Chapter 111: Fate/Apocrypha

Chapter 111: Fate/Apocrypha

~Third POV~

[Trifas, Fortress of Millenia]

In another worldline events occurring differently than in Fate/Zero relied on another series of events unfolding. Events unfolding in another world in another parallel world line…

The setting of Fate/Apocrypha is a parallel world to Fate/Stay Night and its prequel Fate/Zero where the Greater Grail was removed from Fuyuki after the Third Holy Grail War and disappeared for many years.

Around the 2000s, around the same time as the Fifth Holy Grail War would have happened, the group that plundered the Grail, Yggdmillennia, openly declared their secession from the Mage's Association and that they had the Grail.

This marks the start of the Great Holy Grail War in Trifas, featuring two different factions, the Black Faction represented by Yggdmillenia, and the Red Faction, whose members were sent by the Mage's Association except one from the Church. The Grail itself also summons Ruler to act as a mediator of the Holy Grail War.

In the Third Holy Grail War, which was held shortly before the outbreak of World War II, several nations intervened, perhaps influenced by the trend of the times. Taking advantage of the abnormal situation, information on the system of the Holy Grail War was spread to magi throughout the world.

Amidst their surprise, the Magi began to try copying the Fuyuki Holy Grail War. Such was a testament to how exceptional the system built by the three founding families, Tohsaka, Einzbern, and Makiri, was as a ritual.

But for the past 60 years, the Holy Grail War in Fuyuki has not been held. Currently, variations of the Holy Grail Ritual are being held everywhere throughout the world. Nearly all are small-scale and summon 5 Heroic Spirits at most.

Even when the ritual is completed none of them ever achieved a true omnipotent wishing device…

Soon enough a man spoke that looked like a man in his late twenties, not showing a single wrinkle speaking to his Servant looking over Trifas on top of a balcony in the Fortress of Millennia, "- That's only natural. There's no way any of them could have succeeded. After all, the Magi conducting variations of the Holy Grail Ritual lack the 'core' of the Fuyuki Holy Grail War."

Taking a sip of his wine cup revealed to be Lancer of Black Vlad III, Lord Impaler responds to Darnic Prestone Yggdmillennia in an amused tone, "And that is?"

Darnic grinned ever slowly as he responded in a proud tone of his accomplishment, "The Greater Grail. In the Fuyuki Holy Grail War, the core of the ritual, the Greater Grail, is embedded into the leylines of the land. This allows prana to be infused into the Lesser Grail, which the participants of the Holy Grail war compete for. The Magic who attempted to copy the holy grail war can only prepare the lesser grail. Truly what a bunch of worthless fakers."

Taking a sip Lancer of Black asked in a curious tone raising his cup of wine, "This Holy Grail War is different then?"

Darnic grinned bowing lightly to Vlad in a respectful tone towards his servant reminiscing of his time during the Third Holy Grail War, "Of course, my liege. There is a Greater Grail in this land. The Greater Grail that I stole from Fuyuki 60 years ago. I participated as a Master in the Third Fuyuki Holy Grail War. The Holy Grail War itself ended undecided due to the Lesser Grail being lost partway through, however, I learned of the Greater Grail's existence by chance, and stole it."

Darnic almost chuckled at how easy it was at the time for him to use the Nazi he was allied with at the time and happily spoke, "I borrowed the organizational power of Nazi Germany which I was affiliated with at the time. Then using the Chaos of World War II, I hid the Greater Grail from the Nazis as well and connected it to the Leylines of this land. Trifas, the Stronghold of Yggdmillennia."

*Rrrrr*

Darnic went ahead receiving a call from his contacts Dean of the summoning department, Belfegan about some topics of surrendering only to fail as Belfegan spoke, "You'll regret this, Darnic Prestone Yggdmillenia!"

Darnic unphased simply grinned replying to his former ally at the other end of the phone in a proud tone, "Let's each do our best so that doesn't happen. To either of us, that is."

Vlad took interest in the telephone amazed bearing a grin on his face raising his cup and squinting at his master, "So that is what you call a telephone. How interesting. Quite it's convenient and it's probably made the world more complicated."

Darnic nodded as he poured Vald more wine into his cup speaking to his Servant in a neutral tone, "The call just now seems to have been the final warning from the organization I once belonged to, the Mage's Association. To get rid of our rebel clan Yggdmillenia, cleaners, and Magic specialized in combat have invaded this land. Yes, they are already trespassing on your domain, my liege therefore – "

However, before Dranic could continue speaking Vlad interrupted him by raising his hand with an annoyed expression as he said, "You're being too longwinded. Magus. Bear your position in mind. I am a Servant. Give me an order, Master."

Dranic smiled as he gave his Servant an order with a proud expression and said, "Get rid of the invaders, Lancer."

Standing up preparing to leave setting down his cup of wine responded, "Understood."

Listening to the sounds of his door knocking the 6 people came inside each a member of the Yggdmillennia clan bearing each a set of Command Seals being Masters.

Gordes Musik Yggdmillennia comes from the Musik house, which once boasted a skill with alchemy that rivaled the Einzberns. Their thaumaturgical blood had eventually decayed enough that they were forced to fold themselves into the ranks of Yggdmillennia.

Fiore Forvedge Yggdmillennia is a young woman who was born into the Forvedge family. She is the older sister of Caules. She later inherited the position of head of the Forvedge family and earned a high-ranking position within Yggdmillennia.

Celenike Icecolle Yggdmillennia a sadistic female Magus who runs a business killing others with curses. The only Yggdmillennia scion to place her benefit above that of the clan. Celenike also had the most vindictive personality among the Yggdmillennia clan.

Roche Frain Yggdmillennia is thirteen years old, and already famous in the field of 'Doll Engineering'. Spends all his time building golems in a workshop in the city for the Holy Grail War.

Caules Forvedge Yggdmillennia Fiore's little brother. He is immature and childish for his age. Caules is the eldest son of the Forvedge family who was born as a spare successor for the family and as a caretaker to his older sister.

Each of them arrived as Darnic spoke to all of them with a happy expression extending his hand out towards them, "Thank you all for coming. Masters bearing the Command Seals of our Yggdmillenia Clan. Henceforth you're all going to throw yourselves into a harsh battle as Masters. But before that, have a look at a fragment of the power possessed by the Servant you will summon!"

*Snap*

Snapping his fingers 6 screens opened wide using Magecraft viewing the battle of Lancer of Black against the Cleaners sent by the Mage Association being wiped out allowing one to live to initiate the Apocrypha protocol as each member of the Yggdmillenia Clan was awed by the strength shown.

Each having their reason to fight each bringing a catalyst to summon a Servant of their choice for the Holy Grail War with Vlad watching in an amused tone, "So they've arrived."

Darnic responds watching the spectacle behind his Servant with a grin, "Yes. They are the Heroic Spirits who will serve under you, my liege. Caster. Archer. Berserker. Rider. Saber."

Soon each Servant spoke in their tones to their Masters they pledged to serve in this Holy Grail War, "Per the summons, we represent ourselves, the Servants of Black. Our fates shall be with Yggdmillenia, and our swords shall be your swords."

Darnic Yggdmillenia smiles at this thinking they are unstoppable in their goals to have their wish granted completing the Holy Grail War as he thinks in a victorious tone, 'Yes… nothing will stop us. No one will be in any trouble. We shall win the Holy Grail War this is our revolution!'

The stage has been set with the Yggdmillenia believing they have won. If only a certain troll hasn't sent a special Gamer to deal with their issues…

/////

[England HQ of the Mage's Association, the Clock Tower]

Stumbling through the halls of the corridor Mash fully prepared walks through observing the students giving him weird gazes and mumbling as he enters through the door of the summoning department, "Geez, the people here are rude. Are you the one that old troll bastard sent me here for? The Dean of the Summoning Department?"

Dean of the Summoning Department Rocco Belfeban spoke leaning back with a bead of sweat trickling down his face, "That's your fault. But then again, they would be wary of the apprentice of the Wizard Marshal such as you Mash Bastion sir. Besides wasn't it supposed to be the Necromancer coming?"

Mash revealing his new set of Command Seals replied with a neutral expression on his face to the Dean, "Yeah… but my teacher gave him a better offer getting rid of his supposed curse of the bloodline. After curing him the payment was his Command Seals. Sigh…"

He sighed as Kischur Zelretch Schweinorg already sent him to this world in advance once he prepared a few things making it official in this Worldline that the apprentice of the infamous student crusher Wizard Marshal to avoid any political drama in the Type-Moon world to assist him in his request.

Every Mage is generally scared of the Wizard Marshal for a very good reason. And for the constant breaking or crippling of the Clock Tower students now and again when he comes around.

Returning to observing the room Mash couldn't help but raise an eyebrow at the items here with a genuine curious tone, "You can find anything in this place, huh?"

Belfeban could only sigh at the Wizard Marshal student before asking in a serious tone, "Sigh… Now then, you've heard the news, yes?"

Mash shrugged taking a seat listening to what he had to do in a neutral tone, "The basics, yeah."

Belfeban nodded as he began to explain the report of Mash's mission, which he needed to do by Zelretch's request, "The Yggdmillenia Clan has broken off relations with the Mage's Association, and they used a Servant to annihilate the 50 Magi that were sent to subjugate them. Currently, the Yggdmillennia is holed up in the Fortress of Millennia. The oldest building in Trifas, a town on the outskirts of the Transylvania Region in Romania."

Mash nodded his head as he opened his mouth gazing at the numerous catalysts to summon Servants, "I'll say this now the old man said I needed a Catalyst to summon a Servant. He said you'll hook me up right?"

Belfeban nodded as he explained to Mash in greater detail of the War with an annoyed sigh escaping the Dean's mouth, "Yeah. The Greater Grail can perform acts of auxiliary aid in the Holy Grail War, such as redistributing command spells. It's designed so that when 7 Servants are joined together as a united force, its back system will activate as a countermeasure. The system summons another 7 Servants to oppose this united force. The surviving Magus from the Subjugation group managed to activate that system."

Mash mentally snorted at that information doubting it completely as he thought, 'More like arrogant assholes wishing to duke this out. That's probably most likely considering Magus… sounds about right.'

Listening to the Dean's explanation Mash had to listen because he doesn't much about the Fate/Apocrypha world or plot, "Yggmillenia has 7 Masters and 7 Servants. And we are also gathering 7 Masters and 7 Servants. These masters shall fight and win against Yggdmillenia."

Nodding in understanding Mash spoke curiously raising an eyebrow at the dean, "What will happen to the Greater Grail if our side wins?"

The Dean smiled crookedly his eyes showing a glint of greed in them clasping his hands together, "Naturally we will take it for safekeeping. Though there's no way to know whether the surviving Magi of our side will be able to remain calm and composed when faced with a method to easily reach the Root."

Mash only had one thought when watching the person in front of him, 'They're idiots. I'm so glad I'm not like them.'