Chapter 106: Battle for the Strong (1)

Chapter 106: Battle for the Strong (1)

~Third POV~

[Nighttime, Einzbern Castle]

Night had fallen, signaling a new battle in the Holy Grail War. Everyone within the building of the castle Kiritsugu Emiya, Irisviel von Einzbern, Maiya Hisau, and Artoria Pendragon were in a meeting room within the Einzbern Castle of Fuyuki City to come up with a strategy for tonight.

The Magus Killer started with the meeting thinking of contingency plans with a stern expression, saying in a serious tone, "We should face Caster or Berserker first. Caster has a habit of sneaking around and attacking when you least expect it but is attracted to Saber. Even if Berserker or Caster turns out to be formidable, their masters are another matter. Maiyu or I can snipe them while you tackle one of the Servants, Iri."

Irisviel remained silent as Saber voiced her opinion on the matter sternly, suggesting her idea, "Master, should we not instead ally with Rider to face Berserker and Caster?!"

Irisviel nodded with the agreement of an alliance as she agreed with Saber's suggestion in a cautious tone, "Saber has a point, Kiritsugu. Caster is a bigger threat and with Berserker would be the end of us. Working with Rider would be beneficial in dealing with them. We can also get Rider to reveal more of his abilities during our alliance to work out a counter for him."

Kiritsugu ignored Saber as usual and spoke to his wife instead crossing his arms together in a stoic tone, "That may be so Iri, but if we deal with the Servant alone, we have a chance. With them coming to us we have a home-field advantage. If we take out one, then we have a fighting chance."

Saber grits her teeth voicing her complaint as her Master gives her a side-eyed glance of her outburst, "So you suspect if we just hide within the castle like cowards, both will come to us! Master, I know Caster's type; they won't come to us but do everything they can to draw us out on their terms like the letter they sent! They are vicious snakes and providing them more time to prepare will be our downfall!"

The Magus Killer tuned out his Servant advice ordering Maiya in a stoic tone gaining her attention, "Maiya, see if you can get eyes above to see the Master of Berserker or Caster and prepare yourself."

She saluted in a stoic tone, "Yes, sir."

Saber grits her teeth as she tries to reason with her Master falling on deaf ears, "Master, that is not enough. His evil deeds must be punished. We must take the fight to them before they do any more damage to us!"

Kiritsugu ignored Saber's words much to her frustration as he spoke to his wife in a stoic tone, "…Iri, do you have a handle on this forest's Bounded Fields?"

Irisviel nodded her head with Saber frowning and angry with yesterday's events. Her Master desired to dispose of a Master by collapsing an entire building using his dishonorable yet effective methods.

Saber suppressed a snarl from appearing on her face. Her Master wouldn't have her fight against two opponents voicing her words, "Master… to what depths do you intend to sink?! You insult all Heroic Spirits! Why do you not allow me to fight? Do you not trust me, your own Servant?!"

Kiritsugu only gazed at Saber and was about to speak only for Irisviel's eyes to open widely alerting their group, "Kiritsugu!"

Before the Magus Killer could answer, Irisviel perked up with a surprised glance before it turned very serious responding, "An enemy attack?"

Irisviel nodded as she gazed at the crystal ball alerting the others in a serious tone, "Most likely. The Bounded Field has been penetrated."

Kiritsugu nodded as he began to bark out orders nodding at his command in a serious tone, "I see. Use the remote viewing crystal ball. Maiya, we'll mount an all-out defense."

His assistant, who was standing beside him and had been silent nodded her head dutifully. Irisviel quickly found a crystal ball to evaluate the perimeter inside of the Bounded Field.

She concentrated until she found the breach. Everyone was alerted by her gasp responding, "That's…"

Everyone looked at the crystal ball. They saw a large force of Undead Dragon Tooth Warriors approaching them with Caster, and her Master marching towards them. They were marching through the forest as Irisviel explains, "Just over 2 kilometers northeast of the castle. They are heading deeper into the barrier, we could activate area effects which would help our side in the fight…"

*Flik*

However, Irisviel immediately noticed Medea gazing her eyes at her through the crystal ball as Irisviel thought in shock, 'She can perceive that I'm scrying them…?!'

Medea soon announces to the group as they make their charge toward the group of the castle in a confident tone, "Best prepare your defenses because this Holy Grail War will end here and now. By my Master command, it's time to end this farce of a war."

Saber didn't waste any time and exited the room. Kiritsugu frowned seeing them leave was left with no choice but to fight.

*VOOOOM*

/////

*Whsh*

*Whsh*

*Whsh*

Saber rushed valiantly through the woods as the defenses of the Castle outside the forest activated. Multiple strings given life and fog began to emerge from the forest as Saber soon stopped witnessing the battle.

Saber's eyes widened seeing a large skeletal dragon where Caster and Mash are perched with Saber readying her weapon in hand and charging forward destroying the undead dragon tooth warriors in her wake.

*SHINNG*

*BAM*

Destroying the forces of their group Saber growls seeing those destroyed by her were soon regenerating again much to her frustration thought, 'I must have slashed 50 of them by now… but there's no sign their numbers are decreasing…!'

*Whoosh*

Moving back away from the Undead Dragon Warriors the skeletal dragon etches closer to the castle as Saber witnessed the undead regenerating thought in a frustrated tone, '…I see. It seems this undead can regenerate indefinitely. There's no point in counting how many I've slain… rather it will come down to whose Mana will last the longest. Which is something we can't have is a battle of attrition… damn it!'

All Saber could do was break the Undead with all her might as the number continued to grow much to her frustration. Till… the sound of lightning rang throughout the sky.

*BOOOM*

The lightning was followed by a laugh belonging to Rider with his chariot destroying the remaining Undead Dragon Warriors grinning at this much to Caster frowning with him announcing, "Hello again Caster and Master of Caster! We meet again on the battlefield and this time came to assist Saber!"

Mash raised an eyebrow at this but with a bemused smile asked purely for curiosity's sake in a curious tone, "Really? And you intend to face us depleted while Saber has a chance? What a noble sacrifice Rider. "

Rider with Waver next to him spoke out loud using his command seals Mash nodded in approval, "By the power of my Command Seals, I order you, Iskander, King of Conquerors, to win! With all your power, defeat your opponents! Retrieve the Grail and do not return otherwise!"

Mash smirked sensing Rider's power skyrocketed viewing his popup screen clapping for him in respect, "Amazing Rider! You have one hell of a Master!"

Rider grinned thanking him in return laughing much to Waver's embarrassment producing his sword and readying for battle, "Hahaha! Why thanks, young warrior! But can you promise me that my vassal Waver will be unharmed if I were to perish?"

Mash nodded his head giving his word much to Iskander's relief before expressing a determined grin on his face, "Good. Then it shall be our final battle Mash Bastion and Medea! Come, gather around again, fearless fighters who all dreamed of reaching the farthest land. The marks we make here will be our glory! [Ionioi Hetariroi]!"

Just then Rider released a massive burst of magical energy that engulfed the entire area with Saber managing to avoid being captured inside shocked by what she witnessed. The forces of the undead and the large undead dragon were nowhere to be seen.

Mash and Medea were momentarily blinded by the outburst of energy. In a flash of light, they were gone from their plane of reality leaving behind a shocked Saber muttering in pure shock, "A [Reality Marble]…?!"

However, Saber only had a moment before her eyes widened at another figure dropping down from the sky and yelling her name, "AR… THUR…!!!"

*BOOOOM*

Crashlanding down with his blade drawn Saber's eyes widen in recognition of the blade, "… No… Lancelot…"

/////

[Earlier Fuyuki City, Ryuudou Temple]

Kariya saw a surge of mana and looked at the area where the Einzbern Castle was located. There was a fight and the unexpected arrival of Rider interfering just as Mash and Medea planned to draw him out after observing the city using a crystal view ball of Caster's creation.

Kariya sighed but smiled patting Sakura's head asleep with Berserker listening, "I guess that's the signal… Berserker."

At his command, the Knight materialized at his side. Kariya looked at his right hand before letting out a tired sigh, "… This might be the last time we see each other alive."

Berserker grunted in agreement. He didn't sound particularly pleased about that fact, but perhaps it was Kariya's delusion.

Raising his hand as the two Command Seals on his hand shined brilliantly gave Berserker the boost of power he needed to face Saber in a determined tone, "By my Second Command Seal, I hereby order you. Berserker, when you cross blades with Saber, I command you to come out victorious, no matter what the cost! By my Third Command Seal, come back victorious unleashing all your power to win!"

The outline of Berserker's body began to glow with the power of the final Command Seal. Nothing was bounding the Servant to the contract anymore, aside from the final order as Kariya thanked his Servant in a thankful tone, "Well, I don't know if this is worth anything but…. Thank you for everything."

The shroud enveloping the Knight vanished, revealing his true appearance. A black blade appeared in his right hand as Kariya twitched feeling the drain just from the sword materializing with the Homunculi system he was assigned to making Berserker summon that blade freely draining the Mana from the Homunculi System.

Berserker raised the sword and stabbed it on the ground, kneeling in front of Kariya as a sign of respect, as a Knight would kneel to his king, "…Fare… well… Mas… Ter…"

Kariya's eyes widened slightly but smiled with acknowledgment glint in his eyes, "Yeah. Good luck… my friend."

The Knight nodded and stood up as the [Madness Enhancement] activated. Jumping towards the battle ahead with a roar to scare the heavens Berserker sets off toward his final battle to finally do battle with Saber.