This was not a dream. I didn't dream in all five senses. The clattering of weapons and the sounds of the forge. A sound I was all too familiar with. However, each and every blade is a Noble Phantasm. Each is a crystallization of a hero's myth. Each plants itself into Unlimited Blade Works, waiting to be unleashed.

The birth of the concept of a hero. The birth of a hero's item when it is given a name. The storage of its prototype. The identity of the weapon when it used to accomplish a great deed. Gilgamesh's numerous Noble Phantasms where all prototypes. Nameless. They were inferior compared to the ones that had achieved their peak condition.

There is no rule that says a copy can defeat the original. I had spent at least four to six hours training with my blades on a daily basis for the last thirteen years. Gilgamesh was an "owner" who admired his weapons hanging on the wall. My blades had "experience" and history to them.

When I woke up from the dream, we silently prepared for battle. I had a dull ache in my head, like someone had been rifling around in there. Roman had sent over some rations by Rayshift. Prepackaged food. Judging by the look on Saber's face as she ate, I would have to make up for it somehow with a full course meal later.

We broke camp and I say that very loosely. There was not even a tent. Talking would be a waste of energy. We stop at the foot of the bridge. I can almost feel the tension.

"I'm picking up the same two magical signatures as before. Two Shadow Servants are guarding the bridge." Roman's voice says. "It's Rider and Berserker."

"D – Do we even stand a chance?" Marie's face going as white as her hair.

"As a rule, only Servants can stand up to another Servant. Yet rules can be broken. A well laid plan can give you an edge. Saber and Mash will attack while Caster provides support. We will win and return to Chaldea." I encourage Marie and Mash.

A soft laugh echoes across the bridge. "I always did enjoy playing with the hero-types. So eager to make false promises. Fairytales do not exist. There are only the stories that are written by the victors."

Standing on the middle of the bridge, stood two figures of Greek Myth. Medusa, the Gorgon. Harpe, the weapon that Perseus used to kill the Gorgon, is in her hands. Her face is unnaturally pale and her dress is even more revealing than Rider's. I can see the sides of her stomach and thighs. The mass of muscle and rage beside her was no doubt Heracles. His black axe sword glinted cruelly. Chains where spread around the bridge like land mines. "Watch out for Rider's chains." I inform Mash.

"I will take care of those two, if you two can take care of that." Caster Cu Chulainn pointed behind him. I heard the sound of clattering bones. Then a roar that sounded like a jet engine starting up. A large shape emerged behind the skeletons and sat on its haunches. It had the head and body of a lion, yet it had two extra heads. A goat emerging from its back and a snake spitting venom. When it roared, it revealed a fiery maw.

"A Chimera? What is a Phantasmal Beast doing in a modern city?" Olga asks in shock.

"One fight at a time." I say, focusing on the skeletons in front of us. The Chimera didn't seem particularly interested in us yet. Once we defeated the skeletons, that would change. Mages often kept other magecraft up their sleeves.

Archer was nowhere in sight. He would have shot at us long ago, if he had saw us.

"Trace on."

A bow appears in my hands.

The skeletons lumber forward. Four arrow appears in the string, already knocked. I turn the bow over. I feel the telltale signs of Gandr shots being prepared.

"Alter. Transmute Rune."

Raidho, the rune for the journey appears on the arrowhead. Wind covers the arrow, surrounding it like a miniature tornado. I release all four arrows and the battle begins.

My arrows tear through the front ranks of the skeletons like a hurricane, wind shearing paths of destruction through them, ripping them like paper. I hear the roar of Heracles and the impacts shaking the bridge to its foundations. This structure was not meant to take this kind of punishment.

I project Kanshou and Bakuya. "Overedge." I throw one blade and it scythes through the group, slicing some in half. Gandr shots blast holes in the enemy group. We had reduced the group by half from the first salvo. Light glows from Caster's staff. I feel slightly refreshed.

"Cover me, Director." I charge into the enemy ranks, taking advantage of the temporary gap in their defenses. I leap back and charge whenever a Gandr shot clears a hole in the enemy group. As long as the skeletons didn't have a chance to regather, we could use the momentary gap in their defenses to attack.

I hack skeletons apart, sending bones and weapons flying through the air. The Married blades are twin black and white blurs in my hands. I parry, sidestep and lunge inflicting as much damage as I can. Caster's support magic supplies us with stamina to keep fighting.

Chains shatter around the bridge as Caster's magic, keeps them pinned down. Cracks are forming in the asphalt. The roars of Heracles and the sounds of swords clashing tells me that Saber is alright. Marie stops her attack, panting heavily. Caster's runecraft couldn't restore someone if they burnt through their mana supply. I manage to scythe down the last skeleton.

The Chimera leaps from it' s place, roaring with a column of flame shooting from its mouth. Caster sidesteps the inferno. It burns through a few cables on the bridge. "Hey, watch it kid! I'm on your side for now!"

I roll aside as the Chimera lands where I had been standing moments before. This close, the heat that came off the Chimera was sweltering. I slice off its tail as it snaps at me. The goat's head bleats as the Chimera roars. "If it can be hurt, it can be killed."

I reinforce my legs and leap away as the Chimera swipes with one of its paws. The force alone of its paw passing is enough to send me flying back a few extra feet. I hit the guardrail hard. I force myself into a standing position.

I dissipate Kanshou and Bakuya. I project a simple spear. "Come on, furball!" I yell. The chimera whirls as I antagonize it. It leaps, roaring and I leap away as it buries its head in the guardrail of the bridge. I manage to stab it into the molten asphalt that the Chimera melted from its firebreath while it shakes itself free of the guardrail. The metal has turned molten in places, decorating it's fur in metallic sheen and the Chimera's eyes are literally on fire.

I bring my spear up, the tip doused in a puddle of cooling asphalt. It has the consistency of rubber. As it opens its mouth to swallow me whole, I hurl the spear with all my might. My aim was worthy of Lancer. It goes right down the beast's gullet. It eyes bug out as it hacks on the liquefying rubber. It stands on its hind legs, trying to flee from me. I project a simple chain and unbalance it. The Chimera topples onto its side shaking the bridge. I hurl Kanshou, turning it into dust.

I hear a bestial roar of agony from the Servant's battle. Saber has defeated her enemy by plunging Excalibur directly into his chest. Rider's chains that sprout from her hair clash against Mash's shield as she twirls like a gymnast, spiked daggers clanging against Mash's defense. Mash manages to defeat her enemy by twirling her shield like an oversize record. The long end strikes Medusa in the chin and Mash brings down the whole weight of her shield like a battering ram. I can hear bones break with a sound like gunfire.

They both fade away, retreating to the Throne. "All right, somehow we won. I was utterly terrified, but we won." Mash says.

"Shirou…managed…to….defeat…a Chimera." Marie says through breaths.

"Not bad for a mage." Caster grins.

Saber is resolute as always. "You did very well, Shirou." A clear enemy was still in front of us.

"I detect a lessened enemy presence then before. In fact, it looks like the dense readings from before have vanished to center around Mt. Miyama. I don't know if it's the equipment acting up, but something is definitely underground." Roman reports.

As soon as we crossed the bridge, it collapsed behind us. The wreckage breaking up the river. Massive property damage was part of the Holy Grail War. We continue on, Caster leading. At the base of the climb to the temple, Archer is waiting. Instead of being completely encased in shadow, Archer seemed to have started on the process. Thin lines of curse are running through his face like scars. Other than that, one could confuse us for brothers.

"This is a joke right? Except this joke is so sickening I'm not laughing." Archer says.

"Shirou….and Shirou? What in the world?" Marie mumbles. No idea how to describe the look on Mash's face.

"This is awkward." Caster says. "Even for me, this is new."

"Shirou…..Archer?" Saber is stunned. "You are so alike, but how…?"

"You may fight me if you wish, but will you be able to handle the fact that you have your Master's blood on your hands?" Saber and Mash pause at Archer's words.

"If you have started down the path, then I must do all in my power to kill Shirou Emiya."

Saber tightens her grip on her sword. "Why is killing Shirou so important to you?"

"Neither one of us can accept the other, it's as simple as that." Archer answers.

"You are both the same person, with the same ideals, how can you just reject yourself?" Saber demands.

"Saber, thank you. However, this is my fight." I put a hand on Saber's shoulder.

"Ah, then you know?" Archer asks.

I knew. Projecting Archer's blades had given brief glimpses into the history of the man who had wielded them.

"Yeah. I understand that you became a Counter Guardian. You cleaned up the mess of humanity. Killing one to save many. You did so, again and again. Unceasingly. Even though you met a hero's end once, you still have regrets." I step towards him, facing myself. One of the many paths my life could take. However small, the possibility was there.

"I see. I suppose it is only natural for you to deny me. As the ideal of Shirou Emiya, I am the only person you can never bring yourself to accept." Archer's swords appear.

"No. There is just one thing you have forgotten, Archer. I won't lose to myself. I will never forget that look on Kirisugu Emiya's face when he saved us that day. You've forgotten the beauty of it. I don't care if you call me a fraud or a hypocrite. I know it isn't a mistake!"

Archer blurs the space between us as Kanshou and Bakuya form in my hands. Our swords clang together and sparks fly. I parry aside three attacks that could've killed me. I reinforce my body to its limits. I redirect each attack aside. I don't care if it's borrowed knowledge and borrowed techniques.

At each clash of our blades, memories fly by in my mind's eye. Fields of death. A hanging. More killing. More fighting. Archer would be forced to continue fighting for eternity.

"I don't pity him."

I leap over his head and Archer blocks my strike from above I twist my body and slash at his back. Even that is blocked. "Really, in the back?" Archer quips.

I throw one of my blades and attack at the same time. Archer has to guard his back and front at the same time. Archer blocks, twisting his body to knock aside the thrown blade. Parrying the attack delivered at full force.

More memories go through my mind's eye. Weapons slam into the ground of a far off barren land. Each being added to my own Unlimited Blade Works.

"Overedge." Archer somersaults backwards. I parry his upward slashes with twin longswords.

"I've heard of magecraft that allows mastery of old skills. Your skills are improving, every time you and I clash swords." Archer speaks. I still have one last thing, I've never used it before due to how dangerous it is. I throw the hammer down on my magic circuits. I throw both blades, drawing a beautiful cross over Archer. He blocks it.

"Spirit and technique, flawless and firm."

"What?" Archer speaks.

The projection was all completed.

Using the image I've prepared, I create Kanshou and Bakuya anew.

"Our strength rips the mountains."

A surprise attack comes from an unexpected direction. Archer grunts blocking the attacks from both behind and in front.

"Our swords split the water."

Bakuya attacks from behind again.

I don't need to say that it's the one that was thrown and deflected.

Kanshou and Bakuya are twin blades.

They attract each other like magnets.

"Life approaches the imperial villa."

I create another pair of swords in my empty hands. I've broken Archer's defenses.

"The two of us cannot hold the heavens together."

The Married Blades turn into longswords in my hands, piercing Archer's chest like spears. I am breathing hard, my magic circuits screaming from the overuse. "It's my victory, Archer."

"Yes. I suppose it is. A victory you gained with your own two hands." Archer nods. The Archer in red vanishes into the mist. I feel so weak. Caster's staff glows.

"Geez, kid. It's amazing you aren't brain dead."

"I…I can keep going. I will see this through to the end." I stagger.

"Master." Mash speaks. "You shouldn't need to push yourself so hard."

"Noble Phantasm. Shirou has a damn Noble Phantasm." Marie grumbles.

"The kid here is nearly burnt out. He'll be out of commission for a while and we can't leave our Master behind." Caster speaks. My vision of Saber's concerned face is wavering in and out.

I'm lifted up and placed on Marie's shoulders. "Hey!" The director protests.

"You're the only one not carrying your own weight here." Caster says. Everything is going fuzzy, shapes blend into each other. I can only hear voices. "I mean you possess high quality magic circuits, yet you don't have the aptitude to be a Master. Is it a curse?"

"Oh, shut up!" I hear Marie retort.

I feel the dampness of a cave. Our steps echo. A massive amount of od. An air of birth, filled with vigor and the joy of life. I resist the urge to vomit. Something rotten is down here. I can no longer see through my fuzzy vision, only sense.

"This is a half natural, half man mad cave." Marie notes. I feel Marie's shoulders digging into my stomach.

"Doctor, are you checking vitals? Shirou looks paler than usual." Mash asks Roman, concern in her voice.

"Huh? Ah…Yeah. His vitals are all over the place. While he was fighting Archer, he activated all his magic circuits. He used up nearly all his magical energy, when the strangest thing happened. It's like someone hit the reboot button and refilled Shirou's reserves with mana. His body started to take in mana at an increased rate from the environment around him. The amount of stress on his magical circuits should've caused them to explode or burn his body away. Not to mention permanent brain damage at the very least. He'll be back to normal in about an hour." Roman informed.

"I'm also getting weird readings from inside the main cavern. I need to run system diagnostics." Roman's voice muttered.

"Senpai?" Mash asks. I hear the unasked question. "Who are you? What are you?"

"A function of a mystic code? Another Noble Phantasm? A skill leeching over?" Marie grumbles to herself.

I am placed down on the cave floor. Except my head is laying on something soft. My vision returns. I can see Saber's blushing face above me. She had taken off her armor, leaving her in just her dress. "I – I thought it would be better than the ground."

Caster chuckles. "Oh? You didn't have anything else in mind?"

Saber's face flushes completely red. "I need not explain myself to you, Lancer!"

"They…really do look like lovers." Mash says, while blushing.

"I refuse to ask about that." Marie complains. "By the way, Caster. Do you happen to know Saber's true name?"

"Yeah, I do. In fact, you should ask the Saber that is right next to you." Caster Cu smirks.

I can feel the tension. "Lancer." Saber growls lowly.

"DANGER!" My senses scream.

"What?" Mash and Marie ask.

"My true name is Artoria Pendragon, King of Camelot." Saber reveals.

"King Arthur is…." Marie states in shock.

"Kingship is the domain of men. I could not protect the people with the body of a girl." Saber answers.

"If there is a corrupted version of myself, then I am oath bound to fight." I can feel Saber's resolution.

"Two Saber's fighting…Not even I am crazy enough to get in the middle of that." Caster says.

"Two Sabers fighting…" Instantly, I see two dragons fighting each other in my mind's eye. Yikes.

"You will win, Saber. There can only be one King Arthur." I am still largely out of it.

"Ugh. EX rank cuteness, I'm going to be sick." Lancer complains.

"You guys need to get moving. I don't know what is in that cavern, but it's like a black hole in Sheba's measurements." Roman informs.

I stand up. "I can stand now. I'm ready."

"That's good to hear. People who can push ahead recklessly are the ones that get blessed by the stars." Lancer compliments.

After a few steps we enter a giant cavern. The surface reminds me of photos of the moon.

In the distance stands a monolithic black wall. There should be a giant crater in the cliff. Up there was the beginning and the end. The massive rock in the middle of the large magic circle, the Great Holy Grail, belches black fire from its mortar-shaped center. The embryonic movement of a black shadow. The light illuminating the cavern is a wave of magical energy.

"Angra Mainyu." The vortex of magical energy can be called infinite. However…at the base…is a black armored Saber.

My body cannot move. I'm entranced. My body will not function as a human as long as this scene is engraved into my eyes. I fear my death, yet grit my teeth in vexation.

It's different. She's a different person. I don't feel any nobility from her. Her face is still the same. Those golden eyes do not reveal anything, but plainly look down at us.

"It appears I have not yet rid myself of what I once was." That was definitely Saber's voice, it's colder than before.

"Be quiet! You are nothing more than an image of what I would've been like if I had traveled the wrong path." Saber's sword sheds her sheath of wind.

"How did you ever come up with such twisted logic? I am you and you are me. You were long prepared for such a thing after drawing Caliburn. A hero's duty is to be hated and ostracized. All of your ideals, all of your glory…They all vanished on that hill in Camlann. That is why you shall know eternal despair." Saber Alter reveals.

Of course, Saber would always have regrets of her reign. Doubts, inner conflicts, hatred towards herself and grief towards her surroundings. Saber Alter was all those emotions in high gear.

"Don't listen to her, Artoria." What can I say to reassure her that it wasn't a mistake? "You did the best you could. Even though it ended in tragedy, your reign and ideals had meaning. They were not meaningless. This is an enemy you can defeat. You've already defeated her."

Saber Alter's sword flares. "Useless words!" Her unhealthily pale face shows the beginnings of anger. "If you truly have faith in those words, then defend them with your sword!"

I let the firing hammers fall one by one. Steam is coming from my body. I focus on Artoria's draw of energy and strengthen it by adding my own. It's like a pseudo command spell. Saber's mana burst activates, surrounding her with crackling blue energy. Dark Saber's own Mana burst activates. A deep purple and angry red lightning flickering around compared to Artoria's blue.

The two leap at each other with killing intent. The blows are strong enough to produce gale force wind. Blue and black mixes together in a deadly dance. Saber Alter is definitely stronger, yet she has lost most of her agility in exchange for power. My eyes cannot keep up with the rate of blows that are being exchanged.

All I see is the blur of weapons and the sound of metal crashing on metal. An unearthly screech fills the air. The shadowy movement of Angra Mainyu twists and solidifies into something that resembles a giant. The sheer amount of magical energy was equal to a Servant's Noble Phantasm. Its size is comparable to Einzbern Castle.

"By the Light of Lugh!" That coming from the Child of Light was probably severe profanity for him. There are four of them. "I thought I would have nothing to do, but this a battle I'll have to take seriously!" A wolfish grin is on Caster's face.

"If I had an Anti-Evil Noble Phantasm or a holy weapon, the reaction should cause the giant to fall apart with its curse neutralized. Yet my mana reserves are being used to strengthen Saber. I can't do both." I doubted I could even make an exploding arrow.

Mash and Caster dodge around the shadow giants, keeping their distance from the black mud. Caster's druid staff would qualify as a holy weapon in the druid view. The blasts of light from his staff created holes in the shadow giants, but the damage quickly repaired itself.

"Damn, that regenerative ability is a pain in the ass. Any ideas, Master?" Caster appears at my side.

"Use a command seal on Caster. The FATE command seals regenerate over a specific amount of time. Usually one per day." Olga Marie reveals.

"You do know how unbalanced that is, right? And why didn't you mention this before?!" I ask.

"You didn't ask about them. It's based off the Holy Grail War master – servant contract. Yet these command spells are weaker in authority and absolution than the ones in a Holy Grail War, a trade off for the regenerative ability." Marie explains.

"Lord Chaldeas!" Mash's Noble Phantasm activates. The shadow giants hammer away at it.

"Caster, use your Noble Phantasm." I order. A command seal vanishes from my hand.

"Burn them completely, giant of all trees. Wicker Man!" Caster's Noble Phantasm activates. We were a little too close for comfort. The heat was more like a slap. The flaming giant slams itself into the group of shadow giants and falls over in a tide of sacrificial flames. The shadow giants screech in rage. Parts of them are burning. They fall apart into burning sludge.

Her dark self exploded forward, a jet black comet. Bring Excalibur forward with the point, she turned her attack into a thrust going straight for her altered self's face. Her dark self had overextended her reach and was forced to take a shallow gash in her neck for her overconfidence.

Her altered self slammed her foot down and a wall of black miasma, swinging the blackened Excalibur with a mighty upwards uppercut. The wound on her neck was already closing.

Meeting the jet black Excalibur with her sword, she changed the direction of the attack ever so slightly that it missed her dress by mere centimeters. The black miasma around it was enough to rip the fabric.

Now she recognized that black miasma. "This dark miasma and oppressive weight! You seek to emulate the tyrant Vortigern?!"

"It is natural for me to bear this power, dragon incarnate abomination born of machinations that I am." Her blackened self seems to grin.

She couldn't believe her own ears. She couldn't believe the words that where coming out of her own mouth!

From all the speed she could muster in her dash, this blackened King of Knights was like a tsunami. Her blackened self's power was almost unreal.

She jumped back four steps achieving with what Alter would need eight for.

"Invisible Air!"

The Hammer of the Wind King met with the Hammer of the Vile King. The attacks broke apart into gale force winds. Running in, it had achieved what she needed. Using both hands, she struck her blackened self , breaching the breastplate and drawing blood.

Her blackened self's sword flared, nearly impaling her with it's size. The only thing that saved her was taking two steps to the left, allowing her to stay close to her counterpart. The blackened knight was very powerful, almost like a Berserker in strength.

Blood was running down her side, but was closing slowly. It was a cursed wound and it cleared her mind as well. "You never did walk off that hill, did you? You never left behind that despair, regret and anger. You were blinded by it, until you forgot everything else!"

"Then let us see who is blinded, and by what, you foolish child!" A wave of dark miasma exploded from her blackened self.

"Yes, I will show you what you have forgotten. I will show you the pride of a knight!" Her own magic roared as loudly as her blackened self. "I will show you the oath of a king!" Excalibur glows brighter, her armor disappearing. "And I will show you the dream of the girl you've left behind!' An image flashes before her, of the simple girl she had once been. Of a time when she was called the Knight Princess.

The distance between them blurred. The opposing magics seemed to scream and screech. Releasing Invisible Air behind her, the dark knight was sent flying into the side of the cavern.

Sparks fly as Excalibur meets blackened Excalibur. Blackened Excalibur flares, acting like a shield against the storm of her attacks. It screams foreward and she blocks it with Excalibur, the force alone sends her a third of the way across the cavern, her armor skidding against the rocks. The Hammer of the Vile King screams against the blade of Excalibur. She deflects it off to the side.

I turn back to Artoria and Saber Alter's battle. Long trenches have been carved into the ground. Saber Alter's black sword is ablaze with a dark purplish aura. Her armor is cracked and is bleeding from one shoulder. The cut almost reached Saber Alter's chest.

Artoria is breathing hard. Her dress is in tatters and her armor has been shattered. She's bleeding from a cut that should've been fatal on a human. A gash on her lower stomach stains her blue and white battledress red.

"I grow tired of this foolishness." Saber Alter's aura concentrates around her sword. "Fall into despair. Hammer of the Vile King. Excalibur Morgan!"

"Yes. Let's put an end to this." Saber agrees. "The breath of the planet gathers. The torrent of life shines. Excalibur!"

Both Noble Phantasms are unleashed. Gold and blackish red smash together with the force of an artillery shell. The attack power behind them would stalemate. I knew that. Both swords were Excalibur. I walk toward Artoria as blackness rages. I am right behind her, putting myself directly in the path of Excalibur Morgan.

"Senpai!" Mash yells.

"Damn it, kid! What in the Land of Shadows are you doing?" Caster's voice yells in shock.

"Idiot, Idiot, Idiot!" Marie's voice is nearly drowned out by the roar of the clashing Excaliburs.

"Shirou, please retreat." I hear Artoria's voice.

"No. You should know that I'm stubborn." I answer as always.

I am so close to her. The wind coming from Excalibur Morgan is like a typhoon.

"Besides, you are my sword and I am your scabbard." I tell her as I lay my hands down on top of Artoria's. My skin begins to tinge red as I focus on the image in my head and in my soul. I don't need to project it. I channel Avalon's essence into Excalibur.

I can feel Artoria's heartbeat. The fairy letters on the blade start to glow white. Excalibur's light intensifies. A field of golden light obscures my vision.

"How? That's…" I hear Dark Saber's shock. The field of golden light vanishes. Saber Alter is lying on the ground. Wisps of dark motes surround her. Her feet vanish first. She is returning to the Throne of Heroes.

A long scar runs along the ground, cleaving it like a ravine. "No matter how my fate changes, it appears I will always meet the same end if I'm alone. However, know that Grand Order has just begun." Saber Alter closes her eyes. "T…the…dream…" She vanishes completely, returning to the Throne of Heroes. Perhaps I had been seeing things, but it seemed like her eyes had turned green before passing away.

"Hey, wait! What do you mean by…Oh crap, I'm being sent back as well it seems." Caster's body is disappearing as well. "Master, I leave the rest to you. If there's a next time, try to summon me as a Lancer! A support-role is just not for me!" Caster vanishes as well.

"Confirming both Saber and Cater have vanished. Does that mean we've won?" Roman asks.

I had never heard of a Grand Order before.

"Grand Order…How did that Servant know that name?" Marie asks herself.

"Is something wrong, Director?" I ask.

Marie looks like a deer caught in headlights. "O – Oh, right." Her face returns to normal. "Well done, Shirou, Mash and Artoria. Several points are unclear, but let's call this mission complete. First, we should retrieve the grail, it's the reason this place in history became abnormal."

I feel it before I see the cause. A sensation that makes my skin crawl. "Well, I didn't expect you to get this far. Beyond my plan's expectations and my own tolerances. Master Candidate number thirty-nine. It was my mistake to overlook you as an improbability."

Professor Leff is standing at the Grail Altar.

"Professor Leff?" Mash asks in shock.

"Professor Leff, you say? He's there?" Roman asks.

"Is that Roman I hear? So you survived as well." Leff is wearing an unnerving smile. "I told you to come to the command room immediately, but it seems you didn't listen. Honestly…trash who can't even follow orders. Just the mere sight of it makes me want to throw up. Why is it that humans always try to avoid their preordained destinies?"

My skin feels unclean just being in his presence.

"Who are you, fiend?" Saber demands.

"Leff! Leff! You're alive!" Marie begins running forward. I try to move forward to stop her, but something is keeping me in place, a kind of pressure.

'Thank goodness! Without you, I don't know how I could protect Chaldea!" Marie runs right up to him.

"Director, don't! That man is..." Mash protests to deaf ears. I tried to move, but the pressure is there, like invisible chains. Saber and Mash look to be in the same condition. I look down. We are standing in the magic circle of the Greater Grail, the markings and runes lit up red.

A binding spell so strong that it effected even Saber. Such magecraft could only come from the Age of Gods. The Greater Grail had been tampered with somehow.

"Hi, Olga. You seem well. Looks like you had a rough time, too." Leff greets Marie almost happily.

"The command room blew up, the city's in ruins and I can't return to Chaldea! I'm going crazy from all these unforeseen problems! But it's okay, as long as you're here we'll be fine, right? You'll help me this time too, won't you?" Marie asks Leff.

Leff smiles, showing pointed teeth. "Of course. Honestly, all these complications have bothered me and the biggest is you, Olga. I set the bomb right under your feet, yet you still live."

"I hate it when I'm right."

"W - What? …L – Leff, wh – what's that supposed to mean?" Marie asks in shock.

"You are already dead." Leff says with that unnerving smile. "Trismegistus thoughtfully transferred you into this land after you'd become residual thoughts. You had no aptitude for Rayshift while alive, right? You can't teleport while you have a physical body. Understand? You only gained the aptitude you so sought after you died. That's why you can't return to Chaldea. The moment you do, your consciousness will vanish."

"Wait…I can't return to Chaldea?" Marie is trembling worse than ever before.

"Indeed, but that's too sad of a story for you. Let me show you the fate of the Chaldea that you devoted your entire life to." Leff says. There was a warp in space, revealing Chaldeas, now colored a bright red.

"Wh – What is that? It's a lie, right, an illusion." Marie stammers.

"It's real. I've connected the dimensions for you. Having the Holy Grail allows me to do so. Behold your folly!" Leff laughs. It's a high-pitched laugh, devoid of sanity. "Not a sliver of blue representing human survival remains. Nothing but a burning, bright red! That is the outcome of this mission. Isn't it wonderful, Marie? Once again, your incompetence has brought fourth tragedy!"

"Don't be absurd!" Marie yells. "I didn't fail! I'm not dead! Who are you? What have you done to my Chaldeas!" Marie demands.

"It isn't yours. Honestly…what an annoying girl you are!" A strong breeze envelops the Director. "I could kill you now, but there's no grace to that. I will grant you your final wish instead. Go ahead and lay hands on your treasure. Think of it as benevolence on my part." A silver of red appears in Leff's eyes.

"No, stop please! Chaldeas, a high-density body of data? A territory of dimensional anomaly?" Marie struggles against the invisible wind.

"Yes. No different from a black hole. Or perhaps a sun. Well, either way. A human touching it would be a hellish disintegration on the molecular level. An infinite living death!" Leff cackles.

"Someone help me! Help! I…I don't want to die! I've never been praised by anyone! Why…Why does this always happen to me!? No one ever valued me! Everyone hated me! I haven't even accomplished anything yet! I've never been accepted by anyone!" Marie disappears, disintegrating instantly. Not even ashes remain.

I clench my fists hard. "Shirou, stay back! That man is not human!" Saber manages to move, red sparks flying as she stands in front of me.

Leff is still wearing that unnerving smile. "Shall I reintroduce myself? My name is Leff Lainur Flauros, in charge of the year 2017 sent to dispose of you humans. Are you listening Dr. Romani? As a friend who studied magecraft with you, let me give you some final advice. Chaldea is finished. You humans have reached the moment of your destruction."

The terrible answer slaps me in the face. "The future didn't disappear. It was incinerated. The moment Chaldeas's was dyed crimson." I answer. My body goes numb. "Taiga, Sakura, Rin, everyone…"

Leff claps mockingly. "You see? Your end is certain! Chaldeas's magnetic field may be protecting Chaldea, but any outside of it will face the same fate as Fuyuki City."

"I see. We didn't lose contact with the outside world due to interference, we simply lost the outside world itself." Romani answers.

"You really are perceptive. A shame I didn't kill you immediately. But that too is futile resistance. If the time within Chaldea passes 2018 it will be wiped from this universe. No one can change the outcome now. This is a rejection of humanity by human history. You didn't perish because of your inability to evolve, nor did you perish due to war with foreign species. Rather, it was your own foolishness! Your incompetence! Because you lost the grace of our King! Like a bunch of worthless scrap paper, you'll be burned away without a trace!" Leff laughs, like he is having the time of his life.

The cavern rumbled.

"Ah, is this Singularity at it's limit? Cursed Saber. If you'd just obeyed you would have been allowed to live. Even when given the Holy Grail, she caused trouble by wanting to sustain this era. Farewell Romani, Mash, Saber, Canidate Number Thirty-Nine. Believe it or not, I have other things to do. My enjoyment of your destruction ends here. Now, be swallowed by the dimensional warp. But I'm not that evil, I'll allow you to say a final prayer." Leff vanishes along with the Greater Grail.

"The underground cavern's collapsing! No, the cavern wasn't stable in the first place! Doctor! Perform an emergency Rayshift! At any rate, we can at least save Senpai!" Mash yells. A rock the size of a house smashes down.

"Understood! I'm already doing it! But, it may collapse faster than I can fix it! If it does, then do what you can on your side! I mean, we can survive in space for a few dozen seconds, right?" Romani says positively.

"Shut up!" We all yell.

"Mash, use your Noble Phantasm to buy a few seconds!" I order.

"Lord Chaldeas!" A dome of mana covers us. The collapsing cavern collapses around us. I fall into darkness.

"All right, you're a good boy. Want something to eat? Nuts? Or maybe fish? Not sure if you are a cat or a squirrel. But that's okay, you are pretty cute!" A voice says.

"Fou…Kyu, kyu…" Fou chirps.

"Ah, the hero has awakened. Good Morning, Shirou." I awake to a brunette woman wearing Renaissance-style clothes and a staff topped with a crystal was beside her. Her left arm was a high-tech gauntlet.

"Who?" I asked.

"Hm, you're not thinking straight yet? This is the first time we've spoken directly like this. Are you shocked that you woke up to the sight of such a beauty? I understand, but I'm used to it. I'm Leonardo Da Vinci, a Chaldea collaborator. Or perhaps the third summoned Heroic Spirit. We'll talk later. Someone's waiting for you in the command room." Da Vici introduced herself.

I don't even question the fact that Da Vinci was actually a woman. Maybe the fame of the Mona Lisa influenced his/her summoning? My brain kind of expanded to accommodate the weirdness of the world of magecraft in the Clock Tower.

I got up, feeling refreshed. A warmth is on top of my hand. "Ah!" Saber reacts like a child caught with her hand in the cookie jar, her hand darting away from mine.

"Artoria has rarely left your side." Da Vinci informs me with a smile.

"I suppose we should head to the command room and see how things stand." Saber stands up from the chair she had been using. Her wound has healed.

"Good morning, Senpai. I am glad to see that you are okay." Mash says as we enter the command room. The command room is in ruins, but most of the rubble has been moved away. The surviving staff of Chaldea was all gathered here. Only nineteen people.

"Good morning. Thank you, Mash." I greet.

Mash smiles. "I should be the one thanking you. I was able to stay conscious thanks to you." She is back in her regular clothes.

"I'm all for your reunion, but could you bring your attention here please?" Roman asks.

"First of all, congratulations on surviving and completing your mission, Shirou. Well done. You faced the challenges and overcame it. That earned my respect and appreciation. Thanks to you, Mash and Chaldea were saved. It's a shame about the director, but we've no time to hold a service. All we can do is grieve. We must defend humanity in the director's place. That's how we pay her tribute. From Chaldea's state, what Lev said was true. We can't contact the outside world. The staff who have left Chaldea haven't returned. I fear humanity has already been destroyed. Chaldea seems to be the only place outside of the normal timeline. Perhaps it's staying on the timeline right before the collapse. Think of it like a colony floating in space. The outside world is dead, until we do something about the situation. We tried scanning Earth with the resurrected Sheba. It's Earth of the past, not the future. The Fuyuki Singularity was destroyed thanks to you. But we hypothesize that the future was unchanged due to another cause. The result being….This distorted world map." Romani fills me in on what happened and points up at Chaldeas. It was now a glowing blue nebula.

"A newly discovered dimensional disturbance against which Fuyuki pales in comparison. They say changing the past, changes the future, but you can't overthrow the future by slightly altering the past. History has the power to heal itself. You might save a person or two…but the end of that era…will still end up with it's definitive result unchanged. But these singularities are different. These are humanity's turning points." Romani explains.

"What if this war didn't end? What if this naval voyage wasn't successful? What if this discovery was wrong? What if this nation couldn't become independent? The ultimate decision point to determine the current state of humanity. Destroying them is causing the foundation of human history to crumble. That's what these seven singularities are. The future had already been decided when these seven singularities formed. As Lev said, humanity doesn't make it to 2019. But we're different. Chaldea has yet to reach that future. Only we can fix this mistake. We must return the Singularities to normal. So here's the plan, Rayshift into these seven Singularities and get history back on track. It's the only way to save humanity. However, we are still powerless. All other master candidates are frozen. Mash and Artoria are the only Servants we have. You've been forced into this situation, but I'll still say it. Master Canidate number thirty-nine, Shirou. If you wish to save humanity, then you alone must go and face these seven singularities in human history. Can you shoulder the burden of Chaldea and humanity's future?" Romani asks.

"You don't have to ask. I'll lend a hand to protecting Chaldea and helping humanity to reach it's future. No matter what challenges may lie ahead." I say, full of resolution.

"With those words, our fate has been decided. We will now carry out the Preservation of Humanity as laid out by Olga Marie Animusphere, former director of Chaldea. Our objective is the protection and recovery of human history. Our search target will be each era's relic and Grail. Our opponent is history itself, many great Heroic Spirits and legends will stand against you. To save humanity we must defy human history. This is the only way to take back the future. No matter what end awaits us. To reflect our determination, we shall abandon the original mission name, First Order. This is now a Grand Order, the name of the magical world's highest order. We will take back the future." An applause breaks out at Romani's words.

A small smile is on Saber's face. No matter what challenges lay ahead we would pull through together, even though it was said to be impossible.

Saber Alter

Strength: A+

Endurance: A

Agility: D

Mana: A++

Luck: C

(Class Skills)

Magic Resistance: B

(Personal Skills)

Charisma: E

Instinct: B

Mana Burst: A

Excalibur Morgan: Sword of Promised Victory (Anti – Fortress) A++

The form Excalibur takes after being corrupted by evil. Just as the fairies of the Lake, Vivian and Morgana, can coexist as polar opposites embodying good and evil, Excalibur can also hold a dual existence of good and evil. Due to its nature as a "sword that amplifies", it is blackened when Saber is blackened by Angra Mainyu, reflecting her inner feelings and corrupted nature as "Saber Alter". The blackened magical energy is the primeval curse that lurks in the British Isles.

Triple - Linked Crane Wings (Anti – Unit) C

An "exquisite technique", the culmination of long years of fighting with swords and the "true meaning behind Kanshou and Bakuya." It is said to be a "fatal attack", relying on the married swords' attraction to one another, consecutive projections, and keeping the basic technique, symbolized by the chanted poem. The user projects three sets of Kanshou and Bakuya, executing an unavoidable combination through throwing and slashing maneuvers. Each blade is lethal and the multiple attacks are meant to prohibit escape or defense. The only ways to defeat it are with an omni-directional defense, or by ignoring the damage to make a suicidal assault on the user.

Avalon (Mana Regeneration)

Being connected to both Avalon and Artoria, the scabbard of Excalibur in the Master's possession is capable of rapid magical energy restoration in environments that are saturated with mana. Effects on the body include dizziness, fainting, nerve damage and at worst, disintegration when the magus overreaches himself in the amount of magical energy running through the magical circuits.

Shadow Giant

Familiars made out of the Hollow element. Augmented by Angra Mainyu and the Holy Grail, their size increases vastly and they start acting as a materialized curse. Each are called a match for the Noble Phantasms of Servants. Carrying the properties of All the World's Evil, fighting them would normally require something to dispel a curse, but a level of energy equal to that making up the shadows can eliminate them.