Chapter 27: We Who Have Surpassed Heaven
Fuyuki, Japan,
Fuyuki Church,
A dense air hung about the Church, the pews had only a few people sitting on them and even among these, at least half were foreigners. Roman stood at the podium with his hands resting on either side of it, his eye was closed and an annoying smile had etched itself across the magician's face.
Looking at them sitting like this, Roman felt that he was a rather good negotiator... Or maybe they all just sucked, both were plausible explanations for him. Fixing his suit with one hand, the magician looked at the time before once again turning to his audience.
Except he didn't talk, moments passed in complete silence and Risei wondered what the hell the cripple was up to.
"So, what purpose do you have in doing this, Roman?" Tokiomi didn't use Roman's title, something that didn't go unnoticed.
"That's right, why call everyone here?" Waver stood up, slightly upset, he knew now that Roman had swept him up in one of his schemes and he didn't appreciate it at all. Those never turned out well for those on the receiving end.
Irisviel and Kiritsugu remained silent, more because they were allies with the man than anything, the Einzbern homunculus knew that Roman wouldn't do anything too outrageous.... She hoped at least, it wasn't like what she'd seen all that time ago had been the full extent of his personality. Him being a Magician was only proof of that.
"Hm Hm, valid questions." Roman nodded with a hand on his chin, "Getting to the point, the Grail's corrupt cause the homunculus fuckers messed up. If a wish is made as is, shit blows up and none of us get what we want." Calmly and with a smile, the Trambelio nonchalantly spoke something completely outrageous.
Of course, this was not said for some altruistic reason like wanting to help them all. No, one of his major agendas was about to be completed by revealing this. He didn't exactly care for the consequences of the Grail as it was now.
But we digress, the reaction Roman received from his words was as expected, one of doubt and disbelief. He'd done nothing to prove it, nor did he have a reputation of always being truthful, he just spoke some bullshit so to say.
".....And you expect us to believe that?" Tokiomi was the first to speak, his gaze was an incredulous one, what was this cripple on about?
Waver was mostly confused, corrupt? What? When did Roman even have time to investigate something like that?
"W-Well let's hear him out first." Irisviel nervously raised a hand, an awkward giggle escaping her mouth, as much as she trusted him as a friend, wasn't this a bit too far?
"Mhm, mhm. Expected of retards to just start speaking without letting me finish." Roman nodded with a closed eye, it was actually frightening just how closely this was following his expectations.
Kirei felt that the one eye magus was an amusing person, he shifted slightly, his hands still behind his back, "Then you have evidence to support this claim?"
"Yup." Roman animatedly pointed at him and then at his father, Risei Kotomine, "Overseer, you were here for the last war too, ja?"
The old priest couldn't help but sweatdrop at the magus' eccentricity, nonetheless, he nodded resolutely, "That's correct."
"Then, what did the Einzbern summon? When did it die? You know, right?" Roman asked a series of questions one after the other, the Masters gathered there listened in complete silence. Curious as to what he was getting at... If the Grail truly was corrupted as he claimed, that would change a lot of things.
"I'm not aware of it's true nature." Risei answered truthfully, "The servant died far too quickly for anyone to identify it." Still, how did such knowledge come to the hands of this youngster? Was someone leaking information? This needed to be investigated with due haste.
"What they summoned is....." Roman gave a long pause, this served to irk Tokiomi who already found Roman to be dislikeable, what noble acted with such intensity?
"Something I'll tell you if you agree to be temporarily allied with me." Roman smiled calmly, dropping his earlier enthusiasm, it was getting tiresome to maintain. He was no jester and trying to be the overly enthusiastic type had turned out to be something he quite disliked.
".....We'll agree." Irsiviel spoke both for herself and her husband, they were already allied to begin with.
"I do as well." Kayneth nodded stoically, trying to figure out just what Roman's angle was with all this, "This is far too sensitive a matter for me to be concerned with my own pride." He glanced at Tokiomi from the corner of his eye, a mocking smile forming on his face.
".....I don't mind." Waver spoke in a low voice, averting his gaze, weren't Roman and him allies from the literal start of this shitty war? The destruction it had caused had a profound impact on Waver Velvet, it wasn't something he was used to.
"Wait, hold a moment." Risei tried to speak out, if the Masters in a War allied together even temporarily the- Roman snapped his fingers and the old priest fell down unconscious.
"He looked tired." The Magician snickered, supporting the massive man with his shoulder, "He did it." Roman pointed at Kirei.
"...."
He received doubtful stares.
Tokiomi, while suspicious as to what Roman wanted, gave a small nod to Kirei. A temporary alliance could be one that lasted a mere few seconds, information regarding a corrupted Holy Grail was well worth that, "I will go along with this... for now." The Tohsaka narrowed his gaze at Roman, "But there will be consequences if this is some prank of yours."
"I'm positively terrified." The Magician answered sarcastically, not in the slightest bit offset by the 'threat'.
"Fool." Gilgamesh sneered with folded arms, Tokiomi was a real fool if he thought he was the one in control here. Perhaps these mongrels stood blinded by their greed and the intensity of the Magician standing to the front but, did they not see how they were doing what he wanted? Sure they had their own agendas and each probably believed they would be able to come out on top but in the end, weren't they doing exactly what he wanted?
"This man.... I would like him to be my subordinate." Iskandar nodded confidently, with someone who could orchestrate something like this for amusement, his 'adventures' would go far smoother than before.
"....." Artoria only listened to her two fellow kings in silence, what did they see in such a scheming bastard of a man? He was an asshole to boot. Not that she didn't admit to his prowess but still, he was doing it for purely selfish reasons.
"You won't have my Master." Raikou stared the Kings down, not the slightest bit afraid of incurring their wrath, she wasn't letting go of him.
Back with the Masters however,
Kirei slowly nodded his head, "I see no reason not to." He spoke in a monotone manner, taking his father from the hands of the Trambelio and resting him on the pew. Kirei placed his fingers on the priest's neck and was relieved to find out that he'd only fallen unconscious... Still, instant activation of a spell that knocked a man such as his own father, was Roman truly a failure as his teacher claimed?
"Nice." Roman gave them all a thumbs up before taking his cane and sitting down on the stairs leading up to the podium. The magi looked at his actions confused, was he not going to explain further? It sounded like a doubtable story but.... The chance was always there and none of them were willing to take it.
"....Do you mind?" Tokiomi looked at him in barely concealed doubt, they were temporary allies but... now what?
"Do you know what happens when all the Masters end up allying? It's never happened before but still, do any of you know?" Roman smiled widely, he was IMMENSELY pleased with this development.
"....Roman?" Irisviel watched as Roman held up five fingers.
"It shouldn't be long now."
"What?" Waver shot to his feet, looking around before activating his magic circuits, trying to feel for any changes in the surroundings and changes he felt... "...What?" He looked at Roman with a shocked gaze, "Roman! What have you done?!"
"...Made this into something actually beneficial and entertaining?"
"Hahaha!" Gilgamesh reared his head in laughter, "So you kept your word, mongrel." The King of Heroes would have killed him if he hadn't.
Before the others could even react however, the land quaked and shook followed by a massive ear piercing boom that blew out the Church's windows. Looking at Roman alarmed, Kiritsugu ran for the doors, veritably kicking them open as Irisviel ran up behind him.
Kirei pulled out numerous black keys from his robes, ready to engage with the smiling Roman at a moment's notice.
"You... this will not go well for you!" Tokiomi, for the first time in a long time, actually got heated, he too had caught wind of what happened... The quaking ground and sizzling of fire only added to his suspicions, if not that then the loud deafening booms surely did.
"Ladies and Gentlemen..." Roman stood up, using his cane, he walked to the doors with a slight limp in his step.
"What.... is going on?" Irisviel's eyes widened in complete shock, her mind unable to understand the sight before her.
"I present to you..."
Behind Roman, the sky... was on fire.
"A Great Holy Grail War."
"Just what got summoned? What have you summoned?!" Waver grabbed the grinning Roman's collars. Mount Ryuudou which could be seen even from where they stood had black smoke rising from it, what remained of the mountain after the first explosion was now charred earth.
"We who have surpassed the Sixth Heaven!
Demon King Oda Nobunaga!"
A massive deafening roar rang throughout the city and then, hundreds, if not thousands of shots each akin to cannons fired in an instant.
The red sky was blotted out by fire.
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Grail War with shitty rules broken by everyone and tons of loopholes, who could have seen this coming?
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