Vol 2. Chapter 19. Plans and Planning

"I feel like a man on death row," I dryly replied while looking over the shinai rack.

"Nonsense, this is training, no more, no less. There is no need for such facetious remarks," Artoria calmly retorted from beside me.

Glancing to the side, I met her somewhat expectant gaze. "You do know that I am no swordsman," I explained, only for the King of Knights to frown slightly.

"I did not," she said with mild disapproval, before turning to look over at Mom.

Mom looked a tad cowed, but stood her ground. "I was training him in spearmanship, as to give him a proper foundation for the lance," she explained, before questioningly glancing at Vivian, and then back to me.

"I know about it," Vivian quickly chimed in, causing both Saber and Mom to look at her with mild surprise.

The action made her roll her eyes. "Please," she said while giving a dismissive flick of her wrist. "The container it originally was in cracked open, and it fell out thanks to a lucky hit of some random Apostle," she explained, causing a contemplative hum from Mom, and a confused look from Artoria.

"I was not always capable of summoning it at will, as it was only a recent thing, so I used a capsule to keep it discreetly on me," I quickly explained, causing the short king to look back at me and give a nod of understanding.

"Back on topic," I said aloud, as I looked back to the rack of practice swords, and idly picked up a shinai.

"I'm probably going to end up as a disappointing sparring partner at best, or an absolute fool at worst," I said, while giving the shinai a few practice swings.

Saber gave a small hum, before sighing. "Then this shall serve as a good starting point for your mastery of the sword," she stated matter of factly.

So much for weaseling my way out of this…

Reluctantly, I moved to the center of the training room, feeling the weight of the shinai in my hand.

Artoria followed closely behind, her expression composed yet attentive.

"Stand as you normally would with a spear," Artoria instructed, motioning for me to assume my usual stance.

I complied, spreading my feet shoulder-width apart and holding the shinai as if it were a spear, the tip pointed slightly forward. She circled me slowly, her keen eyes assessing every nuance of my posture.

"Your grip," she began, gently tapping the back of my right hand with her own shinai. "When wielding a sword, your hands should be closer together, with your dominant hand just below the guard and the other supporting at the base. This allows for greater control and fluidity in your swings."

I adjusted my hands accordingly, feeling the difference immediately. The balance of the shinai shifted, the weight distribution now favoring swift cuts over thrusts.

"Good. Now, your feet." She nudged my left foot with her own. "Widen your stance slightly and angle your lead foot towards me. This provides stability and prepares you for lateral movement."

I followed her guidance, noting how the new position grounded me more firmly.

"Lastly, relax your shoulders," she advised, placing a hand lightly on my arm. "Tension will only hinder your speed and endurance."

Taking a deep breath, I rolled my shoulders back, easing the stiffness that had unconsciously settled there.

Artoria stepped back, a faint smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. "Better. Remember, a sword is not a spear. It requires a different kind of finesse."

"Noted," I replied, giving the shinai a tentative swing to test the new grip and stance. It felt foreign but manageable.

She raised her own shinai, assuming a ready position. "This initial bout will serve as an assessment. Show me what you can do. Do not hold back."

I arched an eyebrow. "Are you sure? These practice swords aren't exactly built to withstand... excessive force."

She met my gaze steadily. "I have reinforced mine accordingly."

"Fair enough." I channeled a bit of Od into the shinai, reinforcing its structure.

Across the room, Mom and Vivian watched with keen interest, their murmured conversation fading into the background as I focused on the task at hand.

"Ready when you are," I said, settling into the adjusted stance.

I took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the shinai in my hands.

The problem now was how to go about this... I knew that this was more an assessment test, rather than any proper spar, so she'd match my strength blow for blow.

But I really wanted to land a hit on her... Stupid and hopelessly naïve, I know, but a man can dream, can he not?

And since I could not beat her blow for blow, nor in technique, I'd have to resort to some underhanded tactics...

Case and point, I'll have to keep my output at the level of a peak human, somewhere around 'E' Rank strength and dexterity.

And once I find an 'opening', or at least an opportune moment, I'll put all my strength and speed behind one strike. As that is the only feasible method for victory, or at least the only one I can think up on such short notice.

My vision met with Artoria's green eyes, and we locked gazes for a moment, neither of us doing anything.

After a few seconds of uneasy staring, she gave a slight nod—a clear signal to begin.

Yet neither Artoria nor I moved an inch.

A tense silence settled over the room, broken only by the faint hum of the fluorescent lights overhead.

Artoria's emerald eyes locked onto mine, steady and unblinking.

She was waiting.

So she wants me on the offensive... fair enough.

Shifting my weight onto my front foot, I launched forward, closing the distance between us with a quick step.

I swung the shinai in a diagonal slash aimed at her right shoulder.

Artoria's response was immediate; she raised her own shinai to parry, the wooden swords clacking sharply upon contact.

"Too telegraphed," she commented, her voice calm. "Your shoulders gave away your intent."

Pursing my lips, I pulled back and adjusted my grip. This time, I feinted a strike to her left side before swiftly redirecting to her right flank.

She saw through it effortlessly, sidestepping and bringing her shinai down in a controlled arc toward my wrist.

I barely retracted in time to avoid the hit. "Better, but your footwork needs improvement," she noted. "You're overextending."

I circled her cautiously, searching for an opening.

Deciding to test her defenses, I unleashed a series of rapid strikes—thrusts and slashes aimed at varying angles.

Each one was met with precise blocks or deft parries. It was like trying to breach an impenetrable wall.

"Maintain your center of gravity," she advised between blows. "You're leaving yourself open after each attack."

This was a smidge annoying... I knew that I was going to lose, but this felt like being on the receiving end of bullying... maybe not that bad, but still demeaning.

I was putting in considerable effort, yet she remained unruffled, almost serene.

I was used to fighting against a sword, not wielding one… I knew a few moves, but I mostly knew how to deal with them, not how to execute them…

This felt a bit annoying, but I could still somewhat emulate some of Mom's moves, or else I'd be truly inept… Though they probably wouldn't be as polished as Mom's ones, but beggars can't be choosers.

Determined to make some impact, I tightened my stance and channeled more focus into my movements.

I lunged forward with a thrust aimed at her midsection.

She deflected it with a slight twist of her wrist, then countered with a swift strike toward my left thigh.

I managed to block it, but the force reverberated up my arm. It wasn't anything too debilitating at this level, but it was still annoying.

"Your blocks are too rigid," she remarked. "Soften your grip upon impact to absorb the force."

Taking her advice to heart, I tried to loosen my grip.

As we exchanged blows, I noticed a subtle difference. The vibrations from each clash were less jarring, allowing me to recover more quickly.

"Good adjustment," Artoria acknowledged, a hint of approval in her tone.

Emboldened, I pressed the attack, aiming high with an overhead swing.

She raised her shinai horizontally to intercept, and our swords locked momentarily. Meeting her gaze, I saw a flicker of curiosity.

Without warning, she shifted her weight and spun to the side, disengaging our blades and aiming a light tap at my shoulder. It connected before I could react.

"Predictable," she said. "Don't let your eyes betray your next move."

I exhaled sharply, nodding. "Understood."

We reset our positions.

This time, I focused on keeping my gaze neutral, not fixating on my intended target.

I initiated a combination of attacks—low, then high, then mid-level—all while trying to mask my intentions.

Artoria seemed mildly impressed, though she still parried each attempt with ease.

"Better. But mind your breathing. It's becoming erratic."

I hadn't noticed, but my breaths were indeed coming in shorter bursts. I forced myself to inhale deeply, steadying my rhythm.

Seeing an opening, I attempted a sweeping strike toward her legs. She hopped back gracefully, then lunged forward with a thrust that stopped just short of my sternum.

"You're committing too much to each strike," she pointed out. "It leaves you vulnerable to counters."

I stepped back, absorbing her feedback. It was clear that conventional tactics weren't going to suffice. If I wanted to make any headway, I'd need to think outside the box.

We engaged once more, the sound of wooden swords clashing echoing in the spacious room.

Artoria maintained her defensive stance, her movements smooth and precise. Every misstep I made was met with a swift tap—a reminder of an exposed flank or a neglected guard.

"Your left side is dropping," she noted after landing a light hit on my ribcage. "Keep your elbows in."

I adjusted, bringing my elbows closer to my body. The next time she tested my defense, I managed to deflect her strike more effectively.

"Good. Remember, the smallest adjustments can have significant impacts."

No matter how much I adapted, the writing was on the walls, she could do this in her sleep, clearly not finding any challenge to anything I threw at her. It was time to change tactics.

Perhaps a strong offense is the best defense.

I decided to tap into more of my strength—not all of it, but enough to potentially catch her off guard.

Waiting for the right moment, I engaged in a brief exchange of blows, then suddenly increased the speed and force behind my next attack.

Our shinais met with a resounding crack as I knocked her blade upward, creating a fleeting opening.

Seizing the moment, I cranked my strength and speed to its peak, and swung my shinai in a horizontal arc aimed directly at her torso.

Artoria's eyes widened ever so slightly at the abrupt change in pace.

With her blade momentarily out of position, she reacted on instinct.

Raising the hilt of her shinai, she intercepted my strike just above the guard, the wood vibrating from the impact between her hands.

Fuck...

She frowned, a mix of surprise and mild displeasure crossing her features. "You've been hiding your strength? Clever, but..."

Before she finished, she pushed my blade aside with a sharp thrust of her arms.

Utilizing the momentum, she pivoted smoothly and brought her shinai around in a swift, controlled arc.

FUCK! 

The blade was too fast, and I was in no position to intercept it!

In the blink of an eye, it connected with the side of my torso with a loud thwack.

I winced, stepping back instinctively. The hit wasn't severe, but it served its purpose.

Artoria lowered her shinai, examining me with a critical eye. Silence stretched between us for a moment.

"You held back your true capabilities until that last strike," she began, her tone measured. "While it's strategic to conceal one's full strength, in a spar meant for training, transparency is more beneficial."

I met her gaze, swallowing a hint of embarrassment. "I thought it might give me an edge."

She nodded thoughtfully. "It did, momentarily. However, relying on surprise can be a double-edged sword. It's effective once, perhaps twice, but against a seasoned opponent, it becomes a liability."

"Understood," I replied, rubbing the spot where her shinai had struck. "I suppose it wasn't very chivalrous."

A faint smile touched her lips. "Chivalry has its place, but so does pragmatism. Your decision to alter your approach shows adaptability—a valuable trait."

She took a step closer, her expression softening slightly. "Your fundamentals are solid, especially given your background with the spear. Your footwork has improved, and you're beginning to integrate the feedback effectively."

"Thank you," I said, appreciating the acknowledgment.

"However," she continued, "there are areas that require attention. Your strikes lack fluidity; they're too segmented. A sword should feel like an extension of your arm, moving seamlessly."

I nodded, absorbing her critique.

"Additionally, while your defenses are adequate against basic assaults, they crumble under sustained pressure. You need to build endurance and learn to anticipate not just the first attack, but the subsequent ones as well."

"Any suggestions on how to improve that?" I asked.

"Drills," she replied succinctly. "Repetition builds muscle memory. We can work on sequences that focus on defense transitions."

She glanced over at Mom and Vivian, who had been watching intently. "Your support system is strong. Utilize it. Train with partners who can challenge you in different ways."

Mom smirked, crossing her arms. "I'd be more than happy to knock him around a bit, it would be like the good old days... but this time with a sword..." she remarked the last part somewhat wistfully.

Vivian chuckled with some amusement. "I'm starting to feel bad for Al."

Artoria returned her attention to me. "Lastly, trust in your abilities. Hesitation can be costly. You've shown that you can adapt quickly; now you need to have confidence in those adaptations."

"I'll work on that," I assured her.

She gave a satisfied nod. "Good. Despite the areas for improvement, you have a strong foundation, despite this being your first time wielding a blade. With dedication, you'll make significant progress."

I gave a lopsided smile at the compliments. "Thank you for the praise, I'll try to not let it get to my head," I remarked with a twinge of amusement.

Artoria raised a lone brow at my statement before shrugging. "Do you wish to continue?" She probed, and I quickly shook my head.

"Sorry, but Vivian and I have an Apostle hunt planned tomorrow, so I'd be in tip top shape for the upcoming hunt, so I must decline," I replied diplomatically.

This made Artoria give a bink in surprise, before she furrowed her brows. "You are leaving for a hunt?" She questioned with mild confusion.

I quickly shook my head. "No, my current target lies within this city, so I will naturally not leave," I explained calmly.

Now I suddenly had both Artoria and Mom's full attention.

"Alistair…" Mom intoned slowly.

"What is this about an Apostle being here in Fuyuki?" She questioned calmly, while subtly squinting her eyes.

Turning my head to fully look at her, I gave a slight shrug. "He's not a true apostle, as he is more a magus who screwed himself up enough to become one," I explained placatingly, causing Mom to look a smidge more mollified.

"But this is grave news," Artoria siad, causing me to look at her. "If the church was here, the war would be put on hold to deal with the matter, as it takes precedence over the war," she explained firmly.

"So I must ask, why have you not informed me, or others of this matter?" Artoria asked somewhat chidingly.

Pursing my lips, I removed a hand from the shinai, and rubbed at the back of my neck, and glanced over at Vivian.

With Artoria being so focused, I was sure that her 'Instinct' skill would notice any lies or half truths, so I needed some help through bullshitting my way out of this.

And who better than someone who has lied and fooled even the likes of Merlin, and her little sister, without getting caught doing it.

{A little help here?} I messaged Morgan, receiving a slight huff in resonance, as well as Vivian rolling her eyes.

"The two of us were caught flat footed at the churches betrayal, and we found it unwise to inform the other Masters, as our target's spy network is wide, and any signs of unnatural movements by any Masters might cause him to go into hiding," Vivian chimed in, causing both Mom and Artoria to look at her.

Not showing any discomfort at the sudden attention by the two, she continued. "We have been gathering information on him, along with confirming our intel on him for the past few days," she explained calmly.

"It was just yesterday where we got the chance to confirm all our suspicions, while getting the green light to strike," she ended her little speech with a shrug, while idly looking at the two.

"Any questions?"

Mom looked pensive, as she mulled over Vivian's words.

Artoria on the other hand seemed incredibly interested.

"Would it be too much to ask for you to show me the information you have on this man?" She questioned, causing Vivian to look at me, while raising a brow.

{Up to you, I suppose.} I messaged Morgan, while giving a shrug.

"I too, am rather interested," Mom chimed in, and Vivian gave a sigh, before pushing herself up from her seat.

"Fine fine, I'll just go and get the documents," she huffed out, before glancing at me with a raised brow. "Should I bring a worm?"

The two other women seemed surprised at the question, and looked a bit confused at her. "Sure, might as well do some show and tell," I remarked with a shrug.

Nodding, she gave a small wave. "See you three in the living room, will be back in three," she said before leaving the room.

Yawning, I gave a stretch, before humming to myself. "Let's get a move on then, you heard the lady," I said while moving towards the shinai rack, swiftly placing mine back.

Saber mirrored my action, racking her own practice blade.

Turning around, I watched as Mom stood up with a groan.

Smirking, I walked past her, while giving her a passing remark. "Need a walking frame?"

The grunt of annoyance I got in return was priceless, easily reinvigorating me, after the beatdown I got from Artoria.

As we stepped into the living room, I could feel a mix of anticipation and unease settling in the air.

I gestured toward the table. "Make yourselves comfortable," I said, flashing a quick smile to Mom and Artoria.

Artoria took a seat gracefully, her gaze briefly scanning the room before settling on the assortment of books lining the shelves.

Rolling up my sleeves as I headed toward the kitchen nook. "Tea, anyone?"

"That would be lovely," Artoria said with a nod.

"Count me in," Mom added, giving me a warm smile.

"Coming right up." I busied myself with filling the kettle, the sound of running water momentarily filling the silence.

As the kettle began to heat up, I rummaged through the cupboards, pulling out a few boxes of store-bought snacks. Nothing fancy, but they'd do.

I placed the snacks and an array of mismatched teacups on the table. "Sorry about the selection," I said with a chuckle. "Haven't had time to stock up on the good stuff."

Artoria reached out and picked up a biscuit, examining it briefly before taking a delicate bite. "It's quite alright," she assured me, a small smile tugging at the corners of her mouth.

Moving back to the kitchen, I poured the hot water over the tea leaves, allowing its rich aroma to silently fill the room.

As I brought the teapot over, I noticed Artoria already reaching for another snack. "Careful, you might spoil your dinner," I joked.

She raised an eyebrow at me. "I think I'll manage."

I poured the tea into each cup, the steam curling upwards lazily. Just as I set the teapot down, footsteps echoed from the hallway.

Vivian strode in, a bag slung casually over her shoulder. "Hope I didn't keep you all waiting," she said, her eyes glinting with a mix of mischief and seriousness.

"Perfect timing," I replied, sliding her cup toward the empty seat next to Mom.

She reached into her bag without preamble, pulling out a thick envelope. With a flick of her wrist, she tossed it onto the table where it landed with a soft thud.

"Everything we've gathered on one Zouken Matou—or should I say, Zolgen Makiri," she announced, settling into her seat and taking a sip of her tea. "Thanks for the tea, by the way."

At the mention of the name, Mom's hand shot out, snatching up the envelope. She began flipping through the documents inside, her eyes scanning rapidly.

Artoria glanced between Vivian and Mom, curiosity evident in her gaze. "I'm not familiar with that name," she admitted, setting down her half-eaten biscuit. "Could you elaborate on this supposed Apostle?"

Vivian leaned back in her chair, crossing one leg over the other. "Zolgen Makiri was one of the original founders of the Holy Grail War," she began. "A brilliant magus, but like many, his ambition led him to do something incredibly stupid."

Artoria folded her hands neatly in her lap. "What exactly did he do?"

"He seemed to be obsessed with immortality," Vivian explained. "And over the centuries, he twisted his body and soul through magecraft, effectively becoming a pseudo-Apostle, or more precisely turning into a worm. Now, he currently goes by the name Zouken Matou."

Mom looked up from the documents, her expression a mix of anger and disbelief. "These records... they're horrifying."

"Indeed," Vivian agreed. "He's been experimenting his own descendants, turning them into vessels for his experiments."

Artoria's eyes narrowed. "Experimenting how?"

Vivian reached into her bag once more, this time pulling out a small glass jar. Inside wriggled a pale, phallic-like creature, with a mouth full of sharp teeth.

She placed it carefully on the table. "Meet the Crest Worm."

Artoria recoiled slightly, her gaze fixed on the unsettling specimen. "What... is that?"

"A delightful little parasite," I interjected sarcastically, suppressing a shudder. Even from behind glass, the thing made my skin crawl.

Vivian shot me a brief glance before continuing. "These worms are how Zouken controls and siphons life force from his many victims. They burrow into the body, and feed off the victims organs and bone marrow."

Mom's face paled. "And he's using these on his own family?"

"Yes," Vivian confirmed. "He's been implanting them into his descendants, effectively farming them for his own survival."

Artoria clenched her fists, her knuckles turning white. "This is beyond deplorable."

Mom glanced at the disgusting worm with a frown. "So, he's been doing this for how long?"

"Centuries," I replied. "Our current estimate is that he's around five hundred years old. As he's sustained himself by continuously transferring his consciousness into new bodies using these worms."

Artoria took a deep breath. "And you believe he's a threat to the Grail War?"

"Indirectly, perhaps," Vivian said. "But more pressingly, he's a threat to innocent lives."

Glancing at Vivian, I suppressed a raised brow, as that sounded far to 'justice-like' for something coming out of 'Morgan's' mouth.

Mom's eyes flickered with a dangerous light. "This document mentions something involving the Tohsaka family."

Vivian nodded grimly. "Yes. The second daughter of the Tohsakas, Sakura, has been transferred into Zouken's care. She's likely undergoing preparations to become his next vessel."

A heavy silence settled over the room.

Artoria's gaze hardened. "We cannot allow this to continue."

Mom's grip on the documents tightened, the paper crumpling under the pressure.

"A child," she whispered. "He's doing this to a child."

Mom had always hated encountering children when we were out on hunts, so the reaction was to be expected.

Vivian met her gaze evenly. "That's why time is of the essence."

Mom fixed her gaze onto me, and spoke with an eerie calmness. "I will be joining you two in this hunt, so tell me what the plan is," she stated matter of factly.

I didn't want to inform my Mom of this stuff, nor bring her along. But Morgan was right that it would be wise to bring her along, as in the likely situation where Aoi doesn't wish to bring Sakura back into the 'fold', then Mom would likely not take it to well that I didn't inform her of Sakura's situation, before bringing her into the family.

Sighing, I leaned into my chair. "We have made some countermeasures for temporarily cutting off Zoukens connection to a limited area of his familiars, which we intend to use on Sakura, to stop him from using her as a hostage," I explained calmly.

Vivian pulled out a few pebbles from her bag, and placed them on the table. "These runic arrays should be capable of setting up a small field that will block his connection to them," she said while moving them into two groups of four.

"Though our plan will need to be worked around for a bit, seeing as there will be a third member," I explained while crossing my arms.

"Make that four," Artoria chimed in, while lightly holding her teacup.

Idly tapping the table, Vivian gave Artoria a suspicious look. "Are you sure that your Master will allow you to help us?"

Artoria seemed to momentarily twitch at the mention of Kiritsugu, before locking her face into a slight frown. "I will get permission for this, as I expect Irisviel would not stand for such a thing."

Absentmindedly nodding, Vivian idly thrummed her fingers on the table. "I suppose that's good…" she mused, before fixing her gaze on me.

"I think we can move tonight, rather than tomorrow," Vivian pointed out, causing Mom to send me a pointed look.

"You were planning to do this tomorrow, and not tonight, despite knowing what he's doing?" She questioned in a chiding tone.

I shot Vivian a look of annoyance, before meeting Mother's gaze.

"Well yes, as I'd rather be well prepared while going up against a five-hundred year old monster," I explained dryly. "Surprisingly enough, I had not factored into my calculations that we'd be receiving the help of a heroic spirit." 

The answer caused Mother to look more mollified, before sighing.

"Then we have a lot to plan," Artoria siad, while reaching for the information docket.

"Allow me to lend some of my expertise on the subject," she said with a light smile.

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90 Hours, 22 Minutes And 2 Seconds Until Zero 

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A/N

Welcome back, my reader Overlords, please add this to your library and give me some comments, stones and Reviews, as it would be much appreciated.

Sorry for the late chapter, was stuck with a group project with a bunch of no-shows. Meaning that I have been doing the work of four people for the last few days. So I hope that you can all forgive me.

Anyways... thoughts? Input? Anything you wish to see during the invasion of the Matou estate?

Btw, I have made a Discord server for the fic, come on and chat with me!

https://discord.gg/kdd5mnXc

Now I'm tired and have a fuck ton of Uni stuff to do, so have a nice day, and send me some stones or some shit, I need motivation, or some shit like that.