Chapter 4: Chapter 1
"Fou! Fouu!"
It was the second time that I felt the same sensation of a small and soft tongue licking my cheek. As I slowly woke up, I could hear Fou's concerned sound as he continues licking my cheek.
I opened my eyes and saw the dark skies, around me was a burning city where destroyed buildings and vehicles laid everywhere. It was the embodiment of a warzone; a warzone created by a holy grail war and caused this singularity; Spatial Singularity F.
I sat up as I picked up Fou and surveyed my surroundings. "So, it has begun huh?" Thankfully I didn't find myself surrounded by murderous skeletons. "Thank you for looking out for me Fou." I rubbed Fou's head as I praised the little beast.
Suddenly I felt a huge surge of magical energy going straight at me. I turned towards the direction and saw the massive number of red projectiles heading right at me. I didn't bother to move, as I've already felt another familiar presence speeding towards me, this time I felt her power which far surpassed mine at the moment.
Right before the projectiles hit at me, Mash place herself in front of me, using her massive shield to cover me. As soon as attack landed on her shield, I felt its power which is par with that of an anti-aircraft weaponry. Thankfully Mash in her new found power handled it just fine as I calmly knelt behind her with Fou in my arms.
"Mash." I couldn't suppress the grin on my face as I felt relieved that nothing changed, thankfully she still got that servant's approval in the end.
"I'll explain later. But for now, please stay down." Her tone was serious as she continues using her massive shield to protect us from the projectiles. A couple of seconds later with our immediate surroundings destroyed except our position, the attack finally subsided after a huge explosion where the attacks where coming from.
"Looks like he retreated." With the attack finally stopping she and I stood up.
Although I can't help but look at her revealing armor, I steeled my eyes on her face as she turns about to face me.
"…I'm glad you're alright. Although, your new look kind of…" I can't help but criticizing her outfit, seeing her armor in real life is a bit overwhelming. It's kind of hard not to look at her exposed stomach and thighs as she seemingly not minding it one bit.
"This is---"
*ka-ta! ka-ta! ka-ta*
She was cut off as both of us turned towards a huge number of skeletons running towards us with their swords, spears and bows. I can't help but reprimanding myself by not noticing this horde sooner.
"Master, numerous enemies approaching. Your orders please." Mash readies her shield as the skeletons get nearer and nearer, I didn't see any fear in her eyes as she steadied her shield in front of me.
<Skeleton Warrior Lvl 10>, <Skeleton Warrior Lvl 11>, <Skeleton Warrior Lvl 9>….
I could only see their levels and names above each of them, they were roughly 30 enemies. We were seriously outnumbered and this was something I would rather retreat for now if this was from my previous world.
But now I have Mash beside me, a pseudo servant she might be but she could easily overpower me despite my stats. I stood beside Mash as I put Fou on the floor and readied myself to charge, I would like to test my strength this time to gauge how effective I can be against these fodders.
"…Senpai?" Mash looked at me questioningly.
"Eyes on the enemies! I'll be right behind you." Mash nodded as she turned back his attention on the charging skeletons any moment we'll be clashing with.
"GO!"
When the nearest skeleton came 5 meters of us, I ordered Mash to charge as I run right behind her. She slammed the first skeleton as it flew far, its bones crushed under the force of the massive shield, another one jumped and brought down it's sword at Mash which she turned to deflect.
I passed by Mash, as I charged ahead. A skeleton stops me as it slashed its sword down towards me, I sidestepped a bit as I got hold of its sword wielding arm mid swing and disarmed it, I got hold of the sword and threw the skeleton towards the two charging skeletons on my left.
With sword in hand a blue dialogue pop up which I closed immediately as another one skeleton tried to pierce me to my right with a spear. Deflecting the spear upwards I immediately decapitated it as I run to another one behind it and sliced it in two.
I turned back to the skeleton I threw and charge towards it, while the three skeleton struggled to get up. I quickly split open the skull of the skeleton I got the sword from, and to my surprise the weapon dissolved to dust along with the skeleton.
With no weapon in hand as the two skeletons just got up, I sweep kick the skeleton on the left as I duck from the swing of a sword of the other one, I spin kicked its skull as I smashed its head. I turned to the downed skeleton and stomp its head as I surveyed the other skeletons.
I saw a little more than 10 or so skeletons surrounding me. Mash was doing really good as she completely obliterates the skeletons left and right, suddenly I noticed a skeleton diving from above. I step back a bit as I evaded its sword thrust and punched through its skull as it tuned to dust.
"I could get used to this." It seems like my stats can pretty much handle this level of monsters; I don't know about servants but I feel a bit stronger than before as I defeat more of these skeletons. I can't help but put a grin on my face as I felt the rush of combat once again.
I rushed to another skeleton as I continue to kill each one of them. 30 seconds later, I thrust a spear towards the last skeleton as it turned to dust along with the weapon.
"…Hmm that was a tad bit slower than I expected." I whispered under my breath as I open and closed my hands stretching it.
"Enemies eliminated. Are you all right, Master?" I turned towards Mash walking towards me, she finished a bit faster than me and nodded at her.
"Hmm. Good job, Mash."
"… I have to say Master. You're… really strong?" Mash puts his shield to rest as she tilts her head at me questioningly.
"Hahaha. Is that so? I do work out and have some experience fighting." I scratched my head as she praised me while looking adorably with those eyes.
"Fou! Fou! Kyoouu!"
"Ahh! Glad you're safe Fou." I caught Fou as it jumps towards me and put it in my shoulder before patting its head.
"Anyway. Mash, I'm really glad to see that you're okay." I pat her head as I felt thankful that I didn't change the thing about her alive and well.
"…It may be hard to believe Senpai, but I am a Demi-Servant."
"Demi-Servant?" I played the part as an ignorant magus. Right now, I need her to open up to me for her to trust me more, and not let hinder unnecessary thoughts during battles.
"You might now know this Senpai, but Chaldea prepare a Servant beforehand in order to resolve the investigation of Singularity F.
"…Right before I died, he offered me the contract. In exchange for giving me the abilities of a Heroic Spirit and Noble Phantasm, he wanted me to eliminate the cause of the singularity.
"So, I merged with the Servant to become a Demi-Servant. And you as my Master, Senpai."
I raised my right arm and look at the red tattoo like symbol; the command spell. It looks the same as the one in the game, but I could feel its magical energy and felt my connection to it to Mash.
"Hmm, a demi-servant ahh? The good thing is that you're all right, now let's deal with this singularity."
Suddenly my watch device started beeping and glowing. I pressed it as a hologram floated above it and shows Director Olga wearing an anxious look.
"Finally got through! How long do you think we've been trying to contact you!" Although demanding as always, I can see the worry in her face as she crossed her arms and glared at us.
"Mash! Fujimaru! You're alright!" Suddenly we could hear Dr. Roman's voice as he tried to squished with Director Olga on the projection.
"Hey! Romani stop pushing me! Get back to your position!" Director Olga scolded Dr. Roman as the latter hung his head in defeat but went behind Director's chair while peeking behind her.
"Ahem! Never mind that. Didn't I told you to get out in time, Fujimaru! You should be thankful you didn't lose your existence altogether, rayshifting without using the pods! Jeez!" Director Olga returned her glare at me as she scolded me even across different timeline.
"Well, hahaha… things happened. And look, I have Mash with me." I adjusted myself to have mash beside me catch by the projection.
"Also, Mash! Your body parameters are above the charts! Everything here tells me are now the level of a Servant. Why didn't it succeed until now?!" Director Olga stood up and put her hands on her waist menacingly demanding an answer.
Mash retold her what she told me earlier, thankfully the director seems to have accepted her explanation, and then told us of the sitrep at Chaldea. With Chaldea losing 80% of its functions and only Me and Mash succeeding the Rayshifting, as the other Masters where put to cryopreservation, we are the only one they can entrust with this mission.
"Anyway, as the last master of Chaldea, starting now, both Fujimaru Ritsuka and Mash Kyrielight shall begin investigation on Singularity F." Director Olga ordered with a commanding tone as both Mash and I affirmed in confirmation.
"*Sigh*" Director Olga released a big disappointing sigh. "Very well then, Fujimaru Ritsuka! Prove to me that you really mean to -- *gasp!* GET OUT OF THERE RIGHT NOW!"
I felt a huge pressure heading towards us, I could feel its bloodlust from where we stand that send shivers down my spine.
"I'm detecting signs of an enemy! This is… a Servant!" Mash seemed to have noticed as well as she faced its direction and readies her shield.
It's the first time I've felt such strong bloodlust in my life, I've met some of the most dangerous persons in my previous life, but this was way above those. My instincts were telling me both to fight or flight, it's the first time that I've felt this way that it got my blood boiling.
"Mash! Prepare for combat!" Mash got in front of me as I ignored Director Olga berating me of my foolishness, I ended the communication as I slid to my fighting stance.
I could spot its silhouette speeding towards us a couple hundred meters away from us, I closed my eyes and remembered the magecraft that the director did earlier. I pointed my hand in the enemy servant's direction as I envisioned my magic circuits the same way as the director did.
I could feel some kind of engine starting up from deep inside me, it's kind of weird like having another set of organs working together as it generated energy in my body. I could internally hear it coming to life like that of a rotating dynamo.
I opened my eyes as I saw dialogue boxes floating.
[MAGIC CIRCUITS ACTIVATED]
[INITIATING COMBAT MODE]
I made them disappeared as I focused generating energy at the tips of my fingers. A baseball sized ball formed as I charged, I noticed no kind of magic circle formed like that of the Director but I didn't mind it as I prepared to release it. The enemy servant was only 100 meters as I aim towards it.
"Mash, move to the side a bit." Mash glanced back and widen her eyes, she moved to the side as I released it.
"Fire!" The magic ball flew like that of a bullet. However, when it hit the servant it just impacted the servant like its nothing…it was like superman getting hit with a bullet.
"Ehh?"
I was dumbfounded by what I witness, was it supposed to be that weak?
"Master!"
Shit! I woke up from my thoughts as I saw the servant with its glowing eyes boring straight at me, her long purple hair flapped in the air as she sped towards us at an alarming rate. I could follow her speed with my eyes but I'm sure my body won't be able to keep up in a straight up fight.
*BANG!*
Mash receives the attack as she blocks the scythe making the ground shook beneath her feet forming a small crater, I could even feel the pressure of the attack from behind her. The enemy servant keeps attacking Mash's shield as she could only helplessly hide behind her shield.
<Lancer: Medusa Lvl 42>
I quickly stepped back to observe the fight. As I though this servant is without doubt Medusa, and judging by the ominous shadows flowing out of her, she's now a shadow servant. And this was supposedly their weakened version. Tsk!
I'm sure that caster should be watching right now, no, perhaps much earlier even before this I felt someone watching us even before this.
I gritted my teeth as I think of a plan to fight back. I have to make an opening for Mash to at least get in to attack, but my speed and strength can't keep up with- - how can I forgot! Reinforcement, I've also analyzed that one before with Director Olga's.
I once again flared up my magic circuits as I copied the structure of the spell of Director Olga, tailoring it to suit my body. Reinforcing my whole body and putting more in my arms and legs, strengthening every single part of it, form muscles to bones, to blood vessels, as circuits of light lined up throughout my body.
I saw Mash evades a wide swing of Medusa's scythe as she attacks that opening and bashed her shield heavily on her, pushing Medusa a couple of feet.
I concentrated on maintaining the reinforcements around my body as I took a deep breathe. I felt some drain on my mana as I've finished circulating the energy.
*Inhale*
*Exhale*--- *Boom!*
As I released my breathe, I dashed at an unprecedented speed I've ever done before. Power was coursing throughout my body; in a split-second I was behind Medusa. I saw the corner of her eyes surprised at my sudden appearance. I concentrated on prana in my right leg as I kick towards her head with all my might, surprisingly she managed to lift her scythe on time to block my kick as she flew and smashed to a near building.
I rushed after her not letting her recover, midway she burst out of the building and met me head on, aiming the pointed opposite end of her weapon at my head. I barely managed to tilt my head to avoid it as I kicked the scythe upwards, as I follow up another back kick greatly enhanced with mana at her stomach.
She blocked it with her other arm as she skidded a couple meters, I stayed where I am taking another deep breath at that brief exchange.
"Interesting! Most Interesting indeed! Hahaha" Medusa laughed full-heartedly sounding like she's enjoying the fight. Which was the opposite of what I'm feeling right now, if I didn't feel that familiar feeling of looming death earlier and hadn't moved my head, I would have died right there and then.
"A human trying to fight head on with a Servant?! Your arrogance shall be your downfall!" Medusa flung her long hair outwards as they stretched and formed from snakes into chains and entrapped us from our location.
"I shall wring your necks with my hair, and watch your eyes as they beg for mercy!" She smirked arrogantly as she licked her lips like a hungry predator.
Mash got in front of me holding her massive shield in ready. "…I'm no match for her. Please run away, Senpai!"
"Tsk!" I clicked my tongue and gritted my teeth angrily. I've never felt so outpowered before, even with all these reinforcements, I could barely see any scratch at her at all.
"You've got guts." An otherworldly male voice was heard, finally, he showed up at last.
"A little girl and a headstrong master fighting full blast with a servant, you two seem pretty strong. That's why I can't leave you like this."
"Who are you?!" Medusa asked with disdain towards the voice.
"Who? Look at me and you'll know…old friend."
I felt him materializing not far away from us as I see his long blue hooded magician robe, along with his wooden staff.
"You damn… Caster!"
He removed his hood revealing his long blue hair and crimson eyes as he arrogantly smirked at Medusa.
"Why do you side with these wanderers?"
"Ahh?! Because it's better than being on your side, of course!" I saw briefly how he waved his arm materializing several runes in the air as it turned to fireballs at go straight to Medusa that even caught her off guard.
*Bang!*<A/N: should keep doing SFX?>
The explosion that followed forced me to protect my face with the debris reaching where Mash and I stood. The chains entrapping us got destroyed along Caster's attack. As the dusts subsided, I can see the aftermath of a huge crater where Medusa stood before, she managed to evade that attack as she landed far back from the crater.
This was a whole different level of power from the anime adaptation, seeing this destruction made me realized how outpowered I really am.
"I'm a Caster Servant. For a certain reason, I consider her an enemy. The enemy of my enemy is not necessarily my ally, but for now, you can trust me." Caster walk in front of us not removing his eyes from Medusa.
"Get in position, young lady. Skill aside, your courage is second to none."
"Okay!" Mash got ready as she held her shield tightly.
"Kid! You got some fight in you! You're one hell of a master to fight alongside your servant, I'll provide you some support, steel yourself!" He lifted his hand toward me a rune lit up and headed towards me, I felt its magic energy flowing into my body. I felt my body light as a feather, my legs felt like it could run like my body has no weight at all, I crouched low readying my stance for combat.
"It'd be a temporary contract, but out of regard for both your bravery, I'll become your Servant." Caster hits his staff on the ground as he stood confidently facing Medusa.
"That's fine with me. It means I can kill you earlier than planned. I'll take you while you're still flesh and blood." Medusa grinned at Caster's declaration spinning her lance at the ready, she crouched and prepared for another charge.
I felt the remaining chains from the explosion before brought to life as it combined together and aimed to skewer Caster. Caster jumped out of the way destroying the ground beneath him, I took the dust explosion as a cover and charge towards Medusa.
With the huge increased in speed by Caster's rune, I arrived in a flash front of her while on her crouching form ready to leap for Caster who was fending off the chains in the air. She slashed her scythe in a hurry as her eyes widen in surprise at my sudden increase in speed, evading her slash with a hairline margin I punched her elbow joint of her right arm that swung the scythe following it with a kick to the back of her right knee, buckling her as she collapse to knee.
I kneed her face putting generous amount of mana in my reinforcement there to my attack, producing shockwaves as it hit. She blocked it with her left hand on the last moment but I felt it connect with her chin a bit as she was blown backwards.
She flipped midair as her hair extended and formed chains heading towards me, I repeatedly step back evading each chain as it chased after me. Mash run past me and cut the chains with the side of her shield and position herself in front of me as she mounted her shield to defend me.
Behind us, Caster casted a huge spell as I felt its power behind my back. He jumped high quickly formed some runes that produced a hugged fire ball headed towards Medusa at high speed. The explosion's heat was hot even with Mash's blocking me with her shield.
"Get ready for round 2!" Caster tap my shoulder as he ran past me and Mash. We behind him as the dust of the explosion subsided, I could see Medusa's partially destroyed dome of chains fell apart. Parts of her face and body were burned to black as her face contorted with rage.
"You insolent scoundrels!" She lunged straight at Caster who manage to slid sideways using his hands as anchor. Mash appeared in front of Medusa and forcefully blocking as her scythe, it rebounded with her shield as she got partly blown away by the force and got blown in the air.
I briefly noticed the rune Caster implanted right before evading Medusa's attack on the ground earlier, as I run beneath the shocked Medusa and grabbed a hold of her midair. With her having no footing on the ground, I slammed her body forcefully on the ground where the rune was implanted.
With her injuries weakening her, the force of her impact made her gasps for air as her eyes opened wide with pain.
"Caster!" I immediately jumped back as I gave the signal to Caster.
"Good job kid!" Caster pointed his staff as the rune beneath Medusa activated, its hot burning flames made the enemy servant scream in pain.
A few seconds later, as the flame subsided, Medusa stood up weakly while using her scythe as a support. Her burn injuries were everywhere, as her robed got burned to crisps, with just a few pieces left covering her body.
"You've lost, Lancer." Caster charged up another set of runes and fired it to finish of Medusa. With no strength left in her, Medusa received the full brunt of Caster's attack. I just got the glimpse of Medusa's form in the smokes as she started dissolving to motes of lights while looking towards the sky with her empty eyes.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone