Chapter 7: Interesting Night

Morning is coming! The sunlight is shining through the window, birds are chirping, breakfast is cooked and served on table with Jasmine Tea as choice of drink and—

"Hyoudou Naomi, what did you DO!"

...and one Lord El Melloi II chews Naomi via Skype video call.

Cue as one, everyone turns at Naomi in surprise.

"What did I do?!" Cried Naomi back. "I didn't do anything! Swear on it!" She spends one day and two night holed up in the base, trying to figures out her opponents and making sure Flat won't compromise their situations. Why did she get chewed out?!

"If you didn't do anything, then explains to me why there's Yggdemilennia Spy in MY Department!" Say WHAT?! "Yes. There's Spy in my Department. Had it was another department, it would be hard to figure out, but Modern Magecraft Theory lead and taught by Upstart Magi like me suddenly gain attentions mean something is not right. It was only matters of Whydunnit. And the Great Holy Grail War is the first thing come to my mind—HEY!"

Reines shove him aside and monopolize the call. "Fufu~ you have to see my dear brother's expression when he figures it out. Though~ I had to agree. Those little spies are quickly become nuisance. Ahh... I can't even have teatime in new sweet shop in peace." She complained.

"Wait wait wait a minute here. Are you telling me Clock Tower is compromised?!" Ask Naomi. "The Yggdemilennia still have insides connection? Not all of them secede?!"

"Duh. It's war. If they can plant spies, why not? Knowing information was winning half the battle." Reines smiled. It was not a nice smile, not a smug smile either.

"Back to the Issue," Lord El Melloi II pushed Reines aside and take back control. "the spies infiltrate Department of Modern Magecraft. They tried to be subtle, but I have list of people admitted here and from what family they come from. Trace the family tree upwards and sideways, they connected to Yggdemilennia or Yggdemilennia-affiliated family, even if loosely. If this place is compromised, what to say other departments aren't especially when many Magus show interest in their field? You know how callous Magi are at Social Relationship that wasn't use or be used."

Naomi cursed. Loudly. In Japan, English, German, and some kind of language no one can make head nor tail of it, since it sounds close to growl and roar than any coherent word.

"I bet it's Darnic's doing! He's the only one with that strong influence and connection!" She growled. "That blasted old ghoul! I'm so blasting him when I saw him!"

At least she sends her reports via e-mail. Thank goodness about 98% of Magi are hopeless in tech!

"Oh. Please do." Purred Reines darkly. "Show that Snake he mess with wrong kind of people."

"On that note, your report about Master from Church is worrying." Said Lord El Melloi II. "Withholding important information is, while not prohibited, is highly discouraged. Also... Ruler, hm? If I was right, Einzbern summon one during Third Fuyuki Holy Grail War, before Nazi, or rather Darnic, took Greater Grail Away. I believe they called it Extra Class."

"Anything else?" Ask Naomi. "The skill... the records. Whatever."

"You know how Einzberns are. To quote you, Tundra Cactus. Do you think we can dig up more than what they reluctantly share? Especially with spies watching our movement?"

Naomi winced. "Well..."

"On that note, do you have idea why they decided to spy on us? Anything that happened between you and Ygdemilennia you forgot to include in your report?"

Naomi frowned. "I did said Svin manage to infiltrate the forest of Yggdemilennia but... is that enough? Hey, Svin, you didn't wear gloves, did you?"

"Nope."

"See? They can't think he's a Master. He don't even have command spell or doodle his hand with red marker."

Gray twiddle with her thumbs. "U-umm!" She said. "W-when Miss Naomi send me for food run... S-saber and I e-encounter Yggdemilennia Homonculi and Golem..."

"..."

"..."

"..."

"..."

"YOU IDIOTS! WHY NONE OF YOU BOTHER TO TELL ME BEFORE?!"

"Eeek! S-Sorry!"

~X~

"GUHAHAHAHAHA! More! More! I'll Kill all Oppressor!" A ashen-skinned giant brutes his way through Golems and other security measure in bid to reach Yggdemilennia Castle.

To figures watching the carnage below with tired expression.

"You know, it was shame Saber refused to join us." Commented the male. "I mean, we can shift this boring job to them. Too bad they siding with Yggdemilennia."

"Silence Rider." Replied the female. "Regardless, Master of Assassin told us to capture them on sight. With persuasion, we may convince them to return to our Fraction. A Noble Knight never likes to serve a traitor."

"Is that so?" Rider eyeing her. "Hey, Anee-san. Speaking of Master, have you seen your Master?"

"No."

"Me neither. It's a little odd, don't cha think? They give us command and Prana, but we never meet face to face."

"It's normal for a Magus, actually?"

"Really?"

Archer closed her eyes and remember a girl. A girl with lilac colored hair and sweet smile. A girl who forsake her homeland and willing to kill her own brother to help her love and new friends escape. A girl who can spend hours in enclosed room brewing potions and preparing for rituals and had to be bodily dragged out for meal.

"Yes."

"Huh." Rider leaned against the tree. "Well, guess you're right. I mean, you did sailed the sea with—"

"Ssshh!" Archer shushed him. Her cat ears twitched. "I hear noise."

Instantly Rider's lazy demeanor changed. "Enemies?"

"Yes."

"Good." A savage grin adorned his expression. "Finally something interesting. I was bored here. Hm. Should we tell Berserker?"

CRASH! A big, old tree with thick trunks fell.

"Can you get it past his thick skull?"

"..."

~X~

"Yggdemilennia is going to be pissed off." Grinned Naomi.

The bug spy alarmed her that three Servants trespassed the territory and raised Yggdemilennia alarm. An ambush in the night. Saber, obviously, want to join and Naomi don't mind. This would be a good opportunity to see how strong their opponents are. From both camp.

Gray, on other hand, want to be away.

"W-will us be alright?" She asked. "I mean... we are not going to face just Homonculi and Golem, but Servants like Saber-san and..." and can they survive the night? Gray barely hang onto their fight and Saber clearly hold back. Sure, there's Release the Restrains, but those has conditions and act as last resort.

"Oh shush. They are in other side of forest." Pointing at a alarm golem, Naomi snipes it from behind. It explode... followed by loud crash and prana flared from far away. "Yes. They are battle on other side. Why do you think Saber going there? By the way, Saber, what's on your end?"

"... Berserker of Red is plain musclehead idiot. Archer of Red, damn a kitty cat, is against Berserker of Black and a Green haired guy is fighting Archer of Black."

"I see... Keep watching, Saber. Don't jump in without my sayings. Do not make me enforce it with Command Spell."

"Yeah yeah. I know it."

Trekking their way to Yggdemilennia Castle, Naomi was stopped a dozen minutes later when Saber contacted her.

"Master. Archer and that Weed Guy," Weed? Ah, must be because the hair, "retreat. Berserker is captured within Golem—by the way, it's Caster who's Golem controller. Rider of Black retreats. There's something fishy here. His excuse is flimy like hell. He must be planning something. The other Servant, 'cept Saber Guy and Assassin, were here."

'I see...' Naomi close her eyes. 'Mordred. Have you ever do dirty jobs?'

"Huh? Well duh! Who else would?"

'...good. Because I want you to tie loose. Keep in mind it 1 vs 4 and Lancer got Power Boost so focus on eliminate Berserker... and Caster if you could.'

"Ha! Finally! Some actions!"

Naomi open her eyes and activate Boosted Gear. With a few mental switch, the Gauntlet melted and formed a Tekko Glove with red-tinted claw and a green gem on it.

"Naomi-san?"

"Sorry Gray. I forgot you don't have mental connection." Apologize Naomi. "See, Berserker of Red is captured by Black Fraction, so I ordered Saber to make sure he won't be nuisance later. In meantime, Rider of Black is planning something, so let's get a bit closer to the Castle and intercept him, ok?"

"We are going to fight?"

"Um... just a short, quick test on what Rider is capable of."

"Oh. Okay."

They don't have to wait too long. While listening to battle noise from distance, and Naomi occasionally zoning out to give Saber command, they felt it. Presence of Prana stronger than most Magus. Something old and powerful. A Servant.

Two of them dashed to the source and found Rider of Black running through the forest, pulling a... boy?... with sickly complexion, silvery messy hair and pale red eyes. An albino? No. A Homonculus. Rider was pulling a Homonculus away from Yggdemilennia castle.

"Come on! Just a little more! We're almost there!"

Naomi decided to show herself. "Oh? And where did you plan to go with him... Rider of Black?" She ask, showing up few feet away from them.

Rider was startled he-she-they? skidded mid-step and nearly landed flat-face to the ground. The homonculus behind them can't control his body and hit Rider's back.

"Wha? Who are you?"

Naomi smiled as Gray landed next to her. "Oh, don't mind us. We are just... curious passenger." She chirped. "Now... the Homonculus looks important for you. Was he a prisoner of Yggdemilennia? Or... did you plan to broke him out and set him free?"

"Haha, got me!" Rider grinned. "Yup! That's why, I gotta go so please move away~"

Naomi smiled. "Sorry can't do."

At that, Gray dashed forward with Add in Scythe form swung in her hand. Rider pushed the Homonculus boy away before greet the attack with their Lance. Rider yelped when Naomi joined the fray with clawed gauntlet swipe at place where Rider's head used to be.

"Hey! Two versus one ain't fair!"

"Saber of Red is currently battling Lancer, Caster, Archer, Saber, and Berserker of Black in same time and we don't hear her complaining." The reply made Rider stiffened.

"WHAT?!"

"Focus on your battle, Rider~"

"Kuh!" Rider gritted their teeth and fought back. Gray and Naomi fell to two different direction and launched attack. Swipe, slash, swung! Trank! Trank! Trank! Thuck!

It was annoying!, Rider thought. Totally not fair! How is he supposed to know Saber's Master and her friend is waiting here? The Red guys ain't fair!

Naomi saw something from corner of her eyes. A light.

Uh-oh.

[Boost!]

She turned around and positioned herself in defensive stance, with hands formed an X and her left arm was above her right arm. The attack hit the Boosted Gear and the impact, combined with Naomi isn't prepared for multitask, knock her balance off. She fell and quickly rolled on the ground before get up again.

The Homonculus, for all his sickly appearance, has first-rate circuits. Or... was it because his first-rate circuit, he has sickly body? Either way, his one liner attack is strong enough to cracked Naomi's arm, even with single Boost in endurance. Had she didn't boost it, her left arm will be in sling for week.

"You! What are you doing?!" Rider cried out in panic. "Run idiot run!"

"Can't..." grunted the boy, grasping for breath. "I can't... leave... Rider alone..."

"Cute." Said Naomi, now interested at the homonculus. Quickly she close the distance between them. The Homonculus' eyes widened and he raised his arm with circuit charged, ready for another attack—

THWACK!

—but Naomi hit him in solar plexus. His vision darkened and his body fell limp to Naomi's waiting arm.

Rider let out an angry roar. "LET GO OF HIM!" They roared, shoving Gray aside and charging against Naomi.

Naomi jumped and perform salto mid air. She threw the unconscious Homonculus at Gray before facing Rider.

She found it's harder. Apparently Naomi pushed their button, hard. Rider fought back seriously and for once, take initiative to attack first. The lance's big mass proved itself to be quite a problem for Naomi several times.

"He is not your Master, why do you care so much about him?"

"Who cares? Master of not, is it wrong to help people?!"

"Hee~" Naomi see. Homonculi are disposable foot soldiers at best. Rider probably saw an anomaly who has ego of his own and refuse fate of doomed pawns, thus decide to save him. Cute. Real cute. "Well, if you care at him so much, then I'll take him. Better me than Yggdemilennia, right? At least he won't be recaptured back."

"Wha—"

'Saber. Done?'

"Wel... more like got a problem I want to run away from. You know... Berserker of Red have a teeny tiny little trick I don't wannta see up close..."

'What trick?

"Um... he convert pain into Prana and now he's gonna blow up?"

'...'

"..."

'...'

"...Master?"

'SABER! Throw Berserker of Red at Black Servant and GTFO!' "GRAY! LET'S RUN!"

"E-eh what but-?"

"NO BUTS! BERSERKER OF RED IS GOING TO BLOWN UP AND I DON'T KNOW HOW BIG THE EXPLOSION RANGE IS!"

" "WHAT?!" "

~X~

Darnic, Caster of Black, Roche, and Celenike were gathering around subdued form of Berserker of Red, chanting spell with Magic Circle for approiapte ritual lights beneath them.

Just a bit more. Just a bit more and—

"CRIMOSN LIGHTNING!"

Four Master and one Servant jumped back when a red lightning suddenly struck Berserker. Fried him alive, but not enough to kill it.

"Eeeh? You're alive? Man, for a dunderhead you're quite tough." A androgynous voice spoke up as an armored figure jumped to the twitching figure of Berserker and stabbed him through the Golem jail.

"...Saber of Red." Darnic narrowed his eyes.

"Yeah yeah. Piss off Old Ghoul." Darnic twitched at the not-so-subtle jab of his actual age and his secret of youth. Saber ignored him in favor of stabbing Berserker of Red in various places. "Tch. Oi! Caster of Black! Mind get this off so I can hack this idiot?!" Demanded Saber, more than little annoyed.

"Such insolent demand. You do realize that he is your side Saber, do you?"

"Ha? So what? He's more problem than he's worth it. Plus" Saber hacked an arm off. "My Master ordered me to tie a loose end."

Noticing the danger she's in, Saber jumped upwards and landed in tree, avoid the spikes that shot up from the ground.

"A callous and cold, if logical order." Commented Lancer, manifest at command of his Master. "I applaud your Master's thought. However, are you not afraid that she sacrifice you?"

You don't leave a loose end like that. You make sure it won't bite back in ass at unfortunate time.

"Thanks." Grinned Saber. "and save that preaching or yourself, Vampire!"

Lancer stiffened. "What did you call me?"

"Vampire! Ghoul! Dingy bat! Emo Old Man! Sissy!" Mordred cat calling. Dodging attack from Saber of Black, who's returned once again to the Battlefield. "Whoo-hoo... so this is Saber of Black. Mind telling me how's your fight with Lancer of Red goes?"

!

"You were watching."

"Yep!"

"Then we can't let you go. Lancer, Caster, Saber, Archer."

"Yes."

"AAAAAA!"

"Ganging up on me?" Saber asked, parrying Berserker of Black's attack and use her strength to push the mad servant back. "Were you so araid of Awesome me? You could just say so!"

"Silence!"

Saber grinned as she dodge the attack. Blocking Archer's arrow and parrying Berserker of Black and Saber of Black's attack, while avoiding the Golem and the Spikes. No way she gonna trapped like Berserker of Red. Speak of Berserker...

"Hey! Is he supposed to be like that?!" She ask, pointing at Berserker of Red...

...whose body bulged grotesquely.

"What the-?!" Roche yelped. "Sensei! What happening?!"

"You have no idea? Seriously?" Saber cut off the incoming arrow, grab Berserker of Black's mace and threw her at Saber of Black's direction. Wincing slightly when feel electricity dances on her palm.

Celenike turned at her. "It's your fault!" She accused.

"Ha?"

"You crash the ritual! This is your fault Berserker of Red is like that!"

"My fa—Oi old Hag! Listen here! Your ritual is just cutting the connection and make new one! No change at all with the Servant! The worst thing happened if it failed was both o you die in a BOOM! It's not my fault this dumbass is Loose Canon and who the Idiot who has the bright idea recruit Loose Canon anyway?!"

If possible, an invisible arrow strike Darnic.

"Then we simply have to kill him and take you as his replacement." Said Caster, ordering his Golem army to subjugate Saber of Red.

"Yeah... how about NO SHIT!" "Master! A hep here!"

'Huh? Oh right! Don't touch ground! Stay on branches! The golem can't jump. They are simply too heavy. If they jump they wll go CRASH!'

"Already do it!" She dodge the incoming attack.

'Keep Lancer busy! His territory encompass ALL Romania! The Spike probably reach the border! Keep his thought occupied that he won't think of using it at you! Use Saber of Black and Berserkers as distraction.'

"Okey-dokey."

Saber charges her sword and strike Lancer's golem horse with it, shattering it and forcing Lancer to landed close to Berserker.

Hey. The battleground is tiny.

Speaking of Berserker.

"Crap! Lord Darnic! Berserker of Red regained his consciousness!" Worse than that, his entire body bulges atrociously, reminded Saber of her old hag of Mother's more potent and crazy potion in cauldron.

"Op-press-or... OOOOHHH OPPRESSOR!" The madman roared in pain (delight?) and shatter the Golem trap from insides. His body bulges too much for the prison to contains. He swung his grossly oversized limb to hit whatever or whoever around him. This action prompted Lancer turned to him and use his stakes to pins Berserker of Red in place.

It worked... until it doesn't.

The stakes absorbed into Berserker's body, as the place it struck bulged even worse.

"GAHAHAHAHAH! MORE! MORE! FEEL MY LOVE OPPRESSOR!" Berserker of Red laughed and lifted his fist with intents to crush Lancer.

Berserker of Black blocked it with her mace, followed with both Sabers sliced the arms and legs off. Then Archer blinded him, finished by Lancer use his Noble Phantasm on highly concentrated Area.

Wrong thing to do.

Once the rain of blood and bloody bits stopped, the limbs where it was cut off bulged like Tumor. Uneven and utterly gross. Berserker even reach size of a house!

"This doesn't look good." Muttered Archer.

"You were saying?!" Muttered Saber nervously. "I mean, it started to glow!" She pointed out at the glowing bulges.

Freaky. And give her jeebie feelings.

"By the way... who's his Master?"

"..."

Silence. Only sounds of Berserker of Red's maniac laugh and flesh being pumped. The Masters looked at each other as if saying 'are you THIS abomination's Master?'

Saber twitched. "You gotta kidding me..."

'Saber. Done?' Oh thank God. MASTER HELP!

"Well... more like got a problem I want to run away from." Mordred glanced at Berserker of Red's totally absurd form. 'You know... Berserker of Red have a teeny tiny little trick I don't wannta see up close..."

'What trick?

"Um... he convert pain into Prana and now he's gonna blow up?"

'...'

"..."

'...'

"...Master?" Hey. Her Master isn't fainted, right?

'SABER!" Saber nearly yelped when a scream resounded inside her skull. 'Throw Berserker of Red at Black Servants and GTFO!'

GTFO? Oh. Get the F Out.

Sounds like plan!

"Well... my Master need me so I gotta go, bye!" Saber astralize and running like hell.

"SABER! Don't run!"

"HEY!"

"GET BACK HERE!"

Nu-uh. Not happening. Nada.

A black and pink plur ran past Saber in astral form and cries "MASTER!" Saber paid it no attention. She moved to her Master's side, saw Gray carrying a boy in her back. She didn't even think as she pull both her Master and Gray by wrist and use Prana Burst to get out from the Yggdemilennia area.

Even if Naomi cursed her because she almost pulled her right arm off its socket.

Saber ignores it, because not even a second after they reached town—

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!

TBC

A/N: Yes! A Divergent in story!

Decide to update this story to celebrating FGO x Fate/Apocrypha Collaboration Event and got Achilles in first pull. All FGO Player, good luck in rolling!