Chapter 17: Rider's Shenanigan
Rider couldn't hide his excitement as he and his Master made their way towards Caster's hideout. Part of it was from finally participating in combat against another Heroic Spirit but a bigger part of it was because it was his Master's doing that was leading them there.
'Boy deserves more credit than I gave him.' he thought with a warm smile as they entered sewers.' He might be whining quite often but I can see great potential in him.'
Waver looked around sewers as they were quickly moving through them and asked."Rider, don't you think there should be some kind of defence? I can't feel any barrier...Maybe I made a mistake-"
"Nonsense, boy!" Iskandar shouted at him, making the little boy jump."You did a great job at founding this place, Master." he smiled at him while Waver gave him look that asking 'Really?'."I can feel the presence of...Huh, interesting."
"Ehh, Rider?" Waver noticed how Rider face turned into a feral grin. It was little concerning."Is everything okay?"
His servant turned to him and quickly nodded."Yes, Master. Don't worry but it seems like there more servants up ahead."
"WHAT?! Rider we need to leave! We can't fight several servants at once!" Waver screamed but was stop when Rider covered his mouth with his palm.
"Hush, Master. Just because there are servants in front of us doesn't mean all of them our foes today. Don't forget that this Caster is the enemy of everyone right now." he gave Waver knowing smile while a boy thought about it.
"...they are here to kill Caster as well...how many servants you feel?"
"Only two. So that means that one of them might be Caster while another one came to battle him."
Waver looked around trying to see or hear anything."But there no sounds of fighting." Rider scratched his chin.
"Hmm, whatever is going on here, we must continue. It is war after all and we can't always stay out of it." Rider glanced at his Master expecting a boy to protest again but he didn't. Instead, Waver stayed silent looking at their destination, his hands were shaking and Iskandar could see uneasy in his eyes but he tried to stand confident.
"T-then let's go! Let's do it!" he declared firmly despite being scared.
'HA! You might be still green Master but you have a spirit!' King of Conquerors thought proudly as he moved his chariot further inside the sewer. Today his Master made him proud and he will do the same!
...
Lelouch wasn't new to gore or bloodshed. One of his earlier memories from childhood is a scene of the massacre that happened at Arries Villa many years ago. Even if it was a fake memory placed into his head by Charles, Lelouch believed in it for years. His time in Japan made the former emperor numb to such things. Death was always near him and Lelouch got used to it
However, it didn't mean he could be surprised or shocked by things he saw inside Caster's base of operation.
'Why. What the point of it.' Tortured corpses of children hung all around. The way they were put made this place look like some sort of disturbing art gallery. Lelouch remembered what Ryuunosuke said about doing what he loves the most.' Killing people and committing most atrocious things to achieve your goal is something I can understand...but this...what if she was one of them...'
Lelouch's face was cold and neutral but if one looked into his eyes they could see many emotions, none of them positive. Only Avengers noticed it, maybe because of her connection as his servant or maybe something else. Her red eye didn't leave her Master, studying him carefully. The red-haired woman wasn't feeling well either. Looking back at their new friends she could see that the male servant was feeling terrible. He had heavy gaze and clenched hands around his weapons. His blonde master on another hand had a look of disappointment.
"If this master of Caster was using these kids as mana source he could at least make them more usable than this. What a waste." Kayneth looked disgusted by such waste of human resources. Lancer turned to his master with horrified expression while Lelouch thought about what he said.
'I hate to agree with him but Kayneth has a point. Finding these children as the living batteries would have been more logical and understandable than finding them like this...This is still wrong.' Lelouch wanted to finish it all and leave.
"Well, it would appear we can't get rid his mana source since they are already dead." started Kayneth."However, it raises a new question."
"If not these kids than what is Caster's battery." finished Avenger and master of Lancer nodded.
"Indeed. This Ryuunosuke isn't magus and most likely has magic circuits closed if he has any, to begin with." he waved away."There no way some regular peasant could supply a servant after all." Lelouch wanted to point out irony but stayed silent.
Demon Emperor looked around. This place was huge to say at least."I don't see anything."
Lancer raised his eyebrow."What do you mean, Sir Lamperouge?"
Lelouch smiled to a knight of unknown order before speaking."I mean I don't see any equipment, any stuff or at very least place to rest for Ryuunosuke. This means that Caster takes everything with himself when he leaves this place."
Kayneth nodded."That means he right now searching for something else." he turned to look at dead kids before looking back at Lelouch."Since they are dead we can conclude that Caster no longer requires them and found another source of mana."
"Whatever it is doesn't matter to us right now. We set up a trap and wait for him...we should probably leave this place or at least move on a safe distance. Caster would sure notice if two servants were at his home base."
Blonde noble from Clock Tower snorted."He probably already knows or at least will learn. He has territory creation as a skill after all."
Lelouch wanted to suggest the idea of trap but before he could say anything, suddenly Avenger jumped in front of him and stood up in a protective pose. He glanced at the side to see Lancer doing the same thing next to his master. It meant that they sensed another servant coming. Was it Caster? If so then they didn't prepare ambush like they originally wanted but at least fight will be two servants against one. Gilles da Rais wasn't strong opponent according to Avenger but they were on his territory and Lelouch wasn't sure how it would affect him.
However, the servant that entered a massive hole wasn't an ugly figure in robes of Gilles da Rais but instead another redhead warrior with a smirk on his face. Both Lelouch and Kayneth narrowed eyes when they saw him. Lancer gaze remained neutral while Avenger smirked with fire in her eyes. She was eager to slay one of the foreign kings that dared to enter her land without paying tribute first.
"Ho-Ho! Look at this boy! I see familiar faces here! And some new as well." Iskandar laughed before his gaze fell on two masters behind their servants."So this one is your teacher, huh." he said thoughtfully while looking at Kayneth.
"Rider!" yelled his master who stood up from chariot. However, he froze the moment he saw a familiar blonde man standing behind Lancer. He nervously laughed while Kayneth glared at his student."S-so you here as well Professor."
Kayneth hissed."Waver Velvet. One of my least competent students is one of my enemies...At very least when I will return to London I won't have to tolerate you anymore." he smiled when the face of his soon to be dead student went pale. While teacher and student had their conversation, Lelouch took a look of their new foes.
'So his name Waver Velvet...Kayneth called him incompetent but I'm not sure how well I can trust his judgment. Older magi think too highly of himself to be a fair judge of character but if Kayneth means his skills in magecraft...And then there Iskandar, someone to look out for.' violet eyes turned to redhead woman who was ready to protect him if was needed.' However, if my Avenger will target his master while Lancer will engage in direct combat we might get rid of this student of Kayneth.'
Working together with another master and servant while appealing at first would bring one too dangerous change to his partnership with Kayneth. Avenger was a dangerous and still unknown factor in this war, both teacher and his student might see the opportunity to stab them at the back. Not to mention, Lelouch had an impression that Avenger wouldn't be too pleasant to the idea of working together with this Rider.
While Lelouch was thinking he didn't notice how Rider's eyes stared at him. Rider studied this new figure with interest while Avenger dangerously narrowed her eyes.
"Is there something you need, Rider? I don't like the way you look at my master." redhead woman hissed while the giant man in chariot laughed.
"Sorry, Avenger. I didn't know you were so protective of your master...that's alone a good discovery," he smirked while Avenger clenched her hand around her katana."I'm just curious to see another master in this war. Your master reminds me of one of my siblings. Good old times" Lelouch narrowed his eyes while Rider laughed again.
Lancer blinked."Didn't your siblings end up killing each other?"
Iskandar nodded."Yup. Speaking about killing." he turned to Kayneth."I take it you all came here to kill Caster as well?" when none of them answered, Rider sighed."Come on, people. We all have a similar goal in mind so why not work together as a team?"
"No."
"Impossible."
"Go and die."
"Eh, I don't mind."
Lelouch, Kayneth and Avenger quickly glared at Lancer who looked at the ground. Lelouch turned to Rider and spoke."We already have an alliance and the third party will disturb the balance in it. Sorry, Rider but none of us wants it."
Rider face changed from being excited to disappoint. He pouted."The second time they tell me no. How unfair. I bet if it was Saber who suggested it you all would have agreed."
To his surprised and further despair, Lelouch and Lancer quickly nodded. Working with Jeanne d'Arc sounded like a good strategy to the former emperor while the knight of lance wanted to fight side by side with the fellow knight.
Iskandar looked as if he was poisoned again."It is because she is cute?! Truly unfair." it looked like he was about to start crying.
"Oh, come on! Rider, no need to make a scene!" his master yelled at him.
Lelouch would have chuckled from this situation if not for one thing."He is buying time." commented Lancer and Lelouch nodded. Ever since Rider appeared, his right hand never left the hilt of his sword. His eyes never stop staring at servants before him. Two bulls that were carrying chariot never stopped growling, ready to move.
"Despite appearing as a simple brute, Rider isn't stupid." Avenger quickly said and Lelouch had to agree. Iskandar wasn't known as King who almost conquered all known world for nothing.
"Lamperouge." the young man glanced at his temporary partner who continued to glare at his student, maybe wishing he had learned any curse that could kill from simple glare."Tell me you have a plan."
Lelouch's eyes returned to Rider. Unlike Caster who wasn't good at fighting King Iskandar was an unknown piece on board. He could only guess that redhead warrior was very mobile with his chariot. These two bulls weren't regular either, Lelouch could tell that much. Unknown fighting style, unknown abilities and mindset. Lelouch didn't like this. Despite being two against one, Rider still could pull out a miracle and defeat them. Especially for someone who has 'the Great' as one of his titles. However...
'However, his master is a weak spot. Visible and right next to him, while not defenceless is still a liability we can use. Without anchor and main mana source, Rider wouldn't be able to fight for too long. Unlike last night with Ryuunosuke, both master and servant were at the same place. First killing master than servant would leave no room for one to escape and survive.'
Lelouch looked at his servant and then at a male knight.' Avenger. You will make the first move by opening fire. Just firing at his general direction is enough for now. Lancer will move from the rear and aim for this Waver. The second we start Rider will no doubt rush at us trying to run over me and Kayneth. You will protect both of us. Lancer will use his spears. Both of them should be enough to pierce chariot and stab master of Rider. After that, it is a battle of attrition.'
Lelouch used a mental link between him and Avenger. He still needed to tell his plan to Lancer but he was sure Heroic Spirit could understand what his role was. However, this plan was simple, without knowing any of Rider's skills they couldn't predict his every move. Especially his Noble Phantasm. Lelouch hoped that Rider would try to escape the moment he understood that they aiming for his master...but Iskandar could as well go after him and Kayneth. Avenger was strong but Lelouch didn't know how fast she was if it comes to dodging two magical bulls.
However, before Lelouch could give an order or think of another plan, Avenger suddenly moved. His eyes went wide when she aimed her katana in his direction. It was a few inches away from his throat but instead of trying to cut it, it stopped. Lelouch saw something move too fast and heard the noise of something hitting the ground. Looking down he saw small throwing knife before him. When he raised his gaze he saw Avenger standing in front of him, her katana raised to block any upcoming attack. She quickly glanced at him and Lelouch could see the clear concern on her face.
This wasn't Rider doing. One glance at the giant man was enough to see that he was surprised by the sudden attack as well, not to mention irritated. Lancer moved closer to Kayneth while blonde magi started to tremble in fear of unknown enemy being near. A silver liquid appeared around him, some kind of spell. Master of Rider frantically looked around, trying to find where the attack has come from.
"Caster?!" Waver yelled with clear fear in his voice.
"No, the mad fool would have made his presence known if he was here," Avenger answered for him not moving from the spot.
"Then who it is?!" barked Kayneth with uneasy. It wasn't what he had in mind when he agreed to enter this damn sewer!
"Please calm down, master," Lancer said while aiming one spear at Rider and another at the darkness behind him, expecting the new enemy to be there.
"Isn't it oblivious?" Lelouch asked with a calm voice and looked around. Rider had a neutral look but the corners of his lips slightly raised when he noticed former emperor looking at him."You already know it too right, Rider?"
"But of course. I noticed them back at the port." he nodded with a smile before raising his head and looking around."For someone known as Assassins, you guys sure easy to notice."
When Rider called it two masters looked around the ceiling of the giant room, trying to see what redhead man saw. A moment later five figures appeared. All of them wore dark clothes and were armed with a similar knife that was next to Lelouch. All of them had a white mask that resembled death. And all of them were staring at Lelouch and Avenger.
Lelouch wasn't only one to notice it. Rider laughed, unlike before this one sounded menacing. Former emperor narrowed his eyes while King of Conquers finally spoke.
"What was the old saying? Enemy of my enemy is my friend?"
"Go and die," Avenger repeated herself.
...
Another chapter done with 2,724 words hope you enjoy!
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