Noble Phantasm Training [1]

Mars and the Chaldean Group decided to venture into a hospitable building to keep out of the eyes of the other Servants. If Mars is correct, he defeated Lancer Medusa, who was in an altered state. The other Servants are most likely like her in some shape. The only one who worried Mars the most was Saber. Sabers were highly sought after due to being reliable and mighty. This Saber Servant must be extremely powerful to defeat all the other Servants.

It was clear Saber was altered too, but to what extent? Mars was an Archer, yet, despite having an advantage over the Saber-Class, he knew having a class matchup didn't dictate who'll win or who'll lose.

Mars's crimson eyes reached the trio of females, Olga, Gudako, and Mash. They were all strong in their own way, but Olga was more or less a liability. Also, something seemed off about her, it was like she didn't exist, but she was right before him. Mars disregarded that for the time being and looked at his Master, Gudako. She was a novice Master, and her rushed contract with Mash seemed to have a play with Mash's performance.

Mars felt confident in himself, with no hesitation in his thoughts. His only thoughts were to secure victory and ensure his Master was safe. However, Mars never contracted with Gudako like Mash, so how is he sustaining himself? Was it the Servant he made a deal with playing a role here? Or was Mars a special case where he didn't need a Master to fight? That certainly seemed like the case.

"That's odd…"

Mars was snapped out of his speculations as he heard Director Olga speak. Her tone was confused, and her posture resembled a frightened prey item. Right now, Olga seemed more like a meek child than Chaldea's standup, strict director. It did give Mars a sense of weirdness to see her like that again. Mars and Olga were on good terms, but calling each other friends would be a stretch since Mars was lazy.

"What is it, Director?" Mars spoke calmly, given the dire situation they find themselves in.

"Mash, do you know how to use your Noble Phantasm?"

Oh! That might've been the reason why Mash seemed downtrodden a while ago. Mars thought it was because she couldn't help in his fight with Medusa-Alter. Mars remained silent as he patiently waited to hear Mash's answer.

"I can't activate it," Mash spoke drearily, her eyes dulling in response. "The Heroic Spirit couldn't tell me their name before they disappeared, so I've been trying to find out what it is internally."

Olga felt her nerves heat as she pinched the bridge of her nose. She couldn't believe what was happening. Her life has always been terrible, with everything being rushed. She was forced to grow up quickly, and despite her young age, she carries herself like an aristocrat. She was clearly used to such problems, but not on this scale.

"Mash!" The Chaldeans all looked to see Mars. His eyes gleamed intensely, making his red eyes glow. "We will begin your training!"

"Eh?"

Mars folded his arms across his chest as he straightened his body. The air around him changed, giving him an imposing aura that matched the intensity in his stare. The others were shocked, and if you closely enough, you could see another figure behind him clapping his hands while hysterically laughing.

"I won't have you wallowing in despair. We got enough of that in this forsaken singularity!" Mars spoke diligently, but his tone was soft like a cushion. "If I'm correct. A Noble Phantasm can be gained by battle. So, we will be training in a brutal fashion so you can unlock your Noble Phantasm."

"That could work. It may come to you in the middle of a fight," Olga agreed hastily. "However, I'm worried about the other Servants. If you do battle, they'll be attracted to it and try to kill us."

"She's right, Mars, if that happens…"

"Master! I won't have you second-guessing yourself either."

"Huh?"

"I can read it on your face. You're ready to give up, yes? Sure, you can do that and leave the future to a fate worse than this singularity. I won't stop you from that," Mars began as he closed his eyes. A brief silence washed over the group. "As your Servant, I listen to you. That much is true. However, I won't allow myself to follow a broken person! I could care less if you're not fit to be a Master Candidate. You will get up and harden your resolve! We have a duty and will see it to the end."

The silence thickened as Mars's brutal yet encouraging words seemed to stab into Gudako's brain. Her eyes flickered with uncertainty as she replayed Mars's words within her. His words were bitter and somewhat degrading. However, they were nothing but the cold truth. If she gives up here, then what? Humanity will perish without a fight.

"Are you back with us, kid?"

"I'm not a kid! I have a name!" Gudako's rebuttal was the sign that her strength rekindled and her doubts vanished. Even Olga was slightly taken aback by the words that Mars spoke. She knew of him as nothing more than a sloth, like Roman, but now he was shining, eclipsing her previous understandings of the man she had known for a while.

She wanted this for Chaldea, to find suitable people to usher forth a brighter future. Olga regained her composure, and a faint smile appeared. Everyone noticed the smile and felt happy that Olga seemed to have found value in the words.

Mash was in the same boat. Those words were what she needed to cast aside her doubt. Her stunning lavender-colored eyes looked at Mars, which could be seen as her answer to the training suggestion Mars brought up.

"It seems we all are ready to face this singularity head-on. Let's go train, Mash! I also need to figure out strategies for using my arsenal."

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The group all stood in an empty parking lot, the perfect place to train. The toxic smog in the air irritated the group, but it'll be like this until they complete this singularity. Mars needed Mash in a tiptop shape. He could not handle this alone. He knew the difference between arrogance and pride. He was not going to die early for having either one!

Mash stood ready, her grip on the shield's handle tightened, and her eyes steeled, becoming sharp like a hawk on the hunt. Mars stood on a red carpet he summoned. This would teach Mash how to handle airborne enemies and for Mars to be on the lookout for enemies. His eyesight has enhanced somehow, so he should be able to locate an enemy.

With shovels in hand, Olga and Gudako stood safely from the group, courtesy of Mars's paranoia. They were shocked to see shovels in the mysterious portals of shining gold, they thought other weapons like swords, spears, and axes were the only ones, but Mars surprised them again. Although, they could go without the fancy gold and blue decor. Whoever the Heroic Spirit was, they had a proactive obsession with gold.

And it was beginning to affect Mars slightly as well.

"Ready, Mash?"

"Yes!" Mash replied with conviction.

Mars blinked before his face went rigid. "Let's begin!"

Mars wasted no time. The luminous gold portals opened behind him, making his appearance in the air seem like that of a god descending to the battlefield. An assortment of weapons were peeking through the portals, their metal shining as they were aimed at the Shielder. Despite the opposing figure the weapons gave Mars, Mash stood her ground steadily without feeling the clutches of nervousness.

Mars didn't voice it, but he was impressed with the borderline emotionless gaze that Mash seemed to adopt. It must be a way for her to deal with this type of situation. Mars quickly shot a glance at Olga and Gudako, but of them were worried about this fight and the lingering dangers it'll attract, but they needed to utilize Mash's Noble Phantasm before anything else!

Mars cracked his neck before his eyes snapped, mentally commanding his weapons to shoot at Mash. The way the weapons rained down, it looked like a heavy rainstorm of metal, and Mash was caught in the middle. Mash retaliated with a strident yell of rebellion. She was going to prove herself. She may wield a shield, but it is a cross-shaped shield. She'll use the four edges to counterattack.

Mash deftly lifted the shield. The intense and reverberating sound of steel upon steel could be heard for miles. Mash began to move before accelerating with high speed as she felt the first wave end. She would utilize the brief chargeup period of Mars's next wave to attack right now. She scanned the area before jumping on a railing, her eyes were set on Mars's crimson eyes, and they both understood what needed to be done.

Mars didn't have time to call up a bunch of portals like before, so he opted to open a single portal and grab the random weapon. He took a second to gloss over it. It was a finely crafted double-edged Warhammer with a blueish-white color. There was nothing special besides the sharp spikes on both edges. It was a weapon that Mars was fond of. It brought a sense of existence within him, making him feel weird and at ease.

Mars gripped the Warhammer with both hands and swung down at Mash's incoming shield, ignoring his thoughts on his weaponry. Mars remained perched on his red carpet, but his balance broke as Mash pushed through his Warhammer strike. Mars felt a ripple course through him, the side effect of metal clashing against one another. Mash saw the opportunity to strike and bashed the shield into Mars's body at full force. Thanks to being a Demi-Servant, some pain was mediated as Mars crashed into the black, scarred ground. The red carpet Mars flew on had a life of its own as it flew down to its location.

Mash landed on the ground softly, but the sound of her armored boots mixed in the air. Mash felt more confident in herself, but that was short-lived as another wave of weapons shot at her. She hastily brought up her shield, protecting her body, but she didn't consider this a setup.

Mash could feel an incandescent glow on her form, and she peeked over her shield to see more portals than before. The portals bore a heavy weight on Mash, and her insides felt like they were plunged into a bottomless pit. Her mind went through a swirl of thoughts on how to counter this. She knew there was no escaping this wave, it seemed Mars was gunning for a finisher, but with that amount, he was sure to hurl some at Gudako and Olga!

Wait! Was that what he wanted?

"Mars! Isn't this overboard? I know we must bring out my Noble Phantasm, but not like this!"

Mars appeared with his left hand raised and a single finger pointing up, his eyes had a disturbingly emotionless glint to them, and Mash was confused.

"That's the point. You must be ready to fight those willing to undermine chivalry in a fight. This is not a noble fight, Mash. When on the field, you must be prepared for every outcome. I'm exploiting that and teaching you. If you fail here, Master and Olga will die!"

The words Mars spewed were venomous, drenched in deep impassion that Mash felt like she was fighting an entirely different person. No! She was, this may be training, but Mars made it clear he would not hesitate on any actions to bring forth her Noble Phantasm.

Mash closed her eyes and inhaled, the air seemingly clear of filthy smoke and particles that seemed everywhere in this singularity.

Mars waited patiently for Mash's eyes to open, and when she did.

Her eyes were that of someone whose conviction was so fortified nothing would pierce through it, not even <i>that!</i>