A Fake Familiar Reborn

Beta read by Shigiya and Paragon of Awesomeness.

This fight scene was a paaaaain to write but worth it in the end.

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-Kuoh-

"Any sign of them? We nearly covered half of the city, and Rias should be done with her side soon." Flying across the city, Sona communicated with both her peerage and Servant, hoping to find any kind of lead as to the whereabouts of Caster, Kokabiel, or the Exorcists.

'Nothing as of yet, Master,' Rider, who was covering the ground, reported back. Seconds later, Sona received a similar report from Saji, Momo, and the rest of her peers who were searching through the skies. 

"Shit," It was rare for her to curse even during the most stressful of circumstances, but the current situation was on the verge of becoming a catastrophe and was putting her on the tipping point. Without even realizing it, she soon found herself biting her thumb whilst continuing to scan this city below her for any signs of Caster or any of the Fallen. In the back of her mind, though, there was a growing worry that the Exorcists were already dead, Kokabiel having taken off with all six fragments and was planning something else even worse.

If that happened, they'd be lucky to prevent the Church from declaring war. 

"Any news from the Gremory group?" She asked her Queen, who was flying close by. 

"Nothing, I'm afraid. They are continuing to scout the area along with Archer, but so far they have nothing of note." 

An outcome she fully was prepared to hear; by now it was clear that if the enemy Servant was going to be found, then it would be happening on their terms. 

"Tsubaki… I'm worried about Archer. You saw it, didn't you?"

Tsubaki nodded. "Poison, and one potent enough to affect even him." 

"So our target can not only summon an entire army of undead skeletons, but they can also bring forth creatures capable of inflicting poison capable of affecting Servants, along with who knows what other kind of magic and tools, all while not even needing to set foot on the battlefield. I feel like we are being led by the nose here and I don't like it." Her mind went into overdrive trying to figure out a list of individuals in history capable of so many things. "Does this count as necromancy? Or maybe just plain familiar summoning? But that can't be accurate, it just seems absurd for anyone to have so many familiars… Even a Caster." 

"Maybe they aren't familiars." Tsubaki pondered, taking a different approach to this matter, which caught her King's attention. "If Caster's magic is at all similar to ours, then it's very possible they were just constructs, created when supplied with a large enough source of energy rather than being contracted beings. Like golems, but made from bones."

"You might be right," Sona acknowledged thoughtfully. "And I suppose I should be glad our enemy did not attack us during school hours when all the students were still there, though I don't know if the timing just happened to be fortuitous in that regard, or was a matter of Caster having a sense of honor or valuing discretion." 

That would have been a nightmare in its own right, and frankly, having to do hypnosis on hundreds of regular humans was the last thing they needed to worry about on top of the current scenario. 

"Rider, if you don't find any kind of clue in the next five minutes, then go join Archer." 

Even though she was aware of the capabilities of the Servant of the Bow, she didn't want to take any risks and allow him to be thrown into a perilous situation. 

'With Rider by his side, it's difficult to imagine anything being able to stand up to the two of them together.' 

This was reinforced by the fact that they, surprisingly enough, cooperated very efficiently when in combat, though personally, Sona could have done without the banter. She was highly familiar with how difficult it was to have just two individuals complement each other's fighting styles in the midst of battle. It had taken a lot of effort and time just to have this kind of familiarity developed in her own peerage, where everyone had each other's back. She recalled that despite the two Servants having only known each other for less than a month, they never once got in each other's way. Archer seemed to have a good idea of Rider's fighting style, and so did she of his.

As she reached the end of a train of thoughts, the young devil suddenly felt very on guard, and yet, it didn't feel like it came from herself. 

She was still mentally linked with her Servant.

"Rider?" 

She didn't respond right away… That wasn't a good sign. 

Finally, her Servant's voice came through, though it was clear that her focus was elsewhere. 'Master, we have a problem.'

"What is it? Did you find Caster?" Hope and relief bloomed in Sona's heart despite Rider's words. Perhaps this was an opportunity for her to take advantage of the situation and assume her role as a proper Master and have Rider defeat this opponent without any aid. Capable as this Caster had proven to be, Sona doubted they were fast enough to avoid Rider now that she'd found them. To top it off, her magic resistance was superior to Archer's. "Stay in place, I and the others will get to your location to set up a barrier—"

'—I did not, but I have encountered another Servant.' 

Sona's breath hitched at those words, her mind instantly filling with dread. 

"…What?" 

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(A few minutes earlier)

Fighting by that man's side had been… surprisingly pleasant. 

When Rider, by the orders of her master, went over to Archer to aid him against the horde of Dragon Tooth Warriors, she had been prepared to be faced with numerous hurdles and challenges to effectively fight by his side. Trying to adjust her speed, making sure she wasn't getting in his way, understanding his plan beforehand, and making sure she was covering everything without more than a few of the creatures slipping past them, lest her Master's peerage find themselves overwhelmed.

Yet from the moment she reached his location and joined him in battle, there were no such obstacles or challenges to be found. Archer was able to maneuver around the field along with her perfectly despite his lower strength and speed, neither his arrows nor blades getting in the way or forcing her to redirect her approach. The same sensation of familiarity from when she first fought him returned tenfold. 

Whoever Archer was, not only was he familiar with her style of combat that he'd been able to counter her at each turn, but he also knew how to adapt to it seamlessly as an ally.

'He knows me.' 

But no matter how much she searched her own mind, there were no moments to be found in her own legend that described there being anyone who ever fought alongside or against her that matched his description. She didn't put off the idea that he was perhaps one of the many warriors who tried to slay the Gorgon, yet this theory itself did not hold up under scrutiny, given the absolute lack of animosity or judgment from him, and the fact that he did not give her the impression of being one of the many fools who ventured to the forbidden Isle to conquer the infamous monster and save the trapped sisters. 

She thought about it for a long while, and in time a particularly interesting idea surfaced which sounded improbable at first but deserved consideration. 

'Maybe we encountered one another during a previous summoning, in a Holy Grail War.' 

The true Heroic Spirit that was Medusa was actually still residing within the Throne of Heroes. Whenever a Servant was summoned it was not the original that was called forth but rather a copy of a fragment of their power, a version of themselves during a particular period of time when they were at their prime, or best aligned to the class they were being summoned into. 

She couldn't truly confirm this hypothesis without directly confronting Archer and asking him if he had somehow kept his memories of past summonings, nor were there any other Servants present who would be willing to answer this question if she asked them. 

'I need to stop thinking about this — no distractions,' she reminded herself firmly. After all, they were up against a Caster-class Servant, perhaps the trickiest opponent of them all. Her task was simple: find the territory Caster had established, if possible locate the Master or the Exorcists, and finish this as soon as possible. 

Rider blurred through the streets of Kuoh in her spiritual form, her swift movements allowing her to cover entire city blocks in seconds. She remained focused, every sense alert. Then, suddenly, a warning prickle ran through her senses — a powerful presence. 

Something dangerous was drawing near, and it wasn't even attempting to hide itself.

"—!"

Clank!

Clank!

The rhythmic, heavy metallic thudding echoed through the night, each step resounding like a hammer striking stone. The sound grew louder, sending vibrations through the quiet streets. Her heightened senses detected a vast amount of magical energy, unmistakably that of another Servant. Standing on the rooftop of a nearby house, she looked down at the path below.

From the shadows, an extremely eye-catching figure emerged, stepping into the moonlight — a hulking suit of armor, glinting ominously in the pale glow.

Rider's body tensed instinctively, every muscle coiled in anticipation.

'Rider?'

'Master, we have a problem,' she carefully replied, her voice tense with focus, and her gaze locked on the armored figure below. There was no time to waste.

Their appearance alone was quite striking, with red highlights all over the armor, and the helmet had two protruding horns that practically demanded her attention. To confidently declare their heavy presence like this while having a disciplined and controlled demeanor, all while wearing such heavy armor… this had to be a Saber. 

When she heard Sona asking if she'd found Caster and mention that she was about to head her way with her peers to set up a barrier, Rider found it necessary to correct her Master's assumption. 

'I did not, but I have encountered another Servant.'

'…What?' 

As soon as that brief exchange ended, the armored individual halted in the middle of the street and instantly turned its attention squarely in her direction.

"Oi, stop hiding up there! It's one thing if you're gonna scurry around, but it quickly gets irritating to feel you staring at me like that." 

Rider was surprised at the other party being able to sense her presence even though she was in her spiritual form. Now she found herself faced with a dilemma on what to do next. Whoever this Servant was, they were clearly strong, and she didn't want to risk her Master being in the vicinity if a fight were to break out. 

At the same time though, for yet another Servant to be in Kuoh now of all times… Rider couldn't see that being a coincidence.

'Can… Can you tell me what class they are?' Sona asked through their connection with a worried tone, yet she was trying her best to remain calm and assess the situation in a controlled manner. 

Rider felt her respect for her Master rise at that. Devil or not, Sona Sitri was a very young woman, barely old enough to be considered an adult, and she was already dealing with one enemy Servant only for another, more powerful one to show up. 

Anyone could find themselves emotionally overwhelmed in such circumstances, Devil or not. Yet despite this, Sona Sitri remained committed to upholding her duty as one of Kuoh's overseers.

'I believe this is a Saber, Master,' she answered carefully. If the heavy presence and armor weren't already a good enough indicator, then the massive sword that just appeared in the armored individual's grasp certainly was. 'They're completely covered in armor, but from the voice, they sound like a young woman.' 

'Rias told me about Masters having the ability to see through their summoned Heroic Spirit's eyes and check the parameters of opposing Servants. Will that be possible even with your blindfold?'

'I believe so, but I would need to be in physical form, which will announce my presence.' Not that it mattered since Saber already knew she was there, but as long as she remained in her spiritual form there was nothing Saber could do if she decided to retreat. If Saber attacked as soon as she materialized though, things would get complicated fast. 

'We can't just let this Servant wander Kuoh unchecked. If Saber and her Master are affiliated with the Fallen, we need to stop her before she can link up with Caster. And if not, then I still want to know just what the hell they're doing in my territory.'

As soon as Rider materialized, she felt a slight change within her, most likely Sona trying out the ability and seeing the world through her senses. It didn't take long for her to let out a gasp of utter shock… And Rider got the distinct impression it had nothing to do with how she perceived the world. 

'What… What the hell is up with these parameters!? Aside from Luck, she's ranked A across the board! Hell, both her Strength and Endurance are rated A+! How can something so monstrously strong even exist!?' 

Rider frowned ever so slightly, as her Master's reaction was certainly warranted. Those parameters were absurd even for a Saber. If things came to a fight, she knew she'd be far more pressed against this Servant than she was with Archer. Cunning as the man was, he was completely outclassed by the entity before her when it came to raw power.

'Now you see why Saber is widely considered the strongest of all the Servant classes, Master. Though I must admit that even by their standards, this Servant is very strong.'

'Don't let your guard down with her, Rider! I'll… I'll think of something. Try to find out what this Servant, or rather her Master, is after. Just don't do anything rash!' 

That was uncalled for, she was certain she had never given her Master the impression of being the kind of individual to impulsively pick a fight. Frankly, she was of the opinion that that kind of behavior could be more fittingly attributed to both Devil heiresses, especially from everything she heard about them from Archer. 

The entire conversation between Master and Servant occurred within a handful of seconds. In real-time, almost as soon as Saber called her out, she materialized and jumped down from her spot to be on even footing with the other Servant. 

"Nice to see that you actually have a spine. I am not in the mood to play a game of cat and mouse. Fucking Master is already on my case, so I'd really advise you not to piss me off." Were It not for the helmet, something told Rider that this person would have definitely spat on the ground.

"…Saber." 

"Wow, how did you ever guess? Was it the fact that I'm strong as hell while still able to speak in complete sentences, or the giant ass sword I'm carrying?" 

"Both." 

"Humph," Saber scoffed, definitely in a bad mood. But at least she didn't immediately attack her, which gave Rider some hope that perhaps this party was not an enemy… for now. "You're not an Assassin with how much you suck at hiding. You're also not a raving dumbass like I'd expect from a Berserker, and the fact that you're actually meeting me face to face means you're not some pansy Archer or Caster. Hm, Rider or Lancer… Yeah, one of those two."

"…" Rider neither denied nor confirmed her claim, merely continuing to remain silent and instead focus on the task given to her by Sona. But at least she confirmed that this party was not with Caster from the sound of it. "…Why are you here?" 

"Oh, wouldn't you like to know? Or maybe it's your dear Master who asked you to find out. Not that it matters, I'm not under any obligation to answer whatever questions you've got. In fact, the only thing I've got to say to you is the following warning: don't get in my way, or I'll crush you. You are not my target tonight, so consider yourself fortunate for that alone." 

The threat was coupled with a crimson arc of lightning appearing around Saber's sword as she flared her magical energy. The blade itself reeked of blood to Medusa's senses, a terrifying weapon whose weight looked like it would sink into the asphalt road just from being dropped. To say nothing of what it could do when wielded by Saber's titanic strength.

'It does not sound like she's in any mood to cooperate, Master,' reported Rider, hearing the Sitri heiress curse for a second time on the other end. 

'Dammit. If that's how she's going to be… I have to respond to this. We can't just let her roam around town and allow her to add even more chaos to whatever Caster and Kokabiel are planning.' 

That, she agreed with. No matter from which angle she looked at this issue, it was in her Master's best interest to stop this individual from acting as they pleased, especially with what was already happening. 

'Still… I'm afraid Saber is too dangerous for you to face on your own. Try to buy as much time as you can for us to gather at your location, and we'll help you out from a distance. Even if we can't hurt her directly, we should at least be able to slow her down and distract her enough for you to take advantage of a small window of opportunity.' 

Rider resisted the urge to shake her head, 'Master, you underestimate me. My parameters may not be as high as Saber's, but I can match her strength, and I'm at least slightly faster than she is. I can handle her.' As much as she appreciated how thoughtful and careful Sona had proven herself to be, it seemed she needed to help her Master understand that parameters were not the defining factors that decided who would win or lose. And even if they were, Rider had skills that could go a long way in tipping the odds in her favor.

Also, if the Devils tried to join the fight, then Rider highly doubted they could be of any help whatsoever. Honestly, no one among them possessed sufficient firepower to make a difference against Saber of all Servants. 

'Fine, I'll contact Rias… Just be careful and stay alive.' 

With that said, she was now certain of which course of action to take. And so, her weapons of choice materialized, the chain-linked nails firmly held within her grasp and pointed straight at Saber's helmet. 

"Finally finished talking with your Master I see."

"I can't let you wander around my Master's territory like this however you please, Saber. Upon my Master's orders, leave this city at once or I will be forced to make you leave." 

"Hoh?" Saber chuckled with an almost mocking tone as she pointed her blade at Rider. "And just who the hell do you think you are to order me around?" 

"…"

It had become clear, the polite approach had failed in every possible way. Which left her with only one option. 

To fight. 

Woosh! 

Rider's figure disappeared from sight in an instant at a speed that even most Servants would have a hard time following. A miniature shockwave was created and a small crater formed where Rider had been standing, but by the time either phenomenon happened, she had already reappeared right in front of Saber with both of her heels digging into the armored Servant's stomach with the full force of her charge.

The strike produced a much larger shockwave that resounded through the streets as Saber's figure went flying faster than a bullet, tearing up asphalt and concrete as she was sent tumbling across the road until she slammed into a building hard enough to shatter multiple walls. Trailing clouds of dust and settling debris were left in her wake.

"…" 

Rider focused on her opponent's location, the dust cloud was quickly dissipated by a passing wind, allowing her to witness Saber calmly walking out of the ruined building, looking no worse for wear. 

"Ha, you're actually pretty strong," Saber commented. Even with the helmet, Rider could easily imagine the smirk that was surely present on her opponent's face as she said that. 

That armor combined with her extremely high Endurance was going to be trouble; upon impact, she'd managed to get a feel of how sturdy this Servant was. Even though Rider had not been using her Monstrous Strength skill to empower her strike, her Strength parameter was already ranked A. Yet it barely affected Saber from the looks of it. 

Behind her blindfold, Rider narrowed her eyes, realizing this wasn't going to be as simple as she'd hoped. Saber's stance betrayed nothing less than full confidence. In fact, she looked downright eager at the prospect of a fight.

'She can take a hit,' Rider thought to herself. In that case, the next time she landed a blow, she needed to ensure it hit really hard.

The armored opponent took a few leisurely steps forward, her boots crushing broken pieces of cement into dust with ease, her sword resting on her pauldron, unbothered. 

"You know, until you did that, I was expecting this night to be a snore fest and a waste of my time. But finally, I come across another Servant, and to top it off she's not a complete pussy." She tilted her head, that mocking tone slipping back into her voice. "Come on, try again. I could use a good warm-up."

Rider's lips tightened. 

She wasn't planning on letting Saber goad her — such tactics were useless to begin with. She raised her chain, letting it uncoil, the weapon humming with energy. Without a word, the Heroic Spirit blurred out of sight again in a flash. This time, her attack came from above — a brutal, arcing strike with her nail aimed straight at Saber's head.

The crimson sword in Saber's hand flashed as she swung up, intercepting the blow with a clash that sent sparks flying. Rider twisted mid-air, using the impact to spring back, her chain now whipping toward Saber's side with relentless speed. But despite the unconventionality of her weapon, it got parried with relative ease with a single sweep of Saber's blade which created a small whirlwind.

"Hn," the purple-haired Servant hummed, an ember of frustration sounding, barely audible. Drawing more magical energy from her Master, she poured it into her limbs with each one of them bulging slightly from the gathered strength.

In a burst of speed greater than anything she'd shown previously, Rider launched herself forward again, her chains striking from multiple angles like a storm. Saber was forced to go on the defensive, her blade flashing to meet each attack. Even with her impressive agility, the Servant of the Sword could feel the pressure building as Rider's relentless assault grew faster, sharper. The ground cracked under her boots as she braced herself, blocking each hit, each swing of those troublesome chains.

"Persistent aren't ya!" 

Finally, an opening was found.

Rider swept low, sending her chain forward to wrap around Saber's ankle. 

Yet as if she foresaw the action at the last moment, the armored boot was harshly pulled back and the chain was snatched in midair which Saber swiftly wrapped around her own forearm to get a better grip. With a sharp tug, she pulled on the chain and Rider was forced to plant her feet — the two Servants now locked in an intense tug of war. 

Rider's brows furrowed as she was forced to directly contend with Saber's strength. As high as her own Strength parameter was, her opponent having a plus modifier made a substantial difference. But she still had ways to tip the scales in her favor, and Medusa tapped into her monstrous nature. 

A well of strength rose from her core to envelop her body, and just like that, the two sides were in a stalemate.

"What?" 

Saber had evidently not been prepared for Rider to match her strength, and the Servant of the Mount took advantage of her opponent's surprise by digging her heeled boots into the asphalt road like it was sand and twisting in place. 

With a grunt, Rider swung Saber by the arm in a wide arc and slammed her into a nearby bridge support with bone-jarring force. The structure itself collapsed under the impact, a force that could easily be mistaken for a small earthquake resounding through the nearby area before the pieces of it began to settle into the river beneath. 

Rider quickly decided that it would be best to keep this battle as far away from the residential areas as possible.

She leaped onto a nearby building, waiting for Saber to rise from the rubble. She didn't think for a second that that would be enough to take Saber out of the fight, she probably wasn't even injured. Her parameters alone made that clear, and Sona had said nothing of what manner of skills she might have. 

It was a good thing that her Master held a sufficient amount of energy to support her as long as she needed. Devils held far larger reserves compared to the average human mage, and Sona was a Pillar heiress on top of that. Perhaps not as plentiful as Archer's Master, but still more than enough for her to use Bellerophon as much as she wanted to if the need arose.

Sure enough, the remains of the shattered bridge were blasted apart as the crimson form of Saber burst out, red lightning crackling across her armor.

"Ha! That one actually fucking hurt!" 

Just as Rider expected, Saber had emerged from the rubble unscathed. Not a single dent on the armor was to be found while the person wearing it was still brimming with power. 

"Alright, you put me in a good mood, so I'll give you a chance to answer a question of mine. If you do, I'll let the hit slide. Tell me where the… hurgh… the… shit, the Excalibur fragments are! And don't try to play dumb! I know for a fact that almost all of them were recently brought right to this little town." 

Rider raised a brow at that. Saber had almost sounded physically ill when she had to say the word Excalibur. Her voice dripped with unhidden rage and disgust at every syllable that passed her lips when referring to the sword wielded by the King of Knights. 

"…And just what do you want with the fragments?" Rider asked, taking what she saw as a chance to find out what she could of Saber's motivations. Depending on her answer, it may yet be possible for them to avoid further destruction. Besides, Rider couldn't give her an answer even if she wanted to; she had been in the process of attempting to find and recover the two Exorcists and the Excalibur fragments before running into Saber.

Unfortunately, Saber evidently did not appreciate her question being answered with another, or perhaps misunderstood the purpose behind it. "I'm the one asking here. Tch, never mind, I'll just beat the answer out of you or find them myself. Whichever gets me what I want quicker." 

Both her hands gripped the handle of her sword, and the aura around the woman changed completely. The wind howled as an enormous well of concentrated magical energy came forth, surrounding the Servant in an intense miasma of crimson lightning. 

"Ha!" 

The energy exploded around her body, pushing back even the river around her for a brief moment before the edge of the blade was suddenly a mere inch away from Rider's face. 

"—!" 

Fast, enough to nearly bypass her senses and have the blade slice through her flesh. But Rider's agility remained superior. Contorting her upper body in a way that would be impossible for most humans, she managed to slip by the initial slash without getting cut. Her nails moved against the crimson light of her opponent's sword, held in a reverse grip and thrusting at Saber's waist. 

Clang! 

Saber managed to bring back her sword just in time to use the flat side of her blade to block the attack. Sparks flew upon contact and both sides moved at the same time for a counter. Throughout this, the eye sockets within the helmet gleamed with a savage thrill. 

"Heh!" Saber's hidden grin seemed to audibly widen as she pushed back against Rider's weapon, locking them both in a test of strength once more. Crimson lightning crackled along the length of her body. 

Having difficulty standing her ground as it was torn apart under them both and being the lighter combatant, Rider ended up getting sent flying a hundred meters backward. But she was easily able to smoothly ride the momentum. While midair, one of her nails shot out to impale the street and she brought herself to a halt.

"An instant release of a large amount of energy that directly enhanced the force of her attack. Looks like Mana Burst." She analyzed carefully with a whisper, having felt the impact of Saber's swings from before and after that skill was used. As for the rank of the skill, that was something she could not accurately discern yet, but given how powerful it felt, it wouldn't be that wrong to assume B+ or even A. 

'Are you okay, Rider!?' Sona's terrified voice came from the other side, the young girl practically screaming through their connection and sounding much more stressed than she was previously. 'I can feel the shockwaves made by your battle from the other side of Kuoh! This Servant is too dangerous, you have to retreat now!' 

Right, during the entire battle, her Master had been watching it through her senses. It made sense as to why the girl was this terrified, as to her, Saber's movement held practically no difference to instant teleportation, and both Saber's offense and defense surpassed anything her Master had ever seen. 

"I'm afraid that's no longer possible, Master." 

The last syllable had barely passed her lips when Saber reappeared in front of her with a speed that was nearly on par with hers. The blade was already halfway swung, coming down in an overhead strike to split her in half.

"Horrraaah!" 

Clang!

Once more, Rider used her superior speed and matching strength to keep up. Their figures became no different to a mirage across the lower parts of Kuoh with sparks of metal flying through hundreds of times within a second, visible even through the piles of rubble the two combatants left in their wake. Despite how heavy Saber's armor clearly was, it did very little to slow down its wearer even in comparison to the fastest Servant. 

Yet despite the overwhelming might of Saber and the powerful sword she wielded, both Rider's weapons and body held firm as she ferociously fought back.

"Is that all you've got!?" Saber taunted, her voice dripping with arrogance. She tightened her grip, shoving Rider back and swinging her sword in a powerful wide arc, sending a blast of scarlet energy ripping through the air. The wave of force crashed toward Rider, tearing up the ground it passed over.

"Hn!" Though Rider didn't show it, a wave of pain traveled across her body as some of the crimson lightning managed to graze her shoulders, but she ignored the pain as Saber came charging at her once more. She managed to use her chains to change the course of the sword in time and forcefully pushed it to the ground with one foot while the other viciously kicked up at the helmet with the intent to crumble the armor and hopefully the wearer's face. 

"Damn bitch!" 

Unfortunately, this only infuriated Saber more than it actually hurt her, she didn't even sound like she'd suffered a concussion. Rider had been prepared for this though, and her assault did not stop there. A fraction of a second later she gripped one of her nails with both hands firmly before plunging it toward Saber's neck, where she knew the armor had to be thinnest. The point of her weapon managed to sink into the first few layers of her skin but was suddenly brought to a dead halt as Rider was pushed back by another massive wave of power bursting from Saber in a torrential wave of red thunder. The Mana Burst destroyed the ground below as the Servant responsible let out an enraged roar. 

With the best course of action seemingly being to create some distance, the Gorgon thus had to jump away the next instant. She held onto both nails, where the right one had some blood on its tip that dripped to the ground.

"Humph, those are annoying weapons I'll admit," Saber mentioned, looking downwards at the small patch of visible fabric in between her armor's joints becoming soaked in blood from the light wound. Rolling her shoulder and neck, she casually hummed.

"You're a Rider ain't ya? You haven't used your Noble Phantasm yet, nor is your weapon a spear. You haven't summoned a mount so that either means you are underestimating me or that Master of yours is getting in the way." There was no doubt in her tone, even if Rider tried to deny the claim, Saber wouldn't listen.

"…I could be an Archer." 

"You think I'm stupid? What kind of idiot would fight a Saber like me in close quarters when they're supposed to specialize in fighting from a distance?" 

Her lips twitched upwards, "You'd be surprised." 

Unfortunately, she didn't get to dwell much on such thoughts when the enemy before her dashed forward with another Mana Burst. With Medusa now tapping more into herself to draw out the strength from the monster within, the disparity between their power had lessened, but Saber was slowly and surely gaining the advantage over her once more. Each time their weapons collided, the impacts displaced the air and her arms trembled. Light slashes and cuts started to graze her body as, despite her superior speed, her opponent proved herself the more skilled with bladework between the two of them.

The two Servants raced as they clashed, moving from one side of the city to the other at speeds beyond what the human eye could capture. The city's residents were left thinking that some bizarre natural disaster had swept through their streets, and even the Devils were becoming increasingly worried as they realized that Rider was losing ground. 

As for Sona, she felt she had no choice but to use extreme methods. 

Woosh! 

While in the middle of their confrontation, with both sword and chains locking against one another into another stalemate of brute strength, Saber's head tilted sideways ever so slightly as she saw a blast of magic coming at her from behind. 

It shattered harmlessly against her Magic Resistance, but several more followed, attempting to retrain her limbs even the slightest bit. This betrayed the presence of a small group of Devils hovering in the sky far enough that they wouldn't get caught by the battle but close enough to hopefully provide some fire support for Rider.

"Tch!" 

Yet their efforts amounted to nothing aside from annoying Saber, who paid them no heed other than just a simple glance before she refocused on Rider, blocking a flying kick to the guts — the whirlwind growing stronger with each clash and the number of destroyed properties growing by the second. 

Entire roads were overturned into pieces, trees turned into splinters, and shockwaves woke up multiple neighborhoods with their residents feeling scared and confused. 

At the center of it all were the two Heroic Spirits, surrounded by a multitude of flying spells all of which desperately tried to do anything to hinder Saber. 

Yet each attempt ended in failure. The armored knight was just far too fast. As though she had eyes on the back of her head, Saber effortlessly weaved around the magic that was designed to hinder her, making the dodges seem as though they were part of her natural efforts in fighting Rider.

"Keep going, one is bound to land eventually!" Sona ordered with a reddened face, whether it was out of shame from turning out to be such a trivial existence to Servants that her attacks and presence were being actively ignored or terror at the possibility they may lose — she had no choice but to continue. 

All the while Saber kept her attention on Rider, not acknowledging the Devils' existence once. But the continuous barrage of spells from all sides could not be ignored forever and forced her to move around the area more often. 

"You annoying brats!" Reaching the limit of her patience, Saber's fingers dug into a nearby boulder twice her size.

Rider's expression turned grave, "Master, run!"

"You prissy bitches should learn to fuck off!" 

With a twist of her body, Saber threw the boulder directly at Sona, the massive projectile flying through the air as though she'd just thrown a pebble. 

"Kaicho!"

Momo, Saji, and Tsubaki all moved in front of their King to intercept the attack. Momo cast several layers of barriers, which all broke into shards upon impact even as the boulder burst into gravel. This was followed by the appearance of a giant mirror, serving as a solid defense line that sent the shards flying back at double the velocity, but the two Servants had already resumed their fight. 

"Ga!" 

Yet some of the pieces slipped by and would have reached Sona if it weren't for Saji using his body to absorb the impact. 

"Saji!" 

The worried shout of Sona cut through the din of battle, reaching Rider's ears just in time to see Saber shifting her focus toward her Master again. Sona was distracted, tending to her injured Pawn, completely exposed to the incoming threat.

Rider felt a surge of urgency. Without hesitation, she leaped in front of Saber, reaching behind her head and tearing away her blindfold. Her eyes, once concealed, now glowed with a fierce, unnatural pink light that shimmered with an ominous energy.

"Cybele!"

"Urgh!" 

The air around them trembled as Rider's Mystic Eyes of Petrification locked onto Saber. Whose body briefly halted in shock as the powerful Servant felt her movements become slower and weaker.

The cursed energy of Cybele failed to take full effect due to Saber's deep well of Mana. But having all of her parameters reduced by a full rank was enough to catch the knight off guard, which worked just as well for Rider.

Saber's eyes, hidden by her helmet, were now wide with fury and surprise, and squarely fixed on Rider.

Woosh!

Not letting this opportunity slip by, both nails were brought back with the first one viciously stabbed into Saber's thighs. The initial strike managed to crack the armor, but not enough to pierce through it entirely. Until Rider raised her leg, drawing more strength and feeling the slippery slope of her calmness continue to slip away, though not enough that she would submit to her other side. 

Bam!

Crack!

Her heel was brought down like a hammer, the back of her heel striking the hilt of the nail. The ground beneath them caved into a sizable crater from the sheer force and the armor finally broke under the assault, allowing the weapon to impale Saber's thigh.

Her other weapon was already aiming for the eye socket, plunged with the intent to kill…

Only for Saber to move with a loud roar and flash of crimson light, with Rider feeling the air being driven out of her lungs by a clenched fist digging into her stomach. Forced to let go of her weapons, she staggered backward as she coughed up blood. 

"Alright, this has gone on for long enough," Saber said, ripping out the needle embedded in her thigh with a low grunt. 

Tossing it to the side in disgust, she gazed at the damaged part of her armor and scoffed. But just as she was about to say something else, both Servants felt their senses tingle with a burst of holy energy emanating from the nearby mountain.

'That's… Archer must be there.' Rider realized, which also probably meant that he found Caster. 

"You… those bastards!" 

Out of nowhere, she heard the sound of metallic parts shifting. Much to her surprise, the helmet started to move, separating like mechanical parts and settling down around the weather's pauldrons like a flawlessly integrated piece. 

Strands of blonde hair came into view and the face of a rather young looking light green-eyed girl came into view. Holding a beautiful but slightly tomboyish face, her appearance somehow conformed exactly to how Rider imagined she would look. 

Saber's entire demeanor had taken a turn for the worse. Her attention no longer rested on Rider but instead on the pillar of light in the distance that exuded a large amount of holy energy. 

If Archer ended up having to deal with both Caster and Saber at the same time… it wouldn't end well for him. 

"…" 

She stepped in Saber's way, evidently intent on blocking her way, but that thought left her mind. 'It's very likely that Caster and Saber aren't in an alliance. If Archer and I work together, we may be able to pit the other two against one another and take down one before focusing on the other.' 

Such was the reason why she instantly turned away and darted towards the light, much to her opponent's fury. 

"Coward! Get back here!" 

Despite her injured limb, Saber's speed did not diminish. With another Mana Burst, she had already nearly caught up with Rider. Her sword brimming with red energy, with a single swing she unleashed a wave of red lightning that managed to close the distance between them and hit Rider full force. 

It felt no different from getting dipped into molten lava, even as Rider managed to avoid the worst of it. But the damage was done and the next thing she knew her back crashed against the side of the mountain. Close enough to the source of the Holy Energy where she found Archer staring back at her with clear shock at her state, most likely. 

"—ent… lood…"

Her ears picked up a few words from Saber in the distance, sensing an enormous amount of crimson magical energy gathering. 

Saber was going to unleash her Noble Phantasm. 

"Run… you can't beat her," she warned Archer.

A crimson pillar of lightning erupted, overwhelming her senses and threatening to consume everything in its path once it came crashing down. Yet strangely enough, Saber's attention was not focused on her, but rather the light at the top of the mountain.

She didn't have much time to activate her own and attempt to counter, and at the corner of her eyes, she could see that Sona was holding out her hand with the Command Seals glowing. 

That girl was going to forcefully have her teleported away from the path of the Noble Phantasm. She didn't like it, the number of Command Seals was always a crucial weapon for a Master to hold and she'd already used one. 

But there was clear hesitation within Sona, she definitely knew the importance of the Command Seals.

'Don't do it Master,' she said, mustering her remaining strength to force herself upwards with some clear sway in her footing.

The pillar descended, but Sona's eyes suddenly shifted to the side. What did she—

"I am the bone of my sword." 

The person she thought was going to choose the more logical option and leave the area was now standing in front of her. He raised his right arm palm facing out, and gripped the forearm with his other hand.

"Rho… Aias!" 

Faced against the immense pressure threatening to swallow them, the bud of a pink flower bloomed within his palm.

Rider watched in a daze at the sight of a beautiful seven-petaled flower unfolding reflected within her eyes. Seven layers stacking up on one another right as it was struck by the tsunami of crimson energy swallowing everything around them and carving through the mountain.

Her hair thrashed wildly in the wind, and something in Rider's mind clicked. And just like that, countless memories flashed before her eyes. Those around a particularly unassuming young boy with the dreams of becoming a hero, one so illogical that he would face a Servant holding nothing more than a metal pipe in some instances. 

Then other faces appeared. 

A pitiful purple-haired girl whom she desperately wanted to protect. 

A twin-tailed Master who was also related to the Matou heiress.

A cloaked Servant who managed to dominate the entire Holy Grail War through her own cunning ploy. 

A corrupted Grail that was destined to destroy the world. 

The overwhelming and terrifying presence of a golden king with crimson eyes. 

And finally, a man who always found himself present during all of these events, sometimes playing a small role and other times a mere observer, but always there to fight their enemies off when it mattered most.

Always he managed to leave a lasting impression on those he came across. 

One whom she rarely fought, but someone who was always familiar with her. 

A man whom she last recalled gently caressing his unconscious Master, calling her the same way a certain redhead did. Blood oozed from his missing eye and a strange calmness filled his being as he placed a blade over his shoulder to save a person he seemed to despise. 

His face mirrored the half-dead boy's, his identity clicking to the Medusa of back then.

Her breath hitched as she watched the back of the white-haired Servant get momentarily replaced by that of a younger… equally stubborn boy with red hair, who had used the same pink flowered shield, lacking a few of the petals, to help her overcome a malevolent black and red tide of tyrannical energy. 

Their figures overlapped onto one another as a word slipped out of her mouth. A name. 

"…Shirou…"

{Break}

(Present)

Rho Aias, the shield made of seven cowhides with a layer of bronze in legends. Not that it ever had a name when used by the Ajax or Aias the Great, the words he muttered basically bore its original wielder's name. Rho Aias itself became a name others gave to the shield. 

A Noble Phantasm he encountered at one point in his lifetime, when exactly he couldn't recall or from whom. Perhaps a brief encounter from the original owner or just someone else using it during one of his missions. 

This shield remained a part of his arsenal for a very long time and one he could rely on for even the worst circumstances. One he trusted to hold its own against Bellerophon.

The seven cow hides symbolized seven translucent barriers superimposed with a seven-petaled flower blooming in its defense. 

It defended him against Gae Bolg, a spear that surpassed even the likes of Gungnir, and whose wielder could hold his own against the King of Knights when in her prime. 

So when tasked with holding strong against the Noble Phantasm held by the traitorous Knight who had mortally wounded her… 

Bam!

The first layer broke nearly instantly, having barely offered any resistance at all. "Ha—ah…" 

Some of the damage reflected upon him, his sleeves getting torn apart but he remained still, continuously supplying a vast amount of magical energy supplied from Rias. Enough to delay the second layer breaking, though only for another handful of seconds. 

Crack!

"Hn!" 

He frowned at the sight of the second layer shattering with the third one now bearing the brunt of the attack. Despite this Noble Phantasm not being Excalibur, it still remained a terrifying weapon, especially in the hands of a knight capable of fighting Berserker with her bare hands if she wanted to. 

A few seconds passed that felt like an eternity, but soon the third layer also ended up shattering . Burns ran along his forearm from the backlash, yet his limb remained firm. 

Then the fourth layer broke and his wounds grew worse, his entire arm became numb. 

"A-Almost there…" Thin cracks started to spread on the fifth layer, so he poured even more magical energy into the construct, without any fear of draining too much from his Master.

Right as the fifth layer broke and the wave continued onto the sixth, the pressure started to subside. The crimson light that was around him started to die out till he was once again able to see his surroundings or rather what remained of it. 

"A—Ah…" The burns on his arm looked severe but it wasn't enough to incapacitate him from using it. His muscles, tendons, and bones hadn't shattered, so ignoring the pain for now was his best solution. 

It was in such times that he figured the effects of Twilight Healing could really come in handy. But that required bringing the former nun into a dangerous environment and possibly getting her killed. 

"…I doubt you'll be able to repair all of this, Master." He said lightly, a wry grin forming on his face as he found the previously beautiful mountain covered with a lush forest now turned into ash. A giant hole was present in the middle of it all, as though a massive axe had come down and left a burning imprint.

Unfortunately, he couldn't afford to admire the apocalyptic scenery any longer and instead turned to a familiar but slightly different face, the blonde hothead whose mouth had turned into a visible snarl. 

For being a homunculus clone, Mordred and her father didn't really look that much alike, he had to admit. Maybe it was the thuggish look on her face or her messy hairstyle. Either way, this woman was definitely a wildcard he couldn't afford to fight head-on like this.

"I never thought that one day I would face the Rebel of the Round Table. Why are you here, Mordred Pendragon?" He used her real name from the get-go, knowing he needed to get her attention first, one way or another. 

And he just so happened to be familiar with her past and the kind of person she was.

Not like it was hard. The woman was an open book.

"Hey fuckface, no one gave you permission to use my true name. I should kick your ass for that!" Her vibrant green eyes instantly glared back at him, huffing as she walked closer. 

Not even curious as to how he uncovered her identity. 

Well, she had just used her Noble Phantasm, evidently with little care for the consequences.

But for her to be here… right, he should have known. 

Emiya looked behind him, seeing a slightly dazed Rider staring back at him. She must have not fully recovered from the attack yet, but her injuries didn't seem that bad. 

He wondered why she didn't use Bellerophon when she had the opportunity, the shield had tanked most of the damage, and the rest she could have resisted by her steed. 

'Maybe her wounds are more serious than I assumed… or Sona ran out of Mana?' The latter sounded a bit absurd, that woman held as much as Rin if not more — he'd assume the former. 

In any case, Mordred's target was definitely not him nor Rider, the latter must have simply crossed her path, and things ended up escalating into a battle. 

"If you're looking for the fragments of Excalibur, you are out of luck. The man who was wielding them was caught in your Noble Phantasm from what I saw, that blast definitely destroyed them." He said, watching the woman walk past him without even acknowledging him.

Rude.

Going past even Rider till she reached the area where previously was a mountain, his ears twitched when he heard a groan. 

"He's actually alive?" 

With clear shock, he watched a figure crawl out of the debris. Kokabiel was in an unbelievably wretched state, his legs long gone, not a trace of his wings remained aside from crisp stumps, and half of his face had been burned away. 

Even despite all that, Kokabiel adamantly clung to life, closer to death's door than he'd ever been but too stubborn to cross that final threshold. He still held what remained of the somewhat completed Excalibur, and perhaps that was the reason why he'd survived. 

Even when it had been shattered into pieces and then mashed back together into a chimera abomination, the weapon still held some traces of its former power, even if it was just a little bit. The combined power of the fragments most likely had a protective ability. 

Faint, already long gone after it broke again, but still present that it had saved Kokabiel.

This coupled with the fortitude of a Cadre itself made for a hard-to-kill individual. 

"I-I refuse… I… I refuse to die like this!" 

He shouted, hatefully glaring back at Archer and clearly blaming him for everything. The crazed look in his eyes remained as clear as ever, not a hint of regret for what he did. "A-Assassin! Valper!" 

He called for the two, yet neither of them was present or perhaps even alive. Archer wasn't sure if Assassin slipped away after that attack or got hit by it. But then again, Kokabiel survived and Assassin had to possess some ways to escape deadly scenarios like these, what with her having the abilities of two classes that were notoriously difficult to pin down.

As for her Master? 

Well, he doubted she would let him live for long even if he survived given what happened during their battle.

"You are still hoping to achieve a war between the three factions?" Archer asked, unable to understand why he persisted even till now. "Even if you managed to kill my Master or the Sitri heiress, what makes you believe the Devils wouldn't just aim for you? The Fallen can hunt you down and present your bound self to the Devils as a form of penance." 

"Humph… you… you don't understand the minds of the Devils." 

"No, I don't. But I understand your plan held a high chance of failing without my presence or even Rider over here. From what I've come to know, all sides are exhausted and even nearing extinction. Your actions would have just caused your species to die out rather than have them participate in a war in which they had any hope of emerging victorious." 

Archer closed his eyes, not truly having any desire to understand this man or his desires. 

"There is something I am curious about… How did you and Valper acquire the knowledge to summon Servants?" That was his main goal, to understand just how far this knowledge had been shared. 

If possible, he wanted to stop this information from reaching more people and cause even more issues in the future. This world was not ready for such a thing to exist here, there were no regulations or a body of government like the Church or Clock Tower keeping a tight watch on such matters and preventing them from going too far.

"Ha…Hahahaha! Why are you asking me? Just ask the Devils! They are behind this! And don't treat me like I'm finished. This… this isn't over yet!" He tried to teleport away, still holding enough magic to summon a teleportation circle beneath him. 

Unfortunately, for him, neither Emiya nor Mordred were willing to let him go. And the latter was the first one to make a move with a powerful stomp onto Kokabiel's head, thus canceling the spell. 

"Mmmnn!" His already bloodied face had more flesh torn off as the boot forcefully twisted his face against the gravel. 

"Oi, what the hell are you…" 

The remade Excalibur was snatched away from his grip by a thick gauntlet.

"This…" Mordred, with trembling hands, brought the hilt with most of the blade missing closer to her face. Her enraged expression reflected on what remained of its surface, disgusted at the item within her grasp. 

"This is… This is supposed to be Excalibur!?" 

Crack! 

The weapon broke into shards as she clenched her fists. Her fury did not end there, with the perpetrator of this weapon's creation at her feet, she was out for blood. 

"How dare you!" 

Bang! 

Saber crouched and punched Kokabiel in the face. Blood splattered across her armor and face, not that she seemed to care.

"How dare you!" 

Bang!

"HOW DARE YOU!" 

Bang!

"This is not Excalibur!" 

Bang! 

"THIS IS NOT EXCALIBUR!" 

Bang!

"YOU STAINED HIS NAME! AND YOU HAVE THE GALL TO CALL THIS EXCALIBUR!!!" 

Raising both hands, she brought them down like a hammer blow onto the bloody and pulped remains of what was once Kokabiel's head. The initial punch had already turned what was left of his face into meat paste, not that Saber cared as she continued her assault like a madwoman.

Archer sighed, having expected this outcome as soon as he saw Mordred and recalled her story. 

The fragments were not truly gone, they along with the bastardized remake of Excalibur rested within his Reality Marble. He didn't hate them like the person in front of him, who had a far more personal history with that sword than him, and Archer even suspected Saber would try to rip him open if she learned that the blade still existed within his soul, wanting to eradicate any trace of those fragments. 

It wasn't until another minute passed that Saber calmed down and burned away Kokabiel's remains. Going so far as to find every shard of the sword and grind them into dust under her boots. 

"Hah… Hah… Hah…" Taking deep breaths, she turned her attention back to him. Not showing any hostile intent, just plain disregard. "What? Going to try and kill me for squashing your leader?"

Archer raised an eyebrow, "I don't remember ever saying that he was my leader. Were you not having a temper tantrum, you would have understood he was our enemy just as he was yours." 

"The hell did you just say to me!?" 

"Your ears are not damaged, you heard me just fine." 

"I'll crush your head next if you don't shut your damn mouth!" 

It felt like talking to a brat rather than a Knight of the Round Table. She had Artoria's face but none of her mannerisms… Still just as powerful. 

"So, you killed him and destroyed that Exca—" Her eyes became ferocious and she raised her sword, so he decided to switch his words. "Fake failed attempt at an inferior replica?" 

"Better." 

"Hah…" he loudly sighed, scratching his head as suddenly had to deal with this short-fused girl. 

Calm.

He needed to remain calm and not trigger her with words. 

"Right, both are now gone. So what is your Master's objective? Are you an ally or enemy of the Devils?" 

Saber shrugged, "Like I give a damn about any of that. Just heard about holy swords being gathered here and my Master is too much of a pansy to come along. So I ignored her and came over myself. What's she gonna do? Use a Command Seal? Ha!" 

So her Master was a woman. Not much to narrow it down, but something to keep in mind. 

"Afraid of the Devils I suppose?" 

"Tch, I thought Devils were something I should look out for, but they turned out to be nothing but a bunch of children." 

He wanted to point out to her she was technically around their age when she died — if not younger — but stayed quiet. 

And also, her Master was not a Devil. 

'She's surprisingly loose-lipped.'

"Now that this is dealt with, will you stay here or go back?" 

"What's with all the useless questions!? And who said I was done? I still plan to win this war and crush both of you!" Her armor moved, pieces raising upwards till they formed a horned helmet. "You blocked Clarent, so I'm curious if you can do it again!" 

"We don't know if this is even a real Holy Grail War with a wish-granting device at the end, you fool!" 

"Who are you calling stupid!?"

He was actually having a headache just by speaking with her for a few seconds. She was genuinely acting more like an out-of-control Berserker than a Saber. He wondered how Artoria ever dealt with her. Probably not so well seeing how it all ended. 

"It's two against one." He tried to dissuade her from further conflict. 

"Heh, I like those odds~!" 

"…" 

He'd known Berserkers from past summonings who were more reasonable than her. 

"What are you waiting for? I'm ready! Who even are you? Are you a Lancer? Your face looks dumb enough to be one." 

He wasn't sure what she meant by that, but regardless, the girl was waiting for him to make the first move. 

In that case…

"H-Hey! Where are you going!? Come back here, jackass!" 

Archer turned his back and walked back to Rider, throwing a side glance at Saber. "What? Not going to abide by your moniker as an infamous backstabber?" 

Even with the helmet, he could already imagine her face turning crimson with fury. An enraged opponent was easier to deal with than anything else. But just as she was about to retort, Saber went still. 

"Why the hell should I retreat!?" She screamed, catching his attention at the unexpected outburst. Then he realized that she had to be speaking with her Master. 

"I already beat one and the other doesn't look that strong!" 

…

"It's your fucking fault for trying to stop me from coming here in the first place!" 

…

"I didn't kill him! I just rearranged his face a bit. His old one pissed me off so I addressed the issue. Come to think of it, so does your current one whenever you take this kind of tone with me!" 

…

"You're actually threatening me!?" 

…

"W-Wait! Don't! Don't use them, you idiot! Those things are super important! I'm not the one being stubborn here!" 

… 

"A-Alright alright, I'll come back. AND STOP CRYING!!" 

Whoever her Master was, she definitely had her hands full with this one. He pitied this unknown woman, whether they were enemies or not, she still had to deal with Saber. Now he was truly relieved and even somewhat happy that out of everyone, Sona somehow managed to summon Rider. 

At least she was way more manageable and genuinely helpful. 

After finishing talking with her Master, Saber dropped her hostility. 

"Hey, you!"

"It's Archer." 

She blinked at that. "Seriously?"

"Is that a surprise?"

"Since when do Archer class Servants have shields like that?" 

He shrugged, not willing to give her any answer since others were probably listening. 

"Bah, whatever. In any case, this ain't over! I'll be around, and next time we meet, if you get in my way you can believe I'll be taking your head!"

…Hopefully, Saber didn't mean that she and her Master would soon be hanging around Kuoh. 

"Next time we meet, try having a conversation first instead of swinging your sword at everything."

"Shut up," Saber answered before disappearing into her spiritual form.

Archer hoped this would be the first and last encounter. He was far more willing to deal with Issei's antics in class along with Aika daily than the likes of Mordred Pendragon. 

"Are you okay?" He approached Rider, Projecting her glasses for her and extending his hand to help her back up. 

But she didn't immediately accept it, and the way she placed her glasses on her face seemed more like a reflex than anything. 

"Rider?" 

She was staring at him a bit too intently for comfort. 

The woman stood up, her legs no longer wobbling as before, and she'd regained some of her lost vitality from the looks of it. 

Just as Archer opened his mouth to ask how she had met Saber and to catch him up on all he'd missed, a sharp sting bloomed across his cheek.

Pa!

His eyes widened, caught off guard by the slap, a red imprint already marking the side of his face. He turned, meeting Rider's gaze — a steady, enigmatic look that was almost unreadable. Yet, in her expression, there was a glimmer of something — perhaps amusement, perhaps something deeper.

"That," she said calmly, voice as steady as the hand that had struck him, "was a message from Tohsaka Rin."

…

What?

Huh?

Rin?

She…

A chill ran down his spine, and once again, Archer was rendered speechless in front of this woman who now exuded a much more intimidating presence than before despite having a slight smile on her face. 

"You…" 

'A-Archer!' Rias' voice came through, not exactly at the best time. 'Are you okay!? Is Rider with you!?'

He wanted to remind her that she could use her Master's ability to see through his eyes but remained frozen in front of Rider. 'I… I am fine, Master. Kokabiel is dead and unfortunately, the Excalibur fragments are gone.'

Archer managed to squeeze out some effort to communicate with Rias. He felt like he was forgetting something.

'And the exorcists?'

Oh right, them.

'We still need to find them, but they aren't dead. I can assure you of that. Assassin kept them locked up somewhere in the city, so we just need to find them, and she also no longer has any use for them.' 

'Thank Lucifer! I was so worried when you wouldn't answer me! I was prepared to use the Command Seals to call you back forcefully in case you were in danger…'

'That would have been a mistake. While my circumstances certainly were dangerous, I managed to take care of the matter.' 

'Good… that's good. Also, y-you need to return quickly, it's… We encountered the White Dragon Emperor a few moments ago. He was watching you but now he's disappeared, so be careful!' 

It was one problem after another wasn't it… Maybe dealing with Saber hadn't been so bad after all. 

——————----

Servant

Name: Mordred 

Class: Saber 

Master: Unknown

Alignment: Chaotic Neutral 

Parameters 

Strength: A+ 

Endurance: A+ 

Agility: A 

Mana: A 

Luck: B 

Noble Phantasm: A 

Class Skills 

Riding: B 

Magic Resistance: B 

Personal Skills 

Lion's Instinct: B+

Knight of Crimson Thunder: A+

Battle Continuation: B 

Charisma: C- 

Noble Phantasms 

Secret of Pedigree (Anti-Unit, Self): C 

Clarent (Anti-Unit): C 

Clarent Blood Arthur (Anti-Army): A+ 

The next 5 chapters of Snafu, and my other Fate fics (Fate Coiling Sword with 3 chapters, A Fake Familiar Reborn with 3 chapters, Steel Eyed Faker soon to be 3 chapters, Hound having 3 and To love a sword having 4 chapters) are already available on my P@treon. With 4 more Broly chapters at /NimtheWriter. Also, I post commissioned arts on each story, already posted a few on an Archer's Promise, Broly and Snafu.