Author's Note

(What the armor looks like, only the cloth parts are dark purple. I'll draw a picture of what she would look like once I have access to my drawing tablet.)

Week Two: The Knight of Rebellion vs The King of Thieves

Week Two

The Knight of Rebellion

vs

The King of Thieves

[Day Seven]
Evening

After talking over the battle plan with Saber and putting on my new formal wear that I made last night. We began to make our way down to the first floor of the school where Kotomine usually is. Once we made it to the first floor, we walked over to the man of the cloth as he smiled at us both.

“Today is the Elimination Battle. I trust that your preparations went smoothly?” Kotomine said as we stood in front of the entrance door of the coliseum. The same feeling as if I ate a bunch of butterflies and they’re flying around in my stomach again along with the feeling I could barf them up at any moment. Here I am. The last day of the week. A day that will be the last for either Dan or myself...This is wrong...very wrong, but I don’t have a choice in this matter.

“W-We’re ready.”

“You will now enter the coliseum and confront the opposing Master. Are you sure you’re ready? Remember, the only way to leave the coliseum is to win. If you are ready, I will open the gate.” He asked as I nodded. “The way to the coliseum is now open, young master. I wish you the best of luck and hope that you will return. Remember: It’s kill or be killed.” Kotomine stood by and watched as I pulled out the two Cipher key cards needed to enter. The cards quickly darted from out of my hand as they placed themselves onto the door. Once on the door, the chains that surrounded the door vanished as they slid open for us to enter. Once inside, we found ourselves in an elevator. And across from us were Dan Blackmorei and his Servant Archer.

“Geez, I get that the man is made of stone; but damn, statues make poor conversation partners. Oi! Servant. You look like a jester that would play in the city of Camelot. Why not put on a show for us or something?” Saber said as Archer snorted at her with a smug expression on her face.

“Huh? What’s the point of talking to someone who’s about to jump into their grave?” He said before folding his arms. “Although, I’m about ready to chew my arm off to get away from grumpy here. The guy doesn’t even fart without a purpose. I’ve given up trying to make small talk with him.” Archer soon turned his attention on to me before speaking. “Hey, horse girl. Why don’t you try talking to Grumplestiltskin over here?” ….I mean, I could give it a try. Couldn’t hurt to ask him something.

“If you don’t mind me asking, why do you fight?”

“There is no “why” in war. Once one enters the battlefield, they only fight to achieve their objective. A soldier does not need-no, cannot have-a reason to fight. That is how things were when I was a soldier...Though my life has changed much since that time, I’ve never needed a “why.”

“Don’t you hate it when you’re right? Like I said, the guy’s a steel trap. Thanks for trying to pry him open.” Archer said as Saber smirked.

“I can respect the guy given how he’s a vet and what not. But it doesn’t help that he’s paired up with an impish legendary soul. Hell if I’m complimenting someone, I’d say the master would’ve been a better figure as a Servant than you.” Saber said as Archer laughed a bit.

“I wish! My Master’s so straitlaced that an atypical legendary soul like me gets tied up in knots. I’ll let you in on a little secret. Not all of us legendary souls were noble in life. That would be boring. Oh, and on that note, careful you don’t get nailed from behind again.”

“Well you’re not wrong about that. Hell I’m not noble myself seeing how it was hard work that got me to be a knight. So I can sympathize with you on the whole legendary souls not being born in nobility and stuff. But that doesn’t change the way I feel towards you. You seem to be an Archer Assassin. Which are very annoying to kill seeing how they keep hidden in the shadows. But unlike most who would be killed by you, the egghead is not the type for such methods. She’s too much of a good pony to do something like that.”

“Heheh, what’s this domestic strife I’m sensing over there? You don’t care for surprise attacks, Master? How far is too far? No foul play? No dirty tricks?”

“I’m not the type to do something like that. It doesn’t feel right and it seems like...well not very fair.” I said which caused Archer to sigh in disappointment.

“Man, you’re so uptight. Good luck with that.” He said as Dan began to speak.

“Don’t get carried away, Archer.”

“You call that getting carried away, Master?”

“You’re plundering our enemies for entertainment right before the battle...Yes, that is excessive.”

“Ding! Correct! If you don’t like it, then go put on a helmet that matches that horse girl’s armor and drown out the sound. But, I want to talk to our enemies. Why don’t you listen in? Learn what kids these days are into. Cuz if you got any more ancient, they’d have to put you in a museum.”

“...Your poorly-phrased advice is duly noted, but mutual understanding will come on the battlefield.”

“Haha! You have no idea how to have fun! With all this killing, killing, killing, a guy’s gotta unwind. A bowstring that’s wound too tight snaps. Isn’t that right?” Archer said as he looked over at me for an answer.

“Well I’m not against having a little bit of fun after getting what I need to get done over with.”

“See? Even she agrees. Life’s hella hard, and then you die. If you don’t enjoy yourself then you’ll just die miserable.”

“...Will you never gain the proper attitude to fight?” Dan asked as Archer groans in annoyance.

“Lighten up, Master! Things would be so much easier for us if you just accepted life has funny parts. I’d go wh-tsh! on that undefended back of yours. That’s how an archer should fight. I have to be nimble on my feet. Chivalry and ideology are all stiff and would just slow me down.”

“...Listen, Archer. You will fight as I direct.”

“Ugh, not again. Fine, fine. I get it. Your wish is my command.” Archer said before looking over at Saber and I. “That’s my Master for you. He can’t keep his chivalry in his pants even with a kid like you around. I just wish he would understand that not everyone can take pride in their lives.” A sudden rumbling snaps me out of the spell my opponent’s words had put me under. We’re at the battlefield. The time to fight a warrior of unparalleled determination has come.

“Let’s go, Archer. The time has come to embrace the battlefield once again.” Dan said as we made our way through our respected doors and entered the battlefield.

(Coliseum)

As we entered and once my vision returned after the blinding light vanished. I noticed that we were standing on a stone floor with pieces of broken castle around us in the background of the battlefield we’re on. I still can’t get over how amazing this Mooncell is able to make something like this look so real, even though it’s in the realm of data.

“All will be settled here, Archer.” Dan said as Archer adjusted his bow.

“You said it. It’s about time we gave this half ass knight’s just deserts!”

“Half ass? Bitch I’m more of a knight then you are!” Saber said as she aimed her sword at Archer. “I’ll be sure to gut you with my sword by the end of this match.”

“Geez, that part you found offensive. Makes me wonder if you were a mistake to be given a loser of a master like her with someone with a personality like yours.”

“Shut it scum. You got some nerve insulting the egghead like that. Especially given the hard work she put into getting us this far in the war. Sure she may be mediocre in both performance and appearance. And she may look like a mutant horse.”

“Are you trying to compliment me or insult me? Because so far it seems like you’re insulting me more than complimenting me.”

“Just being truthful, egghead. But I can say that you did a...pretty good job with getting us this far. Not to mention that you’re pretty much above the Archer’s Master, that might be Because in spite of your lack of experience, you put in a hell of a lot of hard work...it’s oddly adorable in most cases.” Saber said as I blush a bit from her comment. “But your master. He looks like he’s about to give up. Dying raven, do you even have the strength to fly?”

“....Your insight is surprisingly keen. Hard to believe you're the bastard child of the king of knights that led the rebellion against him, but I can see that you deserve to be a legendary soul.”

“Don’t be so humble, Master. You’ve got a wish too. No one has the right to scoff at that.” Archer said before glaring at Saber. “And you better shut your trap, Saber! Unless you want me to nail your tongue to the floor with an arrow!”

“And here I thought you didn’t care so much about your master. Guess I was mistaken given your personality. But whatever. Get ready to die loser, because you won’t be hiding from me within the Sherwood Forest!” Saber yelled as a burst of mana erupted from under her and bolted off towards Archer with her sword raised above her. Once she was close, she brought her sword down upon Archer only for him to quickly dodge it by doing a backflip into the air.

Once he was in the air, Archer fired off a volley of arrows at Saber as she quickly used her sword to deflect most of the arrows heading towards her while quickly dodging the ones she couldn't deflect. As Saber was dodging, she used this to her advantage as she brought her sword up surging with mana as she fired off a beam of crimson energy at Archer from a distance. Archer quickly barrel rolled to the left to avoid the beam as he countered with an arrow laced with a purple & green aura heading towards her and hit her in her right leg.

“Good luck trying to move with poison flooding your body knight.” Archer said as he landed and tried to fire another poison arrow. I raised my hand towards Saber as I summoned a barrier around Saber to protect her from the poison arrow. While the barrier was still up, I took the opportunity to use a curing code to heal Saber of the poison flooding her body.

“Don’t think you can take us by surprise like last time. Thanks to the information we gathered from you from the times we fought against you, we made counter measures to deal with your poison.” I said as the barrier vanished. I got about five rounds for each category of offense, defence. and curative. If push comes to shove, I can use items to heal and cure Saber of the poison for a while. Putting all that money into this formal wear really put a damper on buying items from the commissary. But for now, we need to end this battle asap before they realise this factor or get the idea of a war of attrition.

“You may have found a way around my poison, but that doesn’t mean I don’t have a few tricks up my sleeve.” Archer said as he placed a hand on the ground, causing the giant platform we were on to glow for a moment before pulling himself up with a smirk on his face.

“Don’t know what you're planning Archer, but don’t think that’s going to stop-” Just as Saber took a step forwards, tree-like roots shot out from the ground as it caused Saber to quickly skid to the right at the last second. “....Cheeky little bastard.” She said as I noticed a deep scar on her armor followed by some blood dripping from it.

“You always have to have a backup plan if you can't poison your foes. Though this would be used as a trap, it can also be used for offensive purposes if need be.” Archer said before taking aim at Saber and fired off another volley of arrows at her. Saber was able to deflect some of them like before, but some were able to graze the cloth part of her arms and areas that didn’t have armor protecting her. Just as Saber was about to fire off another crimson like beam at Archer, I noticed that the arrow he was about to fire, the tip part of it was in the shape of an X.

“Saber, watch out!” I yelled as he fired off the arrow with the X shaped tip like a bullet. Just as Saber deflected the last volley of arrows that he fired off, the arrow he fired off made contact with Saber’s helmet as it caused a thick cloud of poison to explode from it. The force behind the explosion caused me to tumble backwards a bit as I stared in shock at what happened.

“Tsh, would’ve been a headshot if it weren’t for that helmet she was wearing.” Archer said as he tapped his foot on the ground, causing the roots from below to hit Saber out of the cloud of smoke and impaled certain parts of her body. I tried my best not to get sick and throw up from seeing Saber’s body banged up like a piece of animal meat in a butcher shop as I quickly began to heal her injuries as best I can, but due to the roots impaled in her abdomen I can’t heal up the hole so she wouldn’t bleed to death. “You might be able to heal her of the poison and other injuries, but I doubt you can stop her from bleeding from multiple areas on her body.”

“Saber, you okay!?” I asked as she didn’t say anything, let alone move. “Saber, get up! You need to pull yourself together!”

“Don’t bother, getting hit by my noble phantasm like that pretty much knocked her out..that or it killed her in an instant.” Archer said before taking aim at Saber. As he did this, the roots from below the ground started to flow into the arrow as a sickly purple and green colored aura developed around the arrow as the tip of it formed into an X. “Looks like you were all talk and no bark Saber.”

“This can’t be good.” I said as I raised my hands to cast a barrier around Saber along with increasing her physical strength and continuously healing her injuries as best as I can. Just as he fired off the arrow, it hit the barrier that I placed around Saber. As it made contact it caused me to stagger back a bit from the force and pain of trying to keep the barrier up.

“Wow, gotta say. You’re pretty good for a horse. But even I know you can’t keep that up for long. Everyone has their limits, and I’m sure yours will end soon-”

“Archer, behind you!” Dan yelled as I looked over at Archer and blinked in surprise as I saw Saber behind him and was about to impale him from behind with her sword. At the last second Archer was able to dodge her sword, but ended up losing his arm seeing how the sword missed its mark and caused him to jump backwards in pain and to get some distance from her.

“Dammit, didn’t know you can use your armor as a decoy.” Archer said as he glared at Saber for a moment before blinking in surprise at what she looked like without her armor. “Wow, didn’t think you were a girl underneath that...not that appealing if I’m being honest.”

“Hey fuck you bitch!” Saber yelled as she fired off a beam like wave at the arrow he fired at the barrier causing it to be destroyed. As I felt the pressure and strain leave my body, I began to pant and kneel down onto the ground as Saber quickly moved over next to me to help me up. “Sorry about that. Didn’t want Archer to notice me sneaking up behind him while I was moving through the poison cloud he made.”

“I-It’s fine.” I said before deactivating the barrier around her armor as it soon appeared back on her body. “I really need to give you more credit. I didn’t think you would come up with something like that...or did you not think you could do that?”

“Pretty much like it was with fighting against Rider for the most part.” Saber answered as she flexed her hands a bit. “Sorry you had to use some of your casting on my armor. Guess that put a huge dent in your plan.”

“For the most part yes. But seeing how you did...well cut off Archer’s arm, I guess that will make up for that.” I said before looking over at Archer as I noticed a green aura around him. Looking at where his arm used to be, I notice that the blood dripping from it stopped. Dammit, guess I forgot to take into account that Dan has some healing codes as well. I turn my attention back on Saber as I cast a healing/curative code on her.

“I have three defensive codes, two healing codes, and four offensive codes left. So far, we were able to cripple Archer thanks to your stunt. So right now he’ll use the faceless king to hide himself from our sight. He also might use the roots he planted underground to make trees so he can use them for cover fire.”

“I hate fighting against Archers, especially if they have skills similar to assassins.” Saber said as she got back into a sword stance just as Dan was finishing healing Archer. “So what’s the plan, egghead?”

“We need something that can take care of the trees he’s going to make. Got something that burns or destroys the roots?”

“Sadly I don’t, but I’m sure I can wing it like before.” Just as I was about to ask what she meant by that, she quickly bolted off back into the fight as she charged at Archer with the intent to cut his other arm off, only for him to vanish from sight as her attack missed its mark. Just as Archer vanished, the ground began to shake as giant trees began to erupt to form a forest around the battlefield. Just as I thought. Seeing how he’s missing an arm, he’s planning on using the trees as coverfire to reload his arrows and fire them at her while he’s invisible.

“I have to admit. You really got me good there. Using your armor as a decoy and then attacking me from behind like that. Had the poison cloud become bigger in area wise, then my Master wouldn’t have been able to warn me about looking behind me.” Archer said as I looked around the forest we were in to try and find where he is. “But now I’m going to have to make a change in tactics.” He said before making himself visible as he was flying towards Saber with the intent to kick her in the face.

Saber quickly turned herself around and used the flat part of her sword to block the oncoming boot to her head and pushed Archer away from herself. As he was sent flying backwards, he fired off three poison laced arrows at her as Saber quickly cut them in two with her sword as she bolted after him with her mana burst skill. Once Saber was close, she brought her sword down as she landed a deep vertical slash onto Archer’s chest. Archer let out a painful grunt as he retaliated by using the roots from underground and impaled her in her left shoulder, right thigh leg, and grazed the side of her helmet.

“Bastard!” Saber yelled as she used her own strength to break the roots impaled into her body. Once she was freed she quickly grabbed Archer’s cape and slammed him onto the ground multiple times before throwing him into the air. Something was off about Archer. If I assumed how he was personality wise and what not. He would use the faceless king's ability to make himself invisible and fire off arrows from the shadows...I guess he’s taking the whole being a knight thing seriously, or Dan must’ve used a command seal to make him fight with honor and dignity...I’m going with the first one of my assumptions.

I soon turned my focus back onto the fight as I saw Archer flying into the air by Saber throwing him up. While he was in the air, Archer fired off a barrage of arrows down upon Saber. My Servant quickly jumps backwards to avoid the arrows from above as she fires off a beal like blade at the airborne Archer. The crimson color energy collided with Archer just as he was about to land and caused him to be sent flying backwards into a nearby tree he made thanks to the roots he placed underground. Saber saw this as she quickly lunged herself onto a nearby tree and used it to launch herself off it like a bullet. Archer quickly recovered from being slammed into the tree behind him as he took aim at Saber. The roots that were in the ground shot out and flowed into the arrow.

“Yew Bow!” He yelled before firing off the X tip arrow at Saber at the same speed Saber was going. Once the arrow was within her striking range, Saber brought her fist up to punch the air as it caused it to explode and make a poison cloud upon impact. I was about to yell Saber’s name, but I was taken by surprise as I saw her continuing her speed towards Archer as she raised her sword and impaled Archer in the chest, mainly his heart. The sound of flesh being impaled by a sharp object echoed throughout the battlefield as it caused me to shiver. Because that’s the same sound I heard when Saber fought against Rider. I looked over to see that Saber impaled her sword into his chest. Saber delt the finishing blow. It feels like I’m watching it in slow motion as Archer’s chest is impaled.

I looked over at Dan who was in a daze of some kind. He’s staring at Saber as if my Servant is some divine being even with her armor badly damaged. My attention soon turns back to Saber as she pulls her sword out of Archer’s chest as she walks back over to me covered in blood and poison. I let out a sigh of relief as I began to heal her wounds and cure the poison coursing through her body.

“Crazy…” Archer said as he staggers over to Dan as he kneels down beside him. “How did we lose!? My master has more ability and more determination than you. So how-?” Before he could finish, a red wall appeared in between us on the battlefield. Just like with Shinji and Rider, black spots appeared on Dan and Archer’s body...it was time for them to be eliminated.

“No, Archer. It seems I still lack experience. I doubted myself too greatly in this tournament. It seems having a reason to fight is not the same as truly believing in that reason. I never doubted my desire to be a warrior, but...that life has given me regrets. I wanted the Holy Grail to bring back my late wife...What a silly delusion.” Dan said as more of Dan’s body became corrodied. “My whole life I praised myself for giving up my individual feelings and aspirations, like a good soldier. Only at the very end did I dare to have my own goals, and decided to abandon military life. I can’t believe I was trying to fight as just a man.” he said before kneeling down from what I could guess was from the pain he was feeling. “It was foolish of me to pit my pride as a knight against my feelings as a person...so foolish...I just want to get back what I had lost, before the end...But...I wonder which one I wished for? My late wife...or the person I was before I became a soldier.”

The elderly knight falls into silence. Both he and his Servant continued to disintegrate in front of me. To my surprise, Dan stood up from the ground as he turned his attention from the ground towards me.

“...But, I’m surprised by you. The way you became prepared for this fight and how much trust you put in your servant is something I haven’t seen in a very long time. Even though you can’t describe what it is yet, there must be something that gives you a purpose...My wish...A wish to bring back the dead was nothing to boast about. Though your trials are many, keep living, young madain. Your struggles will steel your determination...Now. I apologize that you have to see me like this, but...I am at peace in my defeat. Because, for the first time, I am the ground from which a youth with a bright future might grow.”

A smile appeared on Dan’s face. It wasn’t a smile of regret, or a facade of any kind. It was a smile that beamed with gratitude. He no longer had a stern serious expression, but a kind and grandfatherly one. I tried my best not to cry upon seeing this, but I just couldn’t hold back the tears I was feeling coming down my face.

“...I’m sorry, Master. I knew I wasn’t cut out for a fair fight.” Archer said as he grunted in pain while standing up. “You needed someone better than a charlatan like me...I’m so sorry. Another Servant wouldn’t have failed you like this.” He said as Dan turned his attention onto his Servant.

“No, I’m the one to blame, Archer. Restricting your actions was selfish and damaging to your dignity.”

“...Bit late for that now, Master. You have no idea the torment you’ve been putting me through. Why are you apologizing anyway? You’re making me sound like a moron here. And why do you care about me? Whether we win or lose, I still vanish at the end. I mean, I did have a wish of my own, but I was more interested in having a good time. Gotta tell you, it’s been rather boring to fight for you, Master.”

“Haha, there’s something else to apologize to you for. A warrior’s pride must’ve held no value to you.” Dan said as Archer turned his back on his Master.

“Hmm...As long as I don’t have to do it everyday, it’s a decent change of pace. Boring as it’s been, playing the knight was a healthy thing for me to try, you know? Well...although I was never given a chance, I’ve always wanted to try being a badass knight.” Archer said as he looked down in embarrassment. He mumbles under his breath, as if he doesn’t want us to hear. “...So, really. Don’t apologize. We had a good run, and there’s nothing to feel ashamed about...Jeez, I didn’t even think I’d be able to pull off a single battle in this stupid tournament. In life, I had everything I wanted. Wealth, fame, friendship, success. But...A fair fight was the one thing I never had. So, it’s okay...I finally did something I was never able to do.”

Like he said, it was the end. Moments later, he vanished. He looked at peace. He lived his life in the shadows, protecting his village without acknowledgment. in his final moments, it seemed that he had found a way to get beyond the bitterness he felt.

“...I’m sorry. Thank you, Archer.” Dan said before turning his attention back on Saber and I. “Twilight, could I trouble you to listen to the dying words of an old man?” he asked as I nodded while wiping away the tears flowing down my face. “From here on out, no matter what enemy you may encounter or who you may have to defeat. Feel it. Think about it. Process it. Accept your doubts, but don’t be crippled by them. Above all, accept the consequences of your actions, and turn all you learn and feel into strength. If you wait until the end to think, you’ll end up with regrets...And, if possible. I’d like you to get meaning from your battles. Through combat, find the reason you fight, and the reason you can’t lose. Find your answers. It’s your responsibility to have the answers when you survive this war. Do you understand, rising star? Don’t...forget…” He said as he was straining himself to continue talking as corrosion continued to cover his body.

“Finally...I’ll be able to see her again. It’s been too long, Anne…” He whispers a woman’s name...it was spoken in a hopeful tone. With his answer warming his heart, Dan Blackmore disappears….with that, the battle is over. With Saber’s help, I managed to survive this week’s elimination match. I looked over at Saber who made her helmet disappear as she smiled at me. I smiled at her in return as she spoke to me.

“I gotta say, you really are something egghead. Taking down a seasoned warrior is a huge accomplishment that most people in your case wouldn’t survive. But you shouldn't let that get you full of yourself. You’re green when it comes to fighting and what not. Shinji was an exception, but with Dan. I can’t let something like this slide.” Even though Saber’s criticism is...somewhat harsh, her praise is kind of...sweet….she did say she wasn’t very good at this kind of stuff. “The master of Archer, Dan was it? Did you happen to gain any impression from fighting him?”

“Yeah...I did.”

“Hmm. Alright. If you believe as such, it is all well and good. I’ll be sure to see what you have or have not gained in the fights to come.” Saber said as she began to walk towards the elevator that we came out of as I quickly followed after her. The next battle...Right, there’s a third round, and then a fourth, and so on. I’m still kind of lost for the most part. But if that’s the path before me, then I owe it to the lives lost so far to keep fighting. Right or wrong, that’s one way to think about things.

.dead end(overture)

Existing to exploit.

Choosing prosperity.

That deed was savage-

-but it was true.

...What is won in the abyss of death?

[Day Zero]
Midday

Thank Faust that they give masters a day off after finishing their matches. Goddess knows that it might cause some problems for me if I don't get a break or two from all this fighting. At least Ms. Taiga gave the day off from class when she saw that I was having problems trying to answer her questions...Though now I owe her half of the food I get from the commissary. Just as I was making my way down the hallway, I soon stopped upon seeing a group of dead bodies laying on the ground

“...Oh sugar honey iced tea.” I said as I suddenly felt the fur on my body rise. I’m overtaken by an eerie chill. I don’t even have time to call my Servant, get my armor on, or brace myself. All of a sudden. I’m flung backwards. As if by an invisible hand. The moment I looked behind me, there’s a wall behind me. “I’m going to crash into it!” I yelled before closing my eyes to brace for impact. The moment I felt myself hit the wall, there was no pain from it. I opened my eyes to see that I was inside an unknown area that looks like a battlefield. “W-Where am I?”

My head’s spinning trying to keep up, but it seems like I was somehow teleported elsewhere….Wait, I’m getting deja vu. This is the Coliseum that was used twice. The details are different, but the framework is the same. If this really is the Coliseum, there must be an enemy nearby. My thoughts froze and my breath hitch when I realized this. The moment I look around, I see a sinister man with piercing eyes who’s wearing clothing that looks aflame. I go numb with fear. He intends to kill me, that much is unmistakable.

He’s like death personified. I‘ve only heard of Assassins, but I have no doubt he is one. If I take my eyes off him for one second, I’m a goner!

“Human life is fragile. Even if you are a magus, you look like a meat puppet to me. I’ve grown tired of strangling cormorants. For once, I wanted to feel what I was doing...Want to feel something, creature?” He said before charging at me and tried to slam his fist into my chest. I quickly activate a barrier around myself to block his attack by raising my hands in a defensive manner. The assassin slightly recoils before continuing his assault on the barrier. As he does this, I can see and feel the barrier beginning to crack.

“Get away from me!” I yelled as my horn began to glow. A burst of light erupted from me as the barrier began to burst, causing the assassin to slide backwards from the force behind the burst. “Ooh, a spirited one. I’m glad you came this way, creature. What a shame, we’ve run out of time. The system’s limits saved your life. Hopefully, we’ll fight again some day. I’m looking forward to it.”

Just as I blinked my eyes, I found myself standing where I was before. But I’m not out of the woods yet. Things are still pretty bizarre. Even though the hallway looks normal, there’s an ominous weight in the air...

“How did someone like you manage to evade that?” Upon hearing the voice, I quickly turn around to see a man cladded in black appear a few meters behind me. Sinister eyes from under a mop of black hair direct a piercing gaze my way. “I thought you were a small fry. Maybe you have a superior Servant or hidden abilities...Either way, you managed to survive the demon’s fist." The Man’s aura changes. It sharpens, honing into a point as if it were a wicked blade. One directed straight at me. “It’s ideal to dispatch you here.”

He’s looking at my neck. I can feel beads of sweat dripping from my face and off my chin As he takes a step forward toward me. This is bad. Saber is still knocked out after I finished detoxing her of the poison, and it took everything I had just to protect myself from the force of Assassin’s fist colliding with my barrier. It’s hard to believe that’s how hard Servants hit when they’re driven to the intent to kill someone. I’ve got one barrier code left. Better make it count! Just as I was about to raise my hand, a familiar voice caused the man cladded in black to stop.

“Aha. You’re the psychopath who’s been killing Masters after school. I thought so.” The girl in red clothes appeared out of a classroom where none should have been. Rin Tousaka.

“...Rin Tousaka?”

“My reputation precedes me. I see the intelligence network of the Harway Foundation has been busy. Although I’m pretty hard to miss. You tell me Julius Berkisk Harway. Since you’re from the foundation’s counter terrorism unit.” Rin asked as the man named Julius looked over at her with a thin smile and answered.

“...It’s risky of you to save an enemy. Do you intend to make this creature your ally?”

“How absurd. She has nothing to do with this. In fact, why haven’t you killed her yet?”

“Um...ouch? I’m right here you know?” I said with a deadpan expression on my face.

“I’ll be laughing when you end up stabbed in the back, terrorist.” A cruel smile plays over his lips as he continues walking towards the end of the hallway. He sends a cold glance my way. “So...you are called Twilight...I shall remember this.” his predatory pupils still trained on me, the man disappears into the wall as if melting away. I let out a sigh of relief before collapsing to the ground from both exhaustion and feeling the grip of death around me vanish.

“So he’s been hacking the system’s character profiles to his heart’s content, I see.” Rin said as I looked over at her. “With an unscrupulous enemy like that, I better be on my guard at all times in this school.” The girl starts talking to herself after the man has faded away. Then she turns towards me. She has a cold look in her eyes...not all that different from the look in Julius's eyes. “What’s with that look? I didn’t come to save you. I wanted to say hello to the Harway’s Assassin. You’re my enemy, too. It’s not like I care if you died now…I’m impressed you made it past the second round. I didn’t think you had it in you. I mean, you kind of had a rough time. That’s why I-Er, what am I saying? Later, then.” She said before turning around to walk down the stairs. “Be careful not to lose the life that just got saved for you in the third round!”

“....I think I’ll just stay in my room for the rest of the day. I’m not in the mood for anything that involves surprise attacks, or attempted assasinations.” I said before pulling myself up and staggering back to my room….I’ll get Saber to go to the commissary to get us some food.