Fuyuki City.
Despite what the boy had claimed in confidence, Kariya had still been doubtful he'd survive Lelouch's crazy idea.
Usually, when your role was to be a suicide bomber, chances of living through the resulting explosion would be minimum, zero for all accounts. However, that was where magecraft, and Kayneth Archibald for that matter, came in handy.
"Ngh…" grunting in light pain, he managed to sit himself up. Kayneth's Volumen Hydrargyrum had done its job protecting him, as proven by the silver cocoon that retreated back under his burnt clothes. But regardless of the relief, the fact Lelouch had readied plastic explosives for him to use in the first place was a highly concerning mystery. 'That kid… Did he make it himself? Or…'
Such thoughts were waved away as he managed to get up and assess his surroundings. The holy building that once housed the arbiters and frauds of the war wasn't in good shape. The vest Lelouch had made for him wasn't too powerful, or so it was according to the British master. Kariya begged to differ.
Quickly looking to the sides, the church was missing one wall, a giant hole was all that was left of the right side. Everything within from the altar to the seats were shattered ruins. Half of the pillars were destroyed. The light of candles had either been extinguished by the blast or had joined the small pyre amidst the rubble.
All this destruction… and it was only partly caused by magecraft—no. It could be said that magecraft itself wrought this destruction in the first place.
Kariya still didn't know why he agreed on it. He detested magecraft for the hell it put him through, be it by his own family or those he loved. But, going into this and caring little about his life, if it meant taking out Tokiomi and saving Sakura, he would do anything. Even stain his hands with that insufferable power that corrupted all it touched.
But, in the end, magecraft had saved him. Not just that, but it made his victory easier. Eyeing the leftovers of the former magus in charge of the entire Fuyuki area that had scattered all over the church, Kariya felt his insides churn. But such voices for victory would be for later… when he'd saved Sakura.
All in all, the simple plan to distract their foes had proven effective. Bar the fact it was insane from the get-go, Kariya could see this as an absolute win, more or less. Neither Gilgamesh nor Kirei were within sight. Considering the proximity of the priest, he might as well have had the front row seat to the faux house of worship's destruction.
Just the thought of anyone surviving had Kariya looking down at his own body.
His clothes were a lost cause. Thankfully, he could still feel the liquid armour that completely covered his body and absorbed the blast. Now that the suicide vest and his jacket were gone, he felt the weight on his shoulders both physically and literally lifted off of him.
Maybe, after this… he could go invite Aoi and Rin to a walk. As he'll be bringing Sakura, they'd likely enjoy it…
"To think… you'd choose to pack explosives…"
Kariya's tired yet maddened gaze narrowed. The smoke hadn't fully cleared yet, but as the dust settled down the corner of the altar furthest from the giant gaping hole, he caught sight of someone he didn't expect to live.
Kotomine Kirei looked like he'd seen better days. The Executioner was still in one piece, but the same could not be said for everything else about him. His clothes, reinforced and made with protecting their owner as a high priority, was still unable to match the point-blank explosion. The Church's gear was in tatters all about him. And, with how he was likely thrown back by the blast into one of the shattered pillars, the man was sporting wounds all over.
Pieces of wood and marble had pierced his back and were sticking out of various parts of his body. A bleeding cut on his forehead covered half of his face in red liquid. Considering the red pool gathered under him, the new master of Archer had lost a lot of blood and was heavily injured.
And yet, despite his grievous state, he continued to stand tall. He didn't scream or panic. Quite opposite, Kirei maintained a calm expression and was trying to slow down his breath. His hands were busy covering the open wounds, a small light shined about him as he tried his best to use a healing spell. Yet still, the eerie calm about his expression was enough to unnerve the cause of this destruction.
Kariya wondered what he should do now. Based on the man's wounds, sending Berserker at him would end it all… but he didn't get a chance when he heard a familiar arrogant king.
"Such an unpleasant visage, for you, Kirei," came Gilgamesh's bored comment. Stood up above on the balcony and looking down on it all, Archer didn't appear to have been affected by the explosion at all. "While I'm pleased that you weren't killed by something this insignificant, it appears you've suffered more than you're capable of recovering from on your own."
"Hn. This is but a scratch, Your Highness," sighed the young priest as he shook his head. "Give me a moment to focus."
Seemingly uncaring of Kariya's presence, the man merely continued to push more power into his healing. It was as if Matou Kariya wouldn't be a concern if he did try to intervene in the man's recovery.
But it wasn't wrong. He didn't have any more surprises. Volumen Hydrargyrum was ordered to protect him and nothing more, Berserker's Master couldn't use anything as an offensive weapon. Not unless he wished to leave himself defenceless against the still-very-alive and likely-pissed Archer.
"Hmph, the last thing I need is for my battery to bleed out. Here." Ignoring him entirely, a golden shimmer warped space about the blonde Servant. Gilgamesh had pulled out something resembling a phial full of brightly shining liquid. "Be grateful for this honour, Kirei. I have never shared this healing water with those who were not a citizen of my nation in the past."
"And it is an honour I shall never forget, my liege."
However, just as Archer was about to toss the phial Kirei's way—
"NGGAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"
The blackened knight appeared out of thin air and crashed the wall behind Archer.
In his left hand was something akin to an axe. But in the mad Berserker's hands, it turned into a veined and bloodthirsty hatchet that sought murder. Gilgamesh reacted quickly and evaded the reckless swing that crushed his side of the balcony.
"You finally show yourself, you mangy cur!" Fleeing with wisps of dust and smoke, the king glared with a furious smile. Gone was his normal clothing as his golden regalia shimmered into being. While Berserker roared in response, the King of Heroes hissed back with an arrogant scowl. "Very well. If you want to die by my hand so eagerly, then let it not be known that I am a gracious ruler. Kirei!"
"Yes, my liege."
"I leave the mutt's Master to you. Entertain him as I put this sick animal out of its misery—!" DAN CRACK
Just as he ordered his contractee and tossed the phial of healing water over, the flask shattered midair, raining its contents to the floor halfway between the Servant and Kirei. Both the priest and Archer glared at the distance from where the shot had come from and neither were able to maintain their composure for a moment.
"That bitch…" Never had Kariya heard the arrogant King sound so unsettled before as he made to retreat from Berserker further. A shimmer of portals opened up, but none were trained on his immediate attacker.
Instead, they fired off a pair of swords in the distance, towards the trees at the far edges of the Church's territory. A loud clang shattered the peaceful night air as the attack was blocked entirely.
Katana and rifles forming two rows about her had done their job. Even from such a distance, Kariya could sense that woman's demonic smile. Avenger had managed to position herself as planned.
"Arrogant little—!" Gilgamesh immediately reopened the Gate of Babylon and was about to fire a larger barrage of his treasures at her. That is, he could have, if not for Berserker intervening. "Not just a bitch, but also this mutt!"
The black knight ignored the king's complaints as he rushed at the golden Servant. Brandishing his axe with grace veiled by senseless violence, the first few strikes were aimed for Archer's head. But although he was a king, he wasn't a novice fighter and knew well how to dodge the assault.
Ducking, weaving back, Gilgamesh relented more ground as a scowl appeared on his face. That fact that he was on edge due to two worthless curs had him at the edge of his patience. The insects didn't even deserve the honour to fight him as an equal.
And yet, he had no other option but to retreat further.
It didn't help that Avenger wasn't only satisfied with watching but joining in, making accurately predicted shots that had Gilgamesh actively defending with the flats of his ancient axes and legendary shields. And due to Berserker's ability in corrupting his weapons, Archer couldn't keep them up for long without risking the madman from stealing from him again.
A one-sided match that had the King of Heroes on the run. A pathetic sight indeed.
It didn't help that Kirei was currently wounded and was useless at the moment. Killing the Master of Berserker could've helped him in at least slowing down the rabid Servant. But Kariya did the best he could to hide away behind whatever barricade he could find, keeping himself behind Berserker at all times as well as remaining as far away from Kirei as possible.
That didn't stop Gilgamesh from trying to take out the little husk of a worm.
A golden portal opened and immediately shot a weapon at the sickened Master. Considering he didn't bother aiming it, the shot would've likely missed. But being a Noble Phantasm that inspired the legend of a spearman of Greek origins, it would do enough to just hit near him to do severe damage.
If only Berserker would remain mindless as his namesake and ignore his Master's plight. But it turns out even the insane Servant still had a conscience.
"RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGRR!"
With a vile snarl, Berserker broke away from his assault, distracting Gilgamesh by throwing the possessed hatchet before speeding away to violently kick aside the spear mid-air.
DANG
"Kuh! You cur!" Gilgamesh despised how such a beast could be called a Heroic Spirit. No grace to be found, or beauty to behold. Just raw skill with the beastly strength and inhuman flexibility to back it up.
The worm of a Master had lived, of course. With Berserker now standing protectively between them, the corrupted armour picked up a single plank of wood. What was once a bench was suddenly corrupted as the mad dog's new weapon. Handicapped by the lack of a legitimate weapon, he was just as armed and alert as ever before, ready to continue his attack.
The only upside for the golden Servant to this, apart from the brief respite to his immediate surroundings, was that his foe hadn't the chance to steal his treasure.
"You… filthy mongrel…"
Gilgamesh wouldn't last. He himself knew it, hence the curse under breath. Even Kariya and Kirei did. Berserker was just too potent a foe against him who was supposed to hold the greatest advantage ever. And yet, corrupted black plank in hand, the filth who shouldn't have stood a chance remained as calm as can be, waiting for an opening.
The battlefield needed to change for it to swing back into Archer's advantage. The ruins of the Church were inconvenient for his long-range attacks. Even with his back guarded by his shields and various axes from Avenger's distant potshots, it still didn't mean he could fight as freely as he wanted.
Revolting as it was to admit, Berserker was what Archer feared the most right now. Not only was the mad Servant an annoying pest at close quarters, but he was also the bane of Gilgamesh's entire arsenal. Speaking of which,
SNAP FWEEE—
Getting impatient, Berserker had snapped a splinter off of his plank and thrown it like a knife at the king. Archer managed to block it and subsequent splinters-turned-darts with the flat of one of his giant axes. But he didn't risk firing back a retaliatory strike.
Not when Berserker seemed to be waiting for him too. The knight had raised his hand, waving to himself as if to say 'is that all you got?'.
The audacity of the mongrel to actually taunt him into going on the offensive was getting to the prideful Servant. "Using mere splinters… Then to taunt me so…" The disgrace of being forced into defence had him muttering under breath. The shame of being goaded had him howling. "Who do you think I am, bastard—Ngh?!"
As soon as he raised the threat by opening his Gate further, the king realized his mistake.
He wasn't as quick to react to Berserker rushing him. From where he stood on the first floor, it would've at least taken him a few seconds to launch himself back into melee range. But as soon as the blades of Gilgamesh's armoury appeared, the ground beneath the knight shattered as he rushed at him at tremendous speed.
The King of Heroes didn't have a moment to dodge but was able to open another gate and pull out another treasure. Instead of using a real weapon, he opted for something that wouldn't pose much of a threat against him at all. Oddly, it was a great shield he never knew he owned that he used to block Berserker from his sight.
Gilgamesh loathed losing. He loathed the fact that these mongrels were actually pushing him to go so far. Yet, his fury was quickly replaced by confusion when Berserker's attack didn't seem to make contact with the shield.
In fact, peeking from behind the massive disc, Gilgamesh noticed something. The black knight had frozen, stood before him and staring at the shield.
For once, the maddened knight didn't howl in anger or seek senseless violence.
He just stood there in regretful silence.
***
Ah… This shield. He recognized it.
How could he not? It was the same shield that was made out of their round table.
The same one… he carried… but—
It wasn't… No, upon closer inspection, he noted the rough edges and runic markings. It was similar, but not the same one.
The sight of those similarities made him stop, the memories he'd associated with it forced sense into the mad knight's head. Visions invaded him, visions that existed only in memories from his past.
The time before he went against his brothers. The time when he served his king with pride. The time before… he lost himself in an affair with the queen…
Raised hands that tried to reach out to the great shield wavered. He internally batted it away, shaming himself for the attempt as he stood there, shaking… silently mourning.
Reminisce as he might, there was no going back to the time before. He wasn't allowed a chance to return. Not when he'd raised the sword against his fellow knights. Not when he fled the rebellion against his king. Not after he slew his friends… his family…
Metal clinked and shook as Berserker's balled fists twitched violently. While Gilgamesh stared at him with confusion, the black knight stood there for longer than a few seconds. Not attacking, and certainly not defending himself.
What fool would waste this opportunity? Certainly not the king who'd built a kingdom and rebelled against gods.
Confusion was replaced by determination as golden portals shimmered and shot lances at Berserker who did not move. "DIE!"
However, before any of the weapons could penetrate his armor, the mad Servant seemingly snapped back into action, evading the spear tips at the last second.
"Insufferable pest! Sit still while I erase you!"
"RAAAAAAAAAAAAAGR!" The knight howled as if to demand the arrogant king try. With great dexterity, Berserker evaded the numerous stabs and swipes from various legendary weapons the world had never seen. Over and over, like an aerobic dancer, death narrowly missed him at every turn, only adding more to Gilgamesh's frustrations. It was when he swiftly grabbed onto one of the many swords that left the Gate too early and used it to block the second and third wave of weapons that the prideful demigod had had enough.
"Tch!"
Gilgamesh, knowing he needed to cut his losses, clicked his tongue before blasting the wall behind him. More shields and the flat of axes spun and spread around him as he escaped into the air. The golden Servant was buffeted but not deterred by Avenger's rapid-fire shots pinging off of his defensive barrier.
"RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGR!" anger at his failure growled at the armored Servant's throat. But before Berserker could give chase, he halted aiming a seemingly threatening gaze over at his Master.
While it was not meant as one, the bloodlust and rage that consumed him made it difficult to convey the words. The command to protect Kariya was still active and he couldn't leave unless his Master was safe. And while the tired and broken man remained at his hiding spot, Archer's counterpart didn't move from his position either. Kotomine Kirei was still nailed to the broken pillar by wood and stone. Any sign of movement was just him struggling to breathe while trying not to reopen his wounds.
That being said, insanity impeded his ability to speak. Intelligent and talented as he was in life, his wit and communication skills deteriorated as a Berserker. The Mad Knight of the Lake could only stare at his Master, the man to whom he made a promise. A promise to save someone who needed it.
Matou Kariya only blinked once before understanding what it was his Servant sought with that blank gaze behind the eerily glowing crimson visors.
"Go!" the man commanded with a light cough riddled with saliva and blood. Having fallen back to lean against what was left of a shattered pillar, the worm-riddled martyr reassured him. "I'm… fine. Finish this and murder him, Berserker!"
The mad Servant was eager to obey the one command his current class knew to do best. But before leaving and going after the arrogant king, Berserk stopped and glanced back at the shield. It had been discarded the moment Archer realized he was distracted by it. And though it would serve well as a tool, he hesitated to corrupt it like he had all his other tools.
It wasn't the same one but it was too similar. Could he take it? Could he use it to his advantage? The symbol of the grand order he and his brothers in arms constructed, upheld and protected? Could he wield it once more under the name of justice and bring an end to his foe?
No… He could not…
Berserker knew he couldn't stain that which had already been doused in blood. What had already destroyed millennia past could not be allowed to be corrupted by his sinful hands again.
The round table was gone. But… in the Throne of Heroes, its spirit lives on. For him, the dishonorable adulterer who betrayed and killed that order's believers, its people, to stain that legacy once more… was beyond pardonable.
No matter how mad he'd become, he was still a knight bound by chivalry… He still sought redemption.
Dashing over to the priest's side, he growled a warning to the nearly dead Executioner's poker face. Snatching up the weapons Kirei had discarded during the explosion, the Black Keys only those of the Church were able to properly wield turned blacker and stained by his curse.
These wouldn't compare much to the Armory of Babylon's greatest demigod, but neither would have a random hatchet and a plank of wood. But the black knight whose skill had been of great renown when he'd lived knew it would suffice.
At least until Avenger was able to supply him with more suitable choices.
Once more, he vanished into a cloud of black and red smoke. The chase for his enemy began. The furious roar was all he'd left behind apart from his Master.