparation of kicking Mashu away.

"Mashu, Switch!"

/0\

Instantly the shielder servant bashed her Noble Phantasm into Shadow Rider which caused the servant to stumble slightly.

Mashu quickly jumped back while Issen flickered in front of her, lighting coating his chokuto as he aimed to pierce the heart of Rider.

The rider servant barely managed to block the attack and quickly countered, a chained dagger pierced through the heart of Issen causing him to cough up blood.

"*cough*...!" While rider smirked, she saw a cocky grin form on the boy. "You lose..."

"Wha-"

PIERCE

A blade coated in lightning pierced her heart, causing her to freeze in place. The Issen she had pierced with her dagger burst into doves while the real one was behind her.

Issen was originally unsure if genjutsu with the matured sharingan instead of the EMS would even work, however, due to rider being weakend from her current state and tired from the battle, he was able to trap her within a genjutsu.

Issen removed his blade from Riders body as the shadow servant fades away in golden motes of light.

"Haah...Haaah...We won…I thought we were done for, but we won…" Mashu breathed heavily as she leaned on her shield for support.

She's also confused as to what just happened. To her, it looked like Rider just stabbed into air while Issen moved behind her. Of course she doesn't know Rider was placed under an illusion.

"..." Issen remained silent as he kept his blade out, aware that rider wasn't the only one coming.

"…Sorry, but you can't relax yet Mashu, Issen. Another identical contact is heading your way. …you know what to do without me saying so, right?" Roman confirmed Issen's worries causing the boy to go on guard.

"Yes, another contact, that means…" Mashu gained an even more exhausted look.

"...! We're retreating, hurry up! For now we have to get away from here!" Marie yelled frantically as she began to run away, the other two quickly appearing at her side.

Unfortunately they didn't get too far as two shadowed figures crashed down in front of the group.

"Issen, they've caught up with you! There's one more, that's the real problem!" Roman yelled.

"I can see that." Issen replied calmly, his grip around Kusanagi tightening as he observed the two shadow servants.

"That's…we almost lost to one, and now two are attacking at the same time?" Marie muttered.

One of the shadow servants possess something similar to a naginta while the other has a large disfigured arm, Lancer and Assasin.

"It's decided Lancer. I do not know what hero you are, but I will surely find out." Assassin stated.

"Ha. Hahahahahahahahaha!" Lancer just laughed insanely in response, sending a chill down Mashu and the directors spine while Issen raised an eyebrow.

"Chief, Issen, and Mashu! Be careful!" Roman yelled.

"Fou Foouu!" The white fuzzball barked at the newcomers.

"Damn, it's like they're both drunk…Issen, orders! You're the only level-headed one left!"

Issen frowned, the tomoe of his sharingan spinning wildly as he observed the shadow servants, he sheathed his sword to free up his hands. Jutsu may not be super effective, but it was still able to injure Rider somewhat.

"Mashu, we will have to fight. This time there's two enemies, so you will have to stay aware of your surroundings."

"Interesting. Interesting. Interesting!" Lancer shouted as he burst forward to attack Mashu.

Issen preformed hand seals at a rapid pace before his cheeks puffed up.

'Fire Release: Dragon Fire Bullets!'

Fast, small, and searing hot fireballs were released from Issens mouth, halting Lancer as he quickly bat away the fireballs. This gave Mashu a small opening that she took, charging forward with her shield defending upon Lancer.

...only to be blocked by assasins weird arm.

Issen flickered to lancer to prevent the servant from stabbing his servant, kusanagi clashing against the opponents weapon as he glared at lancer.

"Interesting! To think a master would get in the way of such a beautiful lady! I'll kill you!" Lancer laughed as he pushed back Issen.

"Senpai!" Mashu yelled, desperately warding Assassin off to get to her master.

Issen jumped back to avoid the incoming Lancer, getting a cut on the shoulder in the process. Mashu hastily jumped back as well while the shadow servants recover.

"Hah. Too soon. Fighting will be your death. Running is useless. Your final days, young girl, young man, will be miserable indeed." Assassin sneered.

"Do what you want. Struggle all you want. Your unsightly bodies will still be interesting!"

Issen's eyes flashed dangerously. "We'll see who's 'unsightly' soon enough, we aren't going to die to people like you!"

"You're seriously fighting?! No matter what there's no way we can win, right?!" Marie yelled.

"There are times where you just have to fight. There's no escape and I would rather die on my feet alongside my companions then on my knees like a coward as I helplessly watch my comrade die!" Issen yelled, charging forward and clashing against Lancer once more.

'Tch, the nature energy here is dampened due to the destruction!' Issen thought. 'I would have to concentrate!'

"In such dire situations, we'll find a way to live…!" Mashu yelled as she prepared to join her master.

"Ha---You're dead, girl..!"

Assasin went to strike at Mashu, only to have a fireball slam into his side.

"The young lady and young man speaks like a true warrior, don't they? Then I can't possibly leave them be." A man in a hood, carrying a staff said with smirked.

"Nuu…! Who's there…?!" Assassin demanded, jumping back while smoking.

"Can't you tell just be looking, friend? Or did you eat so much mud your eyes rotted?"

"Damn you, Caster! Why are you supporting those outsiders-!?" Lancer was cut off when a reinforced kick to the face sent him flying back.

"Pay attention! Your fight is with me!" The master of chaldea roared as he went after his opponent.

"Oh? That's quite the interesting master you have there, young lady. He has the strength of a common servant. You as well, with your skill and strength, that guy should prove to serve you no problems." Caster said calmly, inwardly surprised at the strength of the human.

"Caster! I know that in normal cases we would be enemies, but can I ask you to call Mashu deal with assassin?" Issen asked, barely parrying an attack from Lancer.

"Heh. It's not quite 'Enemy of my enemy is my friend', but for now I'll trust you." Caster smirked as he brought up his staff. "In light of seeing two brave young souls, I shall become your servant even without a contract!"

Issen smiled on relief as he knew that Mashu was in capable hands, even if Cu was summoned as a caster.

Lancer stabbed furiously at Issen, seeing the boy as more of a threat now as he gained numerous wounds from their fight.

Issen narrowed his red eyes before jumping up and kicking down on the naginta, sending it into the ground and him into the air over Lancer.

Twisting in midair, Issen slashed at the open back of Lancer. The shadow servant just barely had time to block the attack with the butt of his weapon.

The force behind the blow caused Lancer to falter back a step. Issen slashed and stabbed with efficiency rather then skill, cutting gashes into the weakened servant.

Issen sidestepped a lightning fast stab for his head and twisted around to gain momentum as he sent a two handed slash at lancer neck.

Lancer grunted as he recieved the attack, not prepared enough for the reinforced strength behind it.

In this brief opening, a gleaming chokuto slashed Lancer from his right should to his left hip. The attack was deep, a fatal wound.

A fist slammed into Lancers face, Issen watched as his attack sent Lancer away before going through some hand seals.

'Fire Release: Dragon Fire!'

A stream of flames left his mouth and this time completely engulfed Lancer.

When the flames ended, the ground had been completely from the extreme heat the attack gave of. Lancer was standing there, completely defeated as his body began to dissapear in golden motes of light.

"Guh...You bastard, the Holy Grail, right in front of me---!" Lancer cursed at Issen before completely dissapearing.

Issen released a tired breath before using mystical palm jutsu to heal his wounds he received from Lancer, turning off his sharingan as he does so.

'Jeez, just how many times are these eyes of mine going to save me? Fighting humanoid opponents is much harder then monsters.' Issen thought tiredly.

There was many close call in the fight, especially when Lancer stabbed at Issen with lightning fast attacks. Thanks to the sharingan, he was barely able to move out of the way, getting small injuries instead of life threatening ones.

/0\

I body flickered over to Mashu, who was using her shield as a crutch. Looking over her body for any wounds, I completely missed her red face as she tried to shrink into herself.

"Mashu, stay still. I need to heal your wounds."

My hands were coated in a green light as I held them over Mashu's wounds, causing them to close up and dissapear. When I was all done, I smiled at the sheilder servant and patted her head.

"You did a great job there, Mashu."

"T-Thank you, Senpai. You fought splendidly as well..." Mashu said, a flush on her face.

I nodded my head at her before turning to Caster with a thankful smile.

"I appreciate you helping Mashu here. You really saved us there."

If only I was able to use sage mode, then I would have been able to take on both of the enemies. Though Mashu would have felt useless...

Dear heaven's, do we have to fight full on servants in the future? I really hope that we fight them in a less destroyed area where I can easily soak in the nature energy.

"Oh, good work. Just this much is a freebie, so don't worry about it." Caster waved me off before looking at Mashu with a smirk. "More importantly, I'm concerned for your physical well being. That asshole, Assassin probably kept chasing after you, right?"

Caster gave Mashu an acute stare. A very, very acute stare.

"Hyan...!" Mashu blushed heavily as she covered her chest.

"Oh, such a frail figure and yet a strong body! That's pretty handy." Caster's grin only widened. "I'm not sure what class you are, but with that strength maybe Saber? That can't be right, you don't have a sword."

The director walked up to me with an annoyed look on her face as she regarded Caster. "Uchiha, what do you think of this?"

"He's a pervert no doubt." I stated blandly, glaring at caster with my sharingan.

In the short time I've known her, Mashu has become a little sister figure for me, I won't allow some pervert to oggle her even if said pervert saved us!

I ignored how the director sweatdropped at my attitude and kept my glare fixed on the back of casters head as he continues to talk to Mashu.

"For now just keep an eye out. At the very least, he seems to be an honest Heroic Spirit." Roman advised.

"Oh, doesn't someone here speak fast? What now, nerd? Is that magic you're using to speak with us?" Caster turned towards where Roman was being projected.

"A pleasure to meet you, Caster. I am not sure what Heroic Spirit you might be, but I am humbled and honored to meet-"

"Ah, such introductions aren't necessary. I've grown tired of hearing them. Get straight to the point, you weakling. That's what you're good for, right?"

I snickered as caster dissed Roman, my previous hostile thoughts all but forgotten as my sharingan fades away.

"Uh…right then, I'll get straight to it. Weak… I got called weak during the first meeting again…" Roman muttered, depressed.

I walked over to Mashu and ignored Roman informing Caster of who we are and the current situation.

It's a bit hard to believe that I just fought and defeated past heroes, shadow versions or not. How the hell did my life get like this again?

...Oh yeah, when I died in a fire.

"…that's all for our, Chaldea's, situation." I snapped back to attention when I heard Roman finish up.

"Currently, Issen is conducting field research as a Master...and as a combatant apparently." Roman continued. "To confirm, you are the sole survivor of the Servants that fought in this city's Holy Grail War?"

"I didn't lose, at least. But our Holy Grail War was suddenly changed and became totally different." Caster crossed his arms. "I don't know much of the details. In one night the city was engulfed in flames, all the humans disappeared, and all that remained were Servants. First of all, restarting the Holy Grail War is that Saber's doing. She's getting more violent every day. Saber defeated Archer, Lancer, Rider, Berserker, and Assassin herself."

"Survival amongst the seven Servants… that's the rule of this city's Holy Grail War." Director murmured.

"So that means Caster won...no, more like survived. You must be pretty good at running away." I said bluntly.

BONK

"Ow!" I held my after Caster hit me with his staff. "Master abuse! Call the police!"

"Shut it! If I was summoned as a lancer then I would have been able to fight her."

"Whatever you say~"

I leaned back and avoided another hit to the head. Even though he's acting annoyed, I could see a smirk on his face.

"So caster was is the only servant alive..." Mashu said.

"Right. Also, the Servants that Saber defeated are mired in that black mist, as you've already seen. They're monsters, appearing like maggots, but they've started searching for something. So, while it is a pain in the ass, I've started searching myself. Until I can get that done, the Holy Grail War won't end." Caster ruffled his hair as he huffed in annoyance.

"The only remaining Servants are Saber and you…so if you defeat Saber..." Roman trailed off.

"Oh, this city's Holy Grail War will end, I suppose. Although I'm not sure if this situation will ever go back to how it was."

"Right, so I guess we have a true goal now!" I smiled.

"Yes!" Mashu nodded her head.

The director narrowed her eyes, however. "Is that it? You came to rescue us, but in the end it benefits you. You want to beat Saber. But you can't find a way to win by yourself so you want us to help…am I wrong?"

"...director, please don't antagonize our allies, we need help as well." I facepalmed, but was ignored.

"That's correct. Though that's such a harsh way of putting it, you know? At any rate-" Caster paused as a group of skeletons arrived. "Look, a customer's arrived."

"GuOOOOOOOO!!!!!"

"Hiiii….!" Director hastily retreated behind me.

A group of 10 or so skeletons arrived, most of them wielding swords other then two who have spears.

"Geez, these guys just keep coming and coming! We don't have nearly enough people for this!"

"I can fix that." I smiled as I put my hands into a familiar cross sign.

'Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu!'

POOF

Seven identical copies of myself formed in front of me.

"What the-!?"

"Hoh..."

Marie gasped from behind me while Caster let out a surprised breath, Mashu just stared with a slightly open mouth.

"Hahaha...am I going crazy? I swear I see multiple Issen's."

"""Nope, you aren't going crazy.""" All of the clones and I say at the same time.

Shadow clones are rather weak, seeing as they usually dissapear with one hit. I mainly use them for training, mundane tasks, assisting with jutsu, or small fry.

"Alright, you guys know what to do!"

"""Right!!"""

The clones flickered to the enemies, destroying them with some difficulty by using a weaker version of rasengan and their fists.

"Uchiha, explain!" Director demanded.

"No."

I leaned to the right as a gandr shot went passed my head...and hit the back of one of my clones, causing him to pop.

"""Hey! Watch where you're shooting!""" My clones complained.

"Haah...its just a clone technique. However, as you can see they are rather weak. One solid hit causes them to poof out of existence."

"Just a clone technique!? I've never even-!"

I was forced to listen to the director rant about the jutsu while the clones get rid of the skeletons. Caster helped by sending out some fireballs every now and then while Mashu seemed to be sulking for some reason.

"Oh, it seemed to finally calm down. I don't think this is a safe place to talk." Mashu spoke up after all the skeletons were down.

"M'bad. If I had been summoned as a Lancer, I'd have been able to finish small fries like Sabers with a single pierce. Maan, Caster really isn't for me. I'm helpless as a Caster in Fuyuki's Holy Grail War, I tell ya!"

"Yeah, I'm sure." I chuckled.

"Just one of the rules of thumb as a Servant, don't get caught up in things in a time period that isn't yours. We're ultimately cooperating as a weapon after all."

"I'd rather you not see yourself as a weapon." I muttered with a frown.

"Your goal is the investigation of this anomaly. Mine's the closure of this Grail War. Our interests match. Why don't we just merrily band together?" Caster offered, ignoring what I said.

"…That is a sound decision, But in that case, who will be your Master?" The director said, a hand on her chin.

"Well, that'd obviously be Isse over there. You don't have the aptitude to be a master, after all. Not to mention that he's a warrior. Though I must say, that ain't something you'd see everyday. The amount and quality of your magical circuits are top-notch, But of all things, you lack the ability to be a master. That some kinda curse?"

"Oh shush. That doesn't matter, does it!?" Director hissed at Caster before turning to me. "Issen, I'll leave that guy to you. Use him well as best you can."

Once again, she said 'used'. Is that hoe they see the heroes of the past? As mere weapons to be used?

"Well that's settled. It's a contract limited to this town, but let's get along." There was a small burning as my command seals lit up ever so slightly. "In that case, next thing's to check the objectives. What you people are searching for is without a doubt the Greater Grail."

"Greater Grail...? Never heard of it; what's that?" Roman asked.

"It's the true heart of this land. If there's an irregularity, it can't be anywhere but there. But well, the bastard Saber's in the Greater Grail. Along with the what's remaining of the polluted servants." Caster grumbled.

"The ones remaining are Berserker and Archer? How are they, those two. Strong?" Marie asked.

"The bastard Archer is, well, it'll be fine with me around. The main issue's Berserker." Caster stated with a serious expression. "That's a monster that even Saber'd have problems with. Well, so long as you don't come near him he won't attack, so ignoring him's also an option."

"I understand the situation. We will aim for the Greater Grail with Mr. Caster. Mr. Caster, can we trust you to lead the way?" Roman asked respectfully.

"Don't bother with 'Mr'. I'll show you the path. When we go in will be up to the lad." Caster pointed at me.

"Much appreciated. Let us resume the search then." Roman nodded.

And so the journey through the burning town of Fyuuki continues...