All of "Black" Assassin Jack the Ripper's Noble Phantasms are recreations of the legends from her lifetime.
'Dark Fog Capital: The Mist' deploys a bounded field of sulfuric acid fog, derived from the intense air pollution that struck London in the 1850s, the era of her activity.
'Dismembering Holy Mother Maria the Ripper' hurls at its target the very essence of the infamous, unsolved murders synonymous with Jack the Ripper.
It exhibits maximum power when it is night, when there is fog, and when the target is female. It manifests as a curse that cannot be evaded or defended against, scattering the target's entrails.
Furthermore, her skill 'Murder on the Misty Night' ensures she always acts first, but only at night.
The combo of skill and Noble Phantasm means that if the target is female, even a Servant of higher caliber can be killed with certainty.
"A——gh, ga, AAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!"
Celenike lets out an ear-piercing shriek.
When those around her turn at the commotion, blood spurts out from within her like a fountain.
As if a balloon filled with red-colored water had burst, Celenike explodes, transforming into a gruesome mass of flesh.
"M-Master!?"
"Black" Rider's eyes widen as he clings to Celenike.
"Go... gupuu..."
Bloody tears flow, and bloody foam leaks from her mouth.
The spilled organs do not return; the exposed heart trembles pointlessly, pumping blood outward.
"Wh-what is this!?"
Rider is horrified and panicked that his Master has been suddenly killed.
"Assassin's attack... A powerful curse! We must get out of this fog no matter what!"
"What? What's happening?"
Caules can't grasp the situation, not understanding the true nature of the warm liquid splattered on his body.
The fallen Celenike is still alive due to the influence of her Magic Crest. A mage with a long history does not die easily even from grave injuries because the Magic Crest forcibly attempts to sustain its host. The body of a mage who has received a transplanted Magic Crest is no longer the individual's own possession; it becomes an item for inheriting the family's history.
However, no matter the restorative power of the Magic Crest, there is no reason she could survive having her entrails dragged out. Celenike has not deviated that far from humanity. She merely has an extended time until death. In a situation where being alive itself is nothing but agony, her throat is blocked by refluxing blood, and oxygen does not reach her brain. A squelching sound of cells desperately trying to reconnect tissue can be heard.
This is the final struggle of the Icecol family, an ancient lineage of black magicians.
"Gu... kuh...!"
Rider bites his lip, witnessing Celenike's end. Drawing the sword at his waist, Rider apologizes, "I'm sorry," and beheads Celenike.
Since the heart had already been dragged out, beheading doesn't cause much bleeding.
Rider removes his cloak and covers his Master's remains.
"Ruler! Where is Assassin!?"
"I don't know! Perhaps because of this fog, I can't clearly sense their presence! But they are definitely nearby!"
"Damn it, is this a Noble Phantasm!?"
The fog's density gradually increases.
In a few more minutes, they likely won't even know the location of their allies who should be right beside them.
"Rider, are you alright?"
"I have the 'Independent Action' skill, so for a while. But it'll be tough if I use the Hippogriff."
Having lost his Master, Rider has fallen to being a fragile existence that will vanish if he loses magical energy. Thanks to the 'Independent Action' skill, he can survive for two days if he does nothing, but that limit doesn't apply while under enemy attack. Engaging in combat actions will consume magical energy significantly. Using his Noble Phantasm, the Hippogriff, will likely lead to self-destruction if not restrained.
"To break through this situation, we need your mythical beast."
"Even if you say that..."
"I will temporarily act as your Master. As I possess Laeticia's physical body, I can serve as a vessel for a Servant."
"What?"
Rider looks at Ruler in surprise.
But there is no time to hesitate.
"Alright. Let's contract immediately."
"Please touch my hand."
"Right."
Rider touches Ruler's left hand. Then, he feels a path open between them, and the sensation of magical energy supply seeps into his core.
Ruler is an exceptional Servant, summoned by possessing the body of a French girl named Laeticia. Possessing a physical body and forming a contract with a Servant ironically mirrors Amakusa Shirou's situation.
"Ruler. Can't you do something?"
Caules asks Ruler, looking breathless.
"Let's see... I think we can manage to escape if we use Rider's Hippogriff."
"Eh, but in this fog, we won't know where to go or how. This probably has an effect that distorts our sense of direction, right?"
"It's fine. I will guide us."
Ruler's skill 'Revelation' functions equivalently to the 'Intuition' skill, and beyond combat, it allows her to perceive the path to achieving a goal even in daily life. Its rank is A, extremely high; if functioning correctly, it can provide a means to break the situation beyond mere logic.
Additionally, her 'Charisma' skill can make even Ruler's illogical words believable to others, synergizing well with 'Revelation.'
With options nearly exhausted, everyone thought they had no choice but to trust Ruler's assurance.
"Alright, let's go. Come forth, Hippogriff!"
Responding to Rider's call, the mythical beast Hippogriff appears. An impossible existence said to be born between a griffin and a horse. Its spiritual rank is inferior to a griffin's, but its status as a living being far surpasses any creature existing in reality.
Simultaneous with its appearance, a storm of magical energy blows up, pushing back the fog. Rider leaps onto the Hippogriff's back.
"Okay, everyone, get on behind!"
Ruler grabs Caules and leaps onto the Hippogriff's back. Bringing back the living is the limit; Celenike cannot be taken.
"Kuh, ba, Berserker!"
The Hippogriff's back can only carry two at most. Caules is also being held under Ruler's arm. Even if spiritualized, they can't defend against the curse, and they can't leave Berserker behind. Caules grabs Berserker's hand.
With his hand damaged by the sulfuric acid fog, he firmly holds his Servant.
"Where are you going?"
A voice echoes from deep within the fog.
It sounds like the voice of a young girl with lingering childishness.
It must be the voice of "Black" Assassin.
"Rider! Get us out of here!"
Ruler feels there's no time for dialogue due to the danger of "Black" Assassin's abilities. Without properly responding, she orders Rider to retreat.
Rider kicks the Hippogriff's neck with his heel to make it run. Visibility is already near zero. In a situation where they can't see an inch ahead, the Hippogriff trusts its rider and flaps its wings.
"Wh-what should we do, Ruler!?"
"Go straight ahead diagonally upward at full speed!"
The Hippogriff kicks off the ground and leaps up. Whether it's the fog's ability, they lose their sense of direction the moment they take off. They can't even see their feet, so only the terrifying sensation of losing all spatial orientation fills their chests.
"I'll count; turn left on my signal! Three, two, one, now!"
"Alright, I'm trusting you!"
Manipulating the reins, Rider turns the horse-head left and charges recklessly through the fog.
There is no hesitation in Ruler's words.
By now, Ruler's words are their only clue to escape.
For "Black" Assassin, the Servants who entered the fog were mere prey. They were like butterflies caught in a spider's web; escape from the fog's effects should have been impossible.
But what happened? The Hippogriff is clearly flying with purpose.
"Eh, no way. Do they know the way out?"
For the first time, Assassin panics.
If they escape the fog, the power of her sure-kill Noble Phantasm, 'Dismembering Holy Mother Maria the Ripper,' drastically diminishes. It is only within the fog that Assassin can act as an absolute predator.
"I won't let you escape."
Kill the seemingly weak combatants that can be definitely eliminated.
'Dismembering Holy Mother Maria the Ripper' is a powerful curse. It's neither a physical nor a magical attack. A demonic curse that sneaks in from nowhere reaps the lives of all enemies within the fog.
With absolutely no magical energy supply from her Master, failure is not permitted.
Assassin fixes her target and activates her Noble Phantasm.
A little more and they can break through the fog.
Ruler is certain.
There are no more obstacles. Though surrounded by fog, they've presumably reached a considerable altitude, so there's no worry of colliding with buildings.
The dense fog doesn't gradually dissipate but suddenly clears at a certain point.
They even feel a sensation as if the sky is rushing toward them.
Unconsciously, everyone coughs in the normal air, taking in oxygen.
"W-we're out!"
Rider shouts, a smile appearing on his face.
Behind them floats a sea of fog.
"That was close. Ruler, thank you."
"You're welcome. But escaping was thanks to your and the Hippogriff's strength."
Ruler lets out a sigh of relief.
Rider descends the Hippogriff, landing it on the road.
"Caules, are you alright?"
Ruler calls out to Caules, whom she was carrying. However, Caules doesn't answer. Thinking something is wrong, Ruler looks down at Caules and finally notices the abnormality.
"What..."
The lower half of "Black" Berserker, whom Caules was holding by the hand, is missing.
Her bodily state closely resembles Celenike's. Assassin's attack has utterly destroyed Berserker's body.
Having set Berserker down, Caules sits down beside her in a daze.
"Vii, Viiii..."
Berserker lets out a weak groan.
Despite such severe injuries, Berserker hasn't vanished because she is an artificial human, and particularly because her heart exists within 'Maiden's Chastity: Bridal Chest,' located outside her body.
In other words, Berserker's spiritual core exists in her brain and mace, so even with massive bodily damage, she doesn't die instantly. However, when a Servant is injured, their spiritual core also weakens. With her lower half shattered, Berserker likely has only minutes left.
Wordlessly, Caules grips Berserker's hand.
Neither Ruler nor Rider have words for Caules. The sight that greeted them upon escaping the fog and gaining clear vision was the mutilated form of his Servant. The shock to Caules must have been immense.
Suddenly, looking ahead, the fog dome illuminated by moonlight is approaching them.
"This is bad. Assassin is still targeting us!"
"This is trouble. Hey, Caules. We have to retreat quickly. Carry Berserker."
"That's right. From here, I can run to escape. Caules, you and Berserker get on the Hippogriff's back."
Ruler and Rider urge him.
Berserker shifts her gaze from Caules to the approaching fog dome.
"Vii, Gii."
Caules felt that Berserker's voice was not one of pain.
Berserker grips Caules's hand back, trying somehow to convey her will. Even her groans have proper meaning.
"You..."
There must be a bond between the two that Ruler and Rider cannot understand.
"Berserker... I'm sorry..."
Caules bites his lip, pressing the hand holding Berserker's against his forehead. Then, he pours the immense magical energy of a Command Spell into Berserker.
"Release your Noble Phantasm, 'Blasted Tree: The Impaling Thunderous Stake,' and subdue 'Black' Assassin."
"Black" Assassin could have retreated when the enemy escaped the fog.
She hadn't revealed herself, and if she retreated, information about her Noble Phantasm would be erased from the enemy. She is a monster who can always take the initiative against her enemies as a truly elusive, unidentified serial killer.
But on this day alone, she grew greedy.
There were factors: she had definitely taken down two, the enemy stopped at a position where she could recapture them if she moved the fog bounded field, it wasn't a trap but due to mourning a comrade's death, and the strongest-looking Servant was female, making her feel it was a prime target.
Before the fog bounded field could recapture the enemy, Assassin felt a magical energy explosion outside.
"Eh..."
This is strange, she thought.
As long as she hides within the fog, Assassin's form cannot be seen. This time, she attacked while completely concealing her presence; the enemy couldn't even properly see her form. Taking aim should be impossible. And yet, the lightning rising into the sky clearly signifies the activation of a Noble Phantasm.
"No way, how!?"
Faced with the lightning serpent piercing through the fog and extending straight toward her, Assassin doesn't even think of intercepting it. She desperately dives into the shadow of a building and flees at full speed.
But as if mocking Assassin's frantic escape, the lightning twists and turns, stretching toward Assassin.
The lightning bends like a whip, piercing through houses, and instantly closes in on Assassin's back.
"Uwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!"
Assassin screams, aware of her impending death a moment later.
The lightning strike of the Noble Phantasm, bound by the Command Spell and focused solely on eliminating Assassin, warps even causality itself to consume Assassin.
Just as she is about to be engulfed by the lightning, magical energy gently wraps around Assassin's body and transfers her elsewhere. The lightning strike, having missed its target, creates a crater in the ground and vanishes.
Assassin herself finds it miraculous she's alive.
But soon, she knows her Master saved her with a Command Spell, and tears overflow.
Her leg throbs dully.
Looking down, her right leg from the knee down is charred and mangled.
Although the force of the Command Spell to "subdue Assassin" was somehow negated by the force of the Command Spell to "save Assassin," the fact that they didn't completely cancel out was likely due to the number of Command Spells consumed.
Her Master consumed one Command Spell. That alone should have been sufficient, but the opponent used two or more, overpowering it. The reason Assassin survived is probably because she hid within the fog bounded field and desperately fled, forcing the enemy's Noble Phantasm power to be used on the extra effort of chasing her.
"Mommy Master... Mommy Mastteerrr... U, uu, it hurrrts..."
Dragging her leg, Assassin heads toward her Master.
Her tear-stained face looks nothing like a serial killer. With an innocent expression shedding tears, Assassin disappears.