Abandon Archery, Embrace Magic

"This suit is a bit too tight for me," Mars expressed with a faint hint of indignation. He hated tight and restricting clothes, preferring baggy clothing or the go-to tracksuit.

Mars was in his room, his mind racing with an influx of emotions that would cause anyone trying to peer into his head to foam at the mouth. It was like a labyrinth, a puzzle that kept on confusing the occupants. Mars was never one for such intense thinking, but he was now going through the motions.

Mars stood in the tranquil silence, allowing his thoughts to flow freely in his mind and the warmth and security that his room brought to fill the air. He was entering another situation where he needed to be prepared for anything. His life was important for the sake of Humanity. This led to several dark and nefarious thoughts playing in his head.

On one hand, Mars was willing to sacrifice his Servants for the sake of his own, as if they were expendable, while the other side felt the need to keep them safe as well, no matter how strong they were. It was like having two wolves inside you, fighting for dominance. One represented immoral thoughts, while the other represented the heart, filled with good morals. The impasse was staggering.

Mars had 10 minutes before he needed to be at the coffins for Rayshift. His breathing was uneven, and his mind was worse. The stinging pain in the back of his mind was like someone trying to return. It wasn't the same as feeling Gilgamesh trying to talk in his own way but someone else. Mars couldn't detect their intentions, and that was what was scary.

And the vision with that lady and possibly Gilles De Rais. It didn't help that he was thinking about them. They weren't fake…they were too real. And the tone of the lady didn't help either. She was amused if anything else. It was like peering into a crystal ball and foretelling the future. Yet, she responded to his invisible presence as if he were standing right before her.

"Master."

Mars didn't respond to the call. He knew it was Atalanta. She seemed to take priority for his wellbeing more than anything else. He was thankful, but he didn't understand it. What were her intentions? He knew certain Heroic Spirits weren't truly heroic, only gaining the title after a huge event that impacted the world.

Medea is an example. She was neither a Hero nor an Anti-Hero. She was recognized due to her talents in Magecraft. It's possible she was even allowed due to her early life on the Argo, like with Atalanta and the other members.

Mars may have been kind to Medea, but that wasn't a sign that he trusted her. Quite the opposite. She was…too compliant. The reason he didn't take action was due to the feelings he felt for Atalanta. Otherwise, he wouldn't pay the Witch no mind.

Why was he so…paranoid?

"Ster…"

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"MASTER!"

"Huh?" Mars replied distantly as if he wasn't there.

"I've been calling you for two minutes. You've never been this distracted since I've known you. What's wrong?"

Mars didn't respond. His crimson eyes looked at Atalanta, but not on the surface, but beyond, as if trying to figure out her character with a deep, completive gaze. Atalanta usually felt his emotions through the bond, but it suddenly went static. No, it went reticent.

"It's nothing. Just a bit shaken. Everything is moving so fast but slow simultaneously," Mars moved past Atalanta with soft steps that echoed uncertainty. Atalanta was a Huntress. She could determine the size of a beast or a person by looking at how it walks and its footprints. Her Master's steps were…distorted.

This was the first time she felt the need to watch over her Master, unlike those funny moments when he did something stupid. This was another matter, one that shook her instincts to its core. She could tell something was going to mess with her Master's head. Perhaps it already took root?

<i>"I need to speak with that Doctor…if he even is one," </i>With her thoughts set in stone, Atalanta moved out of the lavish room with swiftness, her steps were silent, and her eyes gleamed with fierce determination.

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"Alright, we're all here! Mars generally understands how Rayshift works, so he won't need a lecture about it. It'll feel like you're being transported, which is what is happening, but a bit more than that. I won't go into detail about it, but just be sure to stay calm."

Mars, with his two Servants standing behind him to his left and right, looked at the coffins with a burning gaze. His thoughts finally simmered, and he could think rationally. He knows what needs to be done, and being unsure of himself will ruin everything. He could only hope to keep this bravado up until the end.

Mars and Gudako went into their respective coffins with nothing else of importance.

"Okay, Master and Gudako, how do you feel?" Da Vinci asked from behind the work desk, with various screens.

""Cramped,"" Was the reply of both Masters.

"I figured you two would say that," Da Vinci expressed with a smile. Her bright face illuminated a mysterious glow before her gaze sharpened, becoming a shadow in that light.

"Your judgment will be crucial to saving lives," Da Vinci began, her usual childish voice replaced with that of a stern professor.

"Now, let's begin! Fujimaru, Mars, Mashu, this will be your first official Rayshift process. It's going to be weird since you're expecting this to happen. I wish you all the best of luck!"

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"Hmm, this Grail War is different."

In the middle of a verdant forest, a feminine figure with bright blonde hair in a thickly braided style wandered, her right hand preoccupied with a flag, and her greenish blue eyes sparkled with a luminous light. It looked like a shining diamond.

"AHHHH!"

The flagbearer heard the scream but couldn't place the direction. It was like it was everywhere.

"WATCH OUT! WATCH OUT!"

The girl looked up, and her pupils shrank to tiny proportions as she saw a figure falling down towards her, and…like most girls…

"KYAAAA!"

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All Mars could remember was crashing into a gorgeous blonde-haired lady, and then the lights went out. After what felt like a long time, he finally began to stir, yet he felt like he was on a cloud. The blissful feeling enraptured him, clinging to him like a skintight skin. He moved his head, and a sudden beating pounded against his ear.

Then the sound of a breathy moan entered his other ear. Mars lifted his head and realized the position he was in. His crimson eyes bore into opposing violet, a beautiful shade of amethys. Mars didn't speak, and so did the mysterious girl that he was on top of. They just sat there in silence, just staring into each other's eyes. Usually, red and blue would be captured by the other, but who to say red and purple can't?

"Forgive my...descent," Mars finally spoke for the first time, moving his body to avoid any other misconceptions about his character. Mars also realized his way of talking was more...refined.

"It's...okay!" The lady was still flustered, having not left her position. Her heart raced for a bit longer before her breath evened itself.

"You're a servant, yes? What class are you?" Mars's words seemed commanding, but it was anything but. It was laced with curiosity and reluctance.

"I see, so you're a participant in the Grail War?"

"I'm afraid this isn't a Grail War. This is a Singularity. I was sent here to dispel it. Anyway, I should introduce myself. I'm Mars Goldwyn, and I'm...a Caster? Wait, why am I a Caster? I should be Archer," Mars stood up frantically. His movements seemed fluid despite his panicked state.

"First, calm down," The lady had to force Mars to sit on the rather soft patch of grass. To any onlookers, this would look like two couples enjoying the freshness of the forest.

"Right, sorry."

The lady sighed. "My name is Jeanne D'Arc, and I'm a Ruler-Class Servant. My job is to ensure the Grail War runs smoothly, but upon closer inspection, I can tell everything is in disarray."

Mars nodded. The calming presence Jeanne gave him was enough for him to think straight. His paranoia was still there, and the fact he was a Caster now made things a bit harder to grasp. He felt a bit weaker, but not too significantly. Mars closed his eyes, and a large, bronze-gold tablet book appeared in his right hand. Despite its size, Mars could carry it with one hand.

"I have to ask, even though my powers are sealed from the looks of it, you're not a true Servant, yes? I can feel another presence."

Mars nodded his head, his crimson eyes locked onto Jeanne's once again. "I'm a Demi-Servant. Since you're a Ruler, I have no reason to lie. I'm borrowing the powers of King Gilgamesh. However, I was an Archer before this, and now I'm a Caster. Perhaps he changed my Saint Graph?"

Jeanne found this predicament more confusing. She had never once heard of such a thing as a Demi-Servant, yet she could tell the aura being exuded from Mars wasn't that of ill-intent but of a sagely, almost luminous radiance, as if he was...God?

"Unfortunately, I have no clue. I recently died, and yet I'm right back in France a day after my death."

Mars hummed as he took in the information. That's why her powers were sealed. She was a fresh Servant. It was possible that she wasn't given the necessary time to utilize her arsenal fully. It was like Mashu and her dilemma.

"Well, we can form a contract in the meantime. I happen to be both a Master and a Demi-Servant...I guess that makes me a Ruler, right? I know about your class and how you're equipped with Command Seals."

Jeanne blinked, her eyes reflecting confusion. "You're a Master as well? So that means you came here with Servants of your own? And judging from your..earlier descent, you've been separated?"

"That's correct. My Servants are strong. They'll handle a little time away from me. I'm also a Demi-Servant, so I'm not entirely useless."

Jeanne felt her face heat up in embarrassment, mostly because she knew she would be a liability in the coming fights due to her full potential being locked. Yet, Mars's charisma was enough for her confidence to override such notions.

"Very well, I am in your care, Master!"

Mars sighed. "Please, call me Mars, Sir Mars, or whatever you Saints call your higher-ups."

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<i>AN: This was fun to write. Honestly, I can tell no one expected the sudden change for Mars. Even me, the writer, was surprised. From this point, he'll be a bit different basically, like how Caster Gilgamesh is a more "mature" version of Gilgamesh, yet retaining a similar character to his Archer version. I was going to start with Caster Gilgamesh, so now is a better time than any. </i>

<i>As for the Volume name, Mars and Jalter will have some interactions, so this Singularity may be a bit long. </i>

<i>Also, since I hit 34 Power Stones last week, you're all getting 7 chapters this week instead of the usual 4 or 5. As a thanks for the support on the story. </i>

<i>If you got any questions, feel free to ask! I'll see you all next chapter.</i>