CHAPTER 18:

FLAGELLUM DEI

"Yo, Altera, I wanna word with you."

Altera looked at Mordred. The young Saber had all but dragged her away from the group, where they had gathered for the upcoming battle. "Then speak."

"…What advice can you give me?"

"Mordred, I'm not sure I understand. Advice about what?"

The blonde teenaged knight looked a little ill at ease. "…Look, we're more similar than, well, I thought. When you told us that crap about Velber and Sephyr…it took me a while to realise, but we're pretty similar. We know what it's like to be weapons, attack dogs straining at the leash of another. My handler was Morgan le Fay, and yours was Velber. How…how do you cope with that?"

"…It is hard," Altera admitted quite quickly. "Though in truth, I did not have much of a chance to cope. All that could rebel against Velber was subsumed by its influence at the time. And it was virtually the same way when my backup core was discovered by the Huns. They used me as a weapon, even as I was declared their king. My existence then was not as hollow as it was when I was under Velber's thrall…but it was still hollow. However, from what I gathered, you had a fairly fulfilling life as Arthur's knight, until your mother revealed your heritage to you. You had a better life than I, but Morgan's manipulations and Arthur's response to your desires led you to throw that away."

"Yeah, so?"

"Think of it from her viewpoint," Altera said. "Arthur…Arturia, learned that she had a child, you, by rape, and the rapist was her own half-sister. She may not have shown it, but imagine how shocking it would have been to her. Perhaps part of the reason she rejected you as her heir was because of that shock. But…did she reject you altogether as her child? I know not these answers, and as your father is not on this battlefield, we cannot ask her. However, never think that you have no worth as either a human being or as a warrior. I would be proud to have one such as yourself riding by my side in our armies."

"But as a king?" Mordred persisted.

"…I cannot answer that. What should a king be? A rapacious conqueror like I was? A stalwart defender of the people like Arturia was? Somewhere inbetween or outside of these views? However, a king should both defend and inspire their people. Your father did both at least, for her legacy lives on to this very day."

"And it killed Father by degrees, I could see it," Mordred said morosely.

Altera, after a moment, embraced Mordred. "Regardless of the answer to your question, you are a worthy warrior. And the blood on your hands doesn't stain as deeply as that on mine…"

"So, how are we going to be doing this?" Harry asked once Altera and Mordred had come back from their talk.

"Simple," Altera said. "Mordred and I will launch a direct assault on the enemy army. Meanwhile, I want Astolfo to protect you. Finally, I want you to send Jack to find any Masters who have taken to the field, and kill or disable where necessary."

"I'm not wholly convinced that'd happen," Astolfo said. "I mean, why would they leave the castle? They'd just send their Servants out to do the fighting." On their incredulous looks, he said, defensively, "What?"

"That made too much sense," Hermione pointed out. "I thought you were supposed to lack sense."

"Yeah, but I don't have no sense whatsoever."

"You still have a point, Astolfo," Altera said. "I had counted on the arrogance of the Magi, but it is more likely they would stay in the castle and let their Servants do the fighting."

"What about removing the Homunculi who are having their mana siphoned from the equation?" Kairi asked.

Altera shook her head. "Harry is the only one who has any idea where that facility is, and I did witness the memory of his escape through the Dream Cycle. He was more concerned with escaping than trying to make a map. Jack can infiltrate the Yggdmillennia castle, but she may not know where to go to deal with the Homunculi, and she may not know how to release the Homunculi without killing them. In addition, we cannot be sure about the defences in place against enemy Servants." She frowned, before the four Servants present whirled to face the one approaching. After a moment, Altera gestured at the other Servants. "Stand down. I do not believe he is hostile, are you, Lancer?"

The pale Servant was approaching from nearby. "Not to you," Karna said. "The priest sent me here to help let you know when the assault is to begin. Archer is going to use her Noble Phantasm against Yggdmillennia's army. After that, I shall go and seek out Lancer of Black, the one called Vlad Tepes. Our respective powers should be similar, despite his boost from his homeland. Though I have to ask, how did you recruit Rider and Assassin of Black to your side?"

"It's a long story," Harry said.

"Indeed," Altera said. "However, if I may, I would like to request that I make the opening attack. Archer's Noble Phantasm may be an Anti-Army, but I assure you, so is mine. In fact, I believe it will be an even more fitting opening to this Grail War."

"Oh?" Karna asked, raising an eyebrow, before his gaze turned to her sword. "Ah yes…the Sword of Mars, you said, when we spoke before you left with Sisigou and Saber. Mars, the Bringer of War…I too am blessed with a weapon from a war god, as you know, for Indra was a god of war. You need not worry about exposing my identity. Saber of Black's Master heard me reveal my true name." He closed his eyes for a period. Eventually, he opened them again. "Assassin of Red has relayed a message to me from her Master. Archer is willing to allow you the opening move, and so, Assassin and the priest have agreed. We will wait until they arrive. I heard that you fought Saber of Black, the one known as Siegfried."

Altera nodded. "We had met in life, but that was the first time we had clashed. I know not Berserker or Archer of Black's identities, though."

"The priest found information about the former. Caules Forvedge Yggdmillennia was found to have purchased the plans and notes of a certain scientist and alchemist by the name of Victor Frankenstein."

Harry blinked as he made the connection. "Wait a moment…Frankenstein's Monster was a cute young woman in a bridal dress?"

Altera frowned, as did Mordred. "Oi, Harry," Mordred said. "She's also a Homunculus. The Grail just filled us in. Apparently, Frankenstein wanted to make an Eve to bear his Adam, but, well, he freaked. Ugh, I know that feeling too well. Called her ugly." She seemed to take offence at the whole thing, and Harry remembered that Mordred was herself a Homunculus.

"…She was cute," Harry said flatly.

"Saber meant what you would call the Uncanny Valley," Altera said. "Frankenstein's creation had only the barest vestiges of sentience, and, initially, a lack of empathy. Even as she gained it, her resentment and despair over her creator's treatment led to her tragic end. And, presumably, to her current state as a Berserker Servant. As for Archer, he is most definitely part-divine, and a skilled bowman."

"What of Rider and Assassin of Black?" Karna asked. "The priest wants at least a short answer."

"Friends of mine intercepted the Master of Assassin as she was being summoned." Harry indicated Tonks, who had hoisted Jackie onto her shoulders. "As for Rider, his Master was murdered by an unknown party."

"And he's the Rider of Pudding now," Luna added.

"I see. Well, I'm sure we will welcome the extra help," Karna said, looking bemused by Luna's declaration. His eyes narrowed, and they followed his gaze to Yggdmillennia's castle, where an army, of Golems and Homunculi, spewed forth. Then, he looked overhead, and so did they.

Harry gaped at what he saw. It was a massive fortress, flying through the sky, dark and sinister, surrounded by panels of stone. Karna then said, "Rider…time to show them your mettle."

Altera gave a sardonic smile, before she reversed her grip on Photon Ray, pointing the hilt towards the sky. "Connection with Mars established," she murmured, before a jet of ruby light smacked into the skies above the army. Elaborate geometric sigils appeared in those skies, vaguely tribal in appearance. "Let the God of War's wrath fall on my enemies. TEARDROP PHOTON RAY!"

A column of actinic light lanced down from the heavens, hitting the sigils, and blasting into the army, unleashing a massive explosion that sent Homunculi flying, and shattered Golems. The humans present gaped in sheer shock at the power displayed. Most of the Servants present showed various degrees of being quietly impressed. Of course, one such Servant couldn't be quiet about that.

"Holy shit, Rider!" Mordred yelped. "That was fucking awesome! I haven't seen anything that awesome since I saw Father using…his sword," she finished lamely, remembering at the last second to avoid naming Excalibur, and thus potentially allowing Shirou to identify him, and thus her. Well, Harry knew King Arthur was a woman, but Mordred seemed to stubbornly believe otherwise.

"True, but that was merely a shot across the bows," Altera said. "Lancer, are you fine with my fighting Siegfried?"

"I would be lying if I did not say I wish to fight him once more, but the priest said I am to deal with Lancer of Black, as my endurance and agility is a good counter to his Noble Phantasm."

"…Karna," Harry said. "Why did you attack Ruler?"

"I was ordered to by my Master. Do not misunderstand me, it was an order I found puzzling, disagreeable even, but I was to follow his orders. I have no orders to attack her on the battlefield should she arrive. We Servants are but the tools of our Masters."

The group fell into disquieted silence at that. They agreed not to reveal Shirou's true nature for now, as it might lead to him attacking them. They would wait until the Red Faction were weaker before doing so. However, Altera eventually spoke. "Tell me, Karna…does your Master truly deserve your loyalty? You are a good man, but you seem to have a habit of choosing the wrong people to follow who do not deserve your loyalty. First, Duryodhana, and now your Master. Servants are not mere tools. We were once amongst the living." She summoned her horse, Etzel, and mounted the magnificent steed. "I am not without my flaws. If anything, being what I am means that I have to work hard to overcome my destructive nature. And that is the point. I will fight and struggle every step of the way to become better than I was!"

Karna raised a snow white eyebrow. "Interesting words. I look forward to seeing you put them into practise."

"Indeed, I shall." Then, she yelled, "From the steppes, ride forth! From the plains, ride forth! From beyond the veil of death, ride forth! The hordes of destruction that heralded Rome's fall, come to me now…FLAGELLUM DEI!"

As she jabbed Photon Ray into the sky, Harry watched as, all around them, a ghostly horseback army appeared in a flare of light, all dressed in tribal clothing. Altera then looked at Mordred. "Saber, take one of these horses as your steed. Don't worry, it will support you for as long as I sustain this Noble Phantasm, comprised of my army from life. Or if it gets damaged."

"IT'S A HUNGRY AND HORRIFIC HORSEBACK HORDE OF HAIRY HUNS, HARRY!" Astolfo yelped.

"How real are they?" Hermione asked.

"They're solid enough, but they cannot sustain much damage before they vanish," Altera said, before a smile touched her features. "Then again, they don't need to. The Huns, my people, were feared across Europe for a reason. Indeed, once this land was but part of the Hun Empire." She pointed Photon Ray at the Yggdmillennia forces. "My warriors! Let us ensure this land remembers who we are! Let Vlad the Impaler learn that the Ottomans were child's play compared to us!"

A great throaty cry went up from the ghostly army, and they charged off, Altera at its head, and Mordred riding along with them, whooping and hollering with joy. Karna shook his head, a faint smile touching his lips. "You have interesting Servants, more than I realised. Forgive me for not lingering, but I must hasten to join the fray." With that, he dashed between them at a speed sound would envy.

"Jeez, he's fast," Astolfo muttered. "Damned show-off Lancer. And your Rider, she's so damned OP!"

"…How does a Servant from the Dark Ages know what OP means?" Harry asked.

"The Grail gives us knowledge of modern slang to a degree. Depends on how open one's mind is, and mine is wide open!" Astolfo declared.

"So open, stuff just falls out of it," Hermione snarked.

"Hermione, play nice," Luna chided. "Hey, Tonks, when are you going to send our adorable Assassin to attack the other Masters?"

"Once I see them," Tonks said, taking out some Omnioculars and scanning the battlefield. "I still feel uneasy about only having one Servant guarding us anyway, even if we can use Command Seals if need be. So I'd rather not send her out yet until I'm sure. The Yggdmillennia Masters must be staying inside the castle for now. Hmm…that red haired girl in the wedding dress…that must be Berserker of Black. Karna said she was Frankenstein's Monster, right? She's pretty cute."

"What's with all the genderflipped Servants?" Remus remarked. "Jack the Ripper, Attila the Hun, Mordred, Frankenstein's Monster…"

"We'll worry about that later, when we're not in a fight for our lives, Moony," Sirius said. He looked back over at Harry. "Even if it's our Servants doing the fighting, the dangers are still very real, right?"

Harry nodded. Even now, he couldn't shake Jeanne's warning, about an Avenger Servant being summoned. He had a bad feeling about this, and he knew everyone shared that uncertainty…

CHAPTER 18 ANNOTATIONS:

So…it's been a little while. Oh well. Can't say when the next chapter is out, but hopefully, this one has been worth the wait, if only because it shows Altera finally using a couple of her Noble Phantasms in earnest. Seriously, Teardrop Photon Ray is brilliant, and I wish they used that for Fate/Grand Order, not the drill-sword attack, and Flagellum Dei is a brilliant NP for her. I mean, seriously, what's Altera best known for in life as Attila the Hun? Leading a bunch of homicidal horseback hordes against what was left of the Roman Empire. It's sort of apt, too, as the heartland of the Hun Empire was more or less in Romania, or at least in the rough vicinity.

No numbered annotations this time.