Several hours later, Fuyuki City.
Sun was setting over the city as a lone servant made its way from building to building, jumping from one roof to another. Lancer stopped for a moment to take a quick glance at Fuyuki as it was slowly covered by night. The knight allowed himself to close his eyes and enjoy a breath of the night air. Being able to move like this was one of the most enjoyable things he could do in this war. Sadly, everything wasn't as pleasing as such a simple thing.
Diarmuid Ua Duibhne will lie if he said that everything was going smoothly for him in this war. It wasn't even about the war, he knew from the start that fights will be difficult and was happy about it. It only meant that the knight of Fianna will have more chances to prove himself in combat and return his honour. However, there was a giant obstacle that was standing in his way.
'My lord's chosen one, Sola-Ui.' Diarmuid sighed, remembering the face of the female magi. 'Why just why my lord decided to bring her with him. Not only that but he wanted her to be my master.' he hoped he would be able to avoid repeating the same mistake that cost not only him his life but most importantly his honour as well. However, it was too late. 'I already can see that my damn mole affected her. Why must I be so unlucky.'
One of the reasons why he was on reconnaissance at such late hour, was because his lord didn't trust him enough to be near his wife anymore. And honestly, Diarmuid fully agreed with him. Lord Kayneth was many things, while he didn't have the honour of a knight, he was still a noble magi who faithfully loved his future wife even if she wasn't returning these feelings. Diarmuid wasn't a stranger to arranged marriages, especially among the nobility, so he could understand why Sola-Ui might have been unsatisfied with her fiance.
'I can only hope that lady Sola-Ui will at least try returning some of my lord's affection.' his current lord Kayneth wasn't a most pleasant person, Diarmuid won't deny that, but he wasn't the worst man he knew either. His master just needed more humility and maybe became a bit less self-centred. Still, he was his master and as a loyal knight on his journey to return his honour Diarmuid will obey his every command.
Right now both magi were busy with preparing the new potential base. Some ruins of the old building on the outskirts of the city. After losing their previous hideout in the hotel, Kayneth and Sola decided to find something far away from the local population and Lancer agreed. The death of innocent people sickened him. At the very least, the perpetrator behind the hotel's explosion had enough compassion to spare normal people. However, the idea that they weren't hesitating to attack them in the city was alarming to the knight, to say the least. Whoever this Magus Killer was, he is ruthless.
'I'm glad that my lord didn't contact Avenger or her master immediately. The less these two know about us the better.' Diarmuid fought many battles and knew when he saw a dangerous individual. It wasn't just the female servant's strength he was worried about but her and her master's character. Avenger didn't hesitate to hide her true nature while her master was hard to read as an individual but Diarmuid could tell that he was hiding many secrets behind his innocent smile. His lord didn't believe him, saying that someone like Lelouch Lamperouge couldn't be a threat on his own. The Knight of Fianna disagreed but his lord refused to listen to him.
'This Lelouch Lamperouge isn't a simple boy. Just one glance at his eyes was enough to see it. There's something wrong about him, I can feel it.' The boy was giving him a familiar feeling, similar to something he felt many years ago but Lancer couldn't remember what exactly from where. Avenger herself was too dangerous. The female servant threatened his lord's life several times and Lancer won't allow another chance. 'Why can't this war have more servants like Saber? People with the honour of a knight.'
Diarmuid sighed once again before looking over Fuyuki. If one forgot about the deadly war between wizards and heroes that was going on here, this city would seem like a peaceful and quiet place to live. Sadly, Caster and his master were still on the run. Assassin was still alive and plotting something. He hasn't seen Archer since that night at the port. Rider was showing up a lot. First in the port and now in the sewers. At least someone was actively trying to find others. Diarmuid wouldn't mind running into Saber for the sake of finishing their duel since it was stopped two times now.
However, fate had another plan for the cursed Lancer.
As Lancer continued moving, he felt something strange in the air. It was mana and a lot of it. Lancer looked around trying to find where it was coming from. Soon he found the trail and followed it. As Diarmuid continued to follow the trail of mana among man-made buildings, he couldn't help but remember times when he haunted demonic boars back when he was still alive. A nostalgic smile formed on his face, but it quickly vanished when he heard a familiar voice.
"Lancer! Where are you right now? I ordered you to call back if you found anything." his lord called through the mental link, sounding irritated as usual. Diarmuid stopped before answering.
"Sorry, my lord but it would appear I found a trail of mana and it is very strong." there was a long pause, his master no doubt thinking what to do next.
"Very well, continue and investigate where it's coming from. If you find Caster, engage in combat. Lamperouge said that Gilles isn't a powerful enemy and I already wasted a day trying to find him."
Lancer wanted to disagree and suggest calling their allies but he was sure his master wouldn't be happy with such an idea. He didn't know if it was because it was Lancer's idea or calling for help seemed like a sign of weakness to him. Whatever it was, Lancer continued and did as he was told. He jumped from roof to roof until he found himself above the uncompleted construction site. People were building another skyscraper and right now it was empty. Lancer stood on the last floor that has not yet been finished. He started walking around, both his Noble Phantasms ready if needed. Diarmuid carefully checked the floor, moving between half-finished rooms that lead to an open area. There he felt a big source of mana but couldn't find where it was coming from.
Suddenly something fell near his feet. Lancer carefully studied the object that fell before his eyes went wide. In front of him was the biggest worm he ever saw and it was alive. The hideous worm moved towards him and jumped. However, before the little abomination managed to bite the knight, Lancer wasted no second and stabbed it with his Gae Dearg. The red spear ended the worm's life in a second. Raising it and bringing it closer, Diarmuid could see that it was a magical worm.
'What is it doing here?' However, then something else fell on the ground. Then again and again. Lancer looked around, his eyes narrowed. Worms, all of them similar to the one he killed. All of them were moving quickly and towards him. Before any of them could jump at him, the knight struck each one of them. Both Gae Dearg and Gae Buidhe were covered in filth but Lancer was too busy to pay it any attention. He raised his head and froze. On the ceiling above him, Diarmuid saw dozens of these creatures but then something else fell near him. He thought it was another worm but when he took a closer look, his eyes widened in horror.
It was a human skull.
Diarmuid could see small pieces of meat on the bone. He clenched his hand around his spears and looked back at the worms who were eating the body of the poor soul. How such a monstrosity could still exist in the age of man was beyond Lancer but he didn't care. Monsters needed to be slain after all, no matter what. Diarmuid raised the red spear and aimed to take all of them out in one hit but before he could do anything, Lancer jumped back.
The Knight of Fianna immediately took a battle stance. Gae Dearg aimed forward while Gae Buidhe in the left hand to block any attack. Looking back at the place where he stood a moment ago, Lancer saw a hammer that pierced the ground. The hammer was black and covered in unnatural red lines. Diarmuid remembered where he had seen something like this before.
"Berserker."
It wasn't before the wild servant showed himself. The Black Knight materialized in the air before him, standing a few meters away. He was silent. Lancer didn't see any weapon on him but it didn't mean Berserker was unarmed. After witnessing his short fight with the Golden Archer, Diarmuid was careful around the unknown servant.
"Well, nice to see you again." he greeted hoping for an answer.
There was none.
"Hmm, so silent type? I don't judge but a heaving conversation will be harder this way." Berserker didn't make any sound or move. "Can't you at least tell who this guy is?" he raised his eyes at the corpse that was still surrounded by worms. The black knight said nothing. Diarmuid sighed. "Does that mean you won't allow me to leave?"
This time Berserker answered or at least something close to answering as he growled in agreement before rushing at him. Lancer sighed again before speaking.
"Well, this day was getting boring anyway."
At the next moment, two knights with tragic ends clashed at the fight.