-*-Evelyn's POV-*-
Rayshifting was always a bizarre experience—disorienting in a way that felt unnatural, yet the sensation never lasted long enough to be a major concern. It faded away quickly, leaving only the faintest traces of discomfort behind.
"Hmm. The air here feels... cleaner." Saber Alter remarked, taking in a deep breath as if to confirm her own words.
Curious, I mimicked her, drawing in a slow breath myself. If I had still been a normal human, I doubted I would have noticed any difference. But now, being both an android and a Fairy, the contrast between this era's air and the modern era's was stark. The atmosphere here was pure, untouched by the pollutants that suffocated the world in the future. More than that, there was an undeniable trace of magic within it, a faint but tangible presence that made every inhale feel rejuvenating. It was, quite literally, breathtaking—no pun intended.
"As much as I loathe to admit it, I must agree with my counterpart. The air here is truly refreshing." Saber added, her tone neutral but sincere.
Then there was Fujimaru, ever practical, ever focused on the task at hand. "Yeah, that's nice and all, but I want to know where we are." Her voice cut through our moment of appreciation as she moved toward the edge of the hill, peering down in an attempt to get a better view of our surroundings.
"Ooh! I think I see something over there!" she suddenly exclaimed, pointing excitedly toward the horizon. Following the direction of her finger, my gaze landed on what looked like a fort—if you could even call it that. The walls were still standing, but just barely, appearing as though they were held together by sheer stubbornness rather than structural integrity.
[Hello? Can anybody hear me?] A sudden flash of light signaled the reestablishment of our connection with Chaldea, and within moments, a holographic projection of Director Olga materialized before us.
"Loud and clear, Director." Mash responded almost immediately, prompting a relieved sigh from the woman on the other end of the call.
[That's good. Now, since you—] Before she could continue, Fujimaru tugged at my sleeve, cutting off whatever briefing Olga had been about to give. Her finger shot upward, pointing at something above the horizon.
"Ugh... I don't mean to interrupt, Director, but does anyone else see that?"
As one, we all raised our heads. What met my eyes was a sight that could only be described as incredible—a massive ring of light, stretching across the sky for miles in every direction. Though the distance between us and the phenomenon made it impossible to discern its true nature, there was no mistaking what it was made of. Pure magic. Nothing else could radiate that kind of energy.
[Wha—what is that!? Romani! Hurry and analyze it!]
Olga's voice rang through the comms, urgent and filled with barely restrained panic. But I was too entranced by the sight before me to pay much attention to her reaction. As a Fairy, I possessed an innate understanding of magic, yet whatever this was remained elusive, its composition defying my immediate comprehension. Perhaps it was simply too far away, or maybe it was something beyond even my understanding. Either way, I couldn't shake the feeling that this ring of light held the answers we sought.
Still, wanting to inject some levity into the situation, I smirked and said, "I bet you whatever's causing the Singularity is smack-dab in the middle of that thing."
As if my words had suddenly made everything click into place, Olga immediately sprang into action, shouting a rapid-fire series of orders to various members of the Control Room.
"Well, that does seem logical." Saber remarked, squinting at the horizon.
"Hmph. Logical it may be, but we cannot tell just how far the other end of the ring truly is." Saber Alter countered, ever the pragmatist.
Indeed, while the ring of light was visible from our position, estimating its actual distance was an entirely different matter.
[That doesn't matter. If we follow Evelyn's reasoning, at the very least, we now have a direction to move in rather than wandering aimlessly.] Olga interjected, her tone noticeably restrained, perhaps in an effort to avoid drawing Saber Alter's ire.
Luckily for her, the corrupted knight merely huffed in response, apparently not bothered enough to argue further.
Then, without warning, the Celestial Forge activated. A tendril of energy shot out, latching onto the Time Constellation, and within moments, it managed to grasp a large mote. I had already come to learn that the larger the mote, the stronger the headache would be, so I braced myself accordingly.
The pain came swiftly and fiercely. It was a searing, intrusive agony, as though knowledge and experience were being forcibly etched into my very being. The world around me blurred; voices became distant murmurs, their meaning lost beneath the overwhelming sensation tearing through my mind.
A sudden touch grounded me—fingers resting lightly against my hand. Even through the haze, I recognized the unmistakable presence of Saber Alter.
She said nothing, made no move to pull away. Seeing as she wasn't protesting, I tightened my grip on her hand, focusing on the point of contact as an anchor against the storm raging in my skull.
Gradually, the pain ebbed, reducing to something more manageable. With a deep sigh, I turned my gaze toward Saber Alter. As always, her expression was unreadable, her posture rigid, but even without words, I inclined my head in silent gratitude. I didn't trust my voice not to crack under the lingering pain.
Now that I could think clearly again, I turned my attention inward, processing the knowledge that had been forcefully integrated into me. Almost immediately, anger flared within my chest, hot and potent. I clenched my fists, forcing myself to exhale slowly, letting the emotion dissipate before it could take hold. There was no point in getting mad. Not now.
Checking my Omni-tool, I was met with a notification that left me feeling both frustrated and relieved at the same time.
Magical Assembly (Generic Builder) (400CP)Rather than use tools for your building, you've learned how to assemble and disassemble things using magic. This increases your Building speed by half again.
Points banked: 400 CP
If it had been me just a few days ago, I would have been ecstatic at first, only to be utterly livid moments later. This perk allowed me to cut my workload in half, a blessing by any measure. But back then? I still couldn't use any Magic, let alone... ugh, magecraft. The frustration alone would have driven me to the brink, possibly to the point of tearing my own hair out if I had received this ability prematurely. But now? Now that I actually had access to it, all I could do was feel profoundly grateful.
[Once again, we need you to fix this Singularity as quickly as possible, so stay focused, alright?] With the pain momentarily forgotten, my senses sharpened, and I realized I had tuned back in just in time to catch the tail-end of the Director's briefing.
[That means you three—Fujimaru, Mash, and Saber. I understand your desire to save as many lives as possible, but you must remember that no matter what actions we take in these Singularities, they will not alter the course of History. Even if, by some miracle, they did, history would simply self-correct, ensuring that the present remains largely unchanged. That means that even if an entire city is lost here, it won't make any significant difference in the grand scheme of things. Our priority must be fixing the Singularities, not getting caught up in saving people who, in the end, are inconsequential to the bigger picture.]
Although I hadn't been listening earlier, I could easily piece together what had transpired. The Director's words were directed at Fujimaru, Mash, and Saber—meaning one of them had likely asked about, or outright declared, their intention to save people. Given their heroic ideals, it was practically inevitable. But, as the Director had pointed out, history would correct itself regardless of our actions. Who we saved and who we didn't didn't truly matter. Hell, who's to say that someone we managed to rescue—someone who was originally meant to die—wouldn't just end up dead a few moments later anyway? Logically speaking, it made far more sense to focus solely on fixing the Singularities rather than concerning ourselves with individuals.
Unfortunately, our team was composed of insufferable do-gooders. Fujimaru, despite being a girl, was essentially your stereotypical shounen protagonist—recklessly optimistic and determined to save everyone in sight. Mash, ever loyal, would always follow Fujimaru's lead. Then there was Saber. While she could be pragmatic due to her experience as the King of Britain, she was still an idealistic fool at heart.
Not wanting to waste more time, I decided to step in.
"Now, now, Director, don't be too harsh on them. You know how they are. You can't stop them from wanting to save people, but in the interest of keeping things on track, I'll make sure they don't lose sight of our mission. Trust me on this." I made my promise with full confidence. I knew I had enough influence over Fujimaru to rein in her more altruistic tendencies, and with Saber Alter present, I had a solid counterbalance to keep Saber herself in check.
[...Very well. I trust you to follow through on your promise, Evelyn.] Nodding at the Director's words, I let her continue.
[Alright then. Since that's settled, I'll leave you all to your mission. And please, Mash, Fujimaru—don't die.] With that, the call ended, leaving us in brief silence. Brief, because I quickly took control of the situation.
"Alright! Since that fort we spotted earlier is on the way, why don't we head there first and gather some intel?" The previously gloomy atmosphere lifted, if only slightly, as I redirected the group's focus to a more immediate goal.
"Very well. Given our current lack of information, this plan would allow us to gain insight into the ongoing events." Saber agreed without issue. With her approval, Fujimaru and Mash nodded along, trusting the more experienced members of the team.
I turned my gaze to Saber Alter, curious to see if she had any objections—whether due to her lingering resentment toward Saber or because she had a different approach in mind. When she gave a conceding nod, I smiled.
"Good! Now, since there's quite a distance between us and the fort, I suggest you all wait here while I prepare transportation." My words caught everyone off guard. Understandable, considering there wasn't anything remotely usable around us for crafting a vehicle. But I had recently discovered something quite handy—my ability to summon my warehouse, as long as I could create an enclosed space with a door.
Without waiting for their reactions, I used my Fairy Magic to shape a box out of the ground, stunning the more human members of our group. I then carved out a rectangle, forming an earthen door. Once completed, I stepped inside, entering the familiar space of my warehouse.
From here, I could create what I needed. A transportation device, built using my Innovation-Inator. And given how that particular perk worked on cartoon logic, I was entirely confident in my ability to fabricate a ray gun capable of generating a car out of practically anything.
-*-Fujimaru's POV-*-
Okay, I knew that Evelyn worked with Da Vinci and that she was an android, but I didn't even know half of what she truly was. Turns out, she was the reason why the Director was still alive—since she had created that robotic puppet for her soul to inhabit after we were pulled out of the Fuyuki Singularity. But that wasn't all.
Evelyn also possessed this insane pocket dimension, one that was infinitely expanding and capable of replicating anything that could be considered a resource! Just imagine the possibilities! And honestly? The coolest part was that her creation of an android body allowed for actual, freaking immortality! That alone was mind-blowing, but to make her even more badass, she had an entire arsenal of hidden weapons embedded within her limbs. She was basically a walking armory!
Oh, I couldn't wait to get my own android body. And that's not even mentioning the fact that I'd finally have a dick of my own. Though, considering I was still single—and given the unfortunate lack of women in Chaldea who genuinely interested me—it wasn't like I'd be using it any time soon.
Of course, I had my fair share of crushes. There was Mash… Da Vinci… Saber… even Saber Alter, because let's be real, she scarouses me. And yeah, Evelyn too. But let's face it, none of them were likely to give me the time of day.
As for Mash? I didn't even want to entertain that thought at the moment, not with how emotionally stunted she was. She had a lot to work through, and if anything, I'd rather be the friend she needed rather than someone who complicated things for her. Maybe when she matured, I'd reconsider.
Then there was Da Vinci. I mean, she literally called herself "Perfect," and honestly? She kinda was. She was brilliant, charming, and fun to be around. But we hadn't spent enough time together for me to feel any deep, meaningful connection. The same could be said for Saber and Saber Alter.
And then there was Evelyn… a woman who was quite literally out of my league. What could I possibly offer someone who could create androids, had access to unlimited resources, and, oh yeah, was an actual Fairy?
Sighing, I let my head drop forward as the car swerved to avoid some trees. Yeah, not only was Evelyn a total badass, but she could also make machines that could turn scraps into fully functional vehicles. The more I thought about it, the more I realized my prospects for a romantic partner were looking pretty damn bleak.
"Hey, you doing good back there, Fujimaru? Don't go telling me you have car sickness now!" Evelyn called from the driver's seat, pulling me out of my spiral of self-pity.
Glancing at the rearview mirror, I could see her looking at me, even tipping her sunglasses down—sunglasses she had literally conjured out of nowhere—just to get a better look.
Shaking my head, I shoved my insecurities aside and called back, "No problems here! Just enjoying the view!"
From the way Evelyn hummed, it was obvious she didn't believe me. Luckily, she didn't push the topic and instead focused on the road.
"I think I can see it, Master!" Mash suddenly shouted, standing up and poking her head through the open rooftop of the car—whatever this vehicle was actually called. It was one of those things you'd see in military movies, but I had no idea what the proper name was. Either way, this bad boy Evelyn had put together was ridiculously useful.
Following Mash's lead, I stood up, gripping the bars to steady myself. Sure enough, in the distance, the walls of the fort came into view.
"Mash is right! I see it too!" Wanting to push aside the dark thoughts from earlier, I focused on our approach. The fort grew larger as we neared, and soon enough, we were out of the forest and had a clear view. Grinning, I held onto the railing as Evelyn began slowing the vehicle down. Something was off, though. The soldiers stationed at the fort were pouring out in large numbers, and they didn't look all that welcoming.
"Arrêt!" One of them suddenly shouted. I had no idea what language that was, but judging by their hostile stances, I knew it wasn't anything friendly.
"What did they say!?" I asked quickly, my nerves spiking. Thankfully, Evelyn slowed the car to a stop a few meters from the soldiers, and Mash, ever the helpful one, translated for me.
"Master, have you not turned on your Universal Translator? The one Miss Da Vinci gave you? The soldiers said, 'Halt!' Most likely because they're unfamiliar with the roar of a car's engine." Embarrassed, I rubbed the back of my head before fumbling to switch on the Universal Translator Da Vinci had provided. She had only just managed to finish making it before we Rayshifted, using Evelyn's resources, of course.
As soon as I activated it, Evelyn spoke up. Her voice was in English to my ears, but her mouth was moving differently.
"Peace, soldiers. We are mere travelers from the far south, seeking answers." Her tone was calm and composed despite the armed and potentially hostile soldiers.
"The far south, you say?" One of them—probably the leader—narrowed his eyes. "And what brings you here? And what of that metal beast you are riding upon?"
Without missing a beat, Evelyn smoothly replied, "We are merely a group of merchants and journalists, friends. We travel across the land, gathering news to share with the world while also providing aid where we can with our wares." That was when I finally realized the true purpose of all the stuff packed in the back of the car. I had originally thought it was just for us, but Evelyn had been planning ahead.
"As for this 'metal beast,'" Evelyn continued, "it is simply a newly invented cart. It requires no horses and allows us to traverse the land far faster than any steed." Damn, she was good at this. I could see the skepticism in some of the soldiers start to wane.
"Ignoring the strangeness of your… car, you claim to be merchants, yes?" The leader eyed her carefully. "Then, do you perhaps have any food to offer?" And just like that, we had them hooked. I could already tell where this was going, and from the way Evelyn smiled as she turned off the engine and stepped out of the driver's seat, she knew it too.
"That we do, my good man!" she declared warmly. "Come! You may peruse our goods at your leisure. And do not worry—we understand that these are hard times. We are willing to accept whatever you can offer in exchange!" Yep. Evelyn was smooth as hell. The leader signaled to one of his men, who quickly ran back inside—probably to gather whatever they had to trade.
-*-Evelyn's POV-*-
It seemed that, despite my lineage being something forcibly thrust upon me, the Fae's Silver Tongue was a skill I could wield with surprising proficiency.
From my right, Saber Alter suddenly spoke, her voice as cold and sharp as the blade she was meticulously cleaning—Excalibur Morgan. If the words had come from anyone else, I might have taken them as a compliment. But coming from her, while she ran a cloth over the cursed blade, I knew better than to let my guard down.
Trying to save my own hide, I quickly said, "Eh. It's not really the Fae influencing me. The ability to weave convincing stories like this and make people believe in them comes from the fact that I was an author before all this. I wrote stories, and through those stories, I made people believe in a fantasy they could never truly live."
Outright lying would have been a gamble that could end with me dead, so I could only hope this half-truth would be enough to dissuade the Servant from feeling the need to remove my head from my shoulders. Of course, I knew that if things went south, I could always stop her with a Command Seal. But doing so would erase any sliver of goodwill I had managed to build with her, and she would, without a doubt, make my life a living hell afterward.
Thankfully, Saber Alter merely hummed, pausing in her cleaning as she regarded me. Then, with a tone that was almost—but not quite—curious, she mused, "I see. A wordsmith, then? It is admirable, how someone with such a weak profession has managed to make it this far."
Without another word, she sheathed her sword and strode away, leaving me feeling so relieved that I hardly paid attention to the failed roll with the Celestial Forge.
With my immediate death averted, I resumed my walk around the fort. After selling some food and various items crafted from materials taken from my artificial plane, the soldiers had allowed us to enter and rest within the fort's walls. Saber had taken on the guise of a journalist—who, conveniently, was also a knight—and was currently off gathering information alongside her Master and fellow Servant. As for me, I had nothing pressing to do, so I was simply wandering, biding my time until the others finished their tasks.
As for Saber Alter... well, giving her a task other than fighting was just asking for a beating. So, we had let her loose to do whatever an evil tyrant might do in a fort filled with dispirited survivors and soldiers. In hindsight, that was a terrible idea. Still, I wasn't about to poke the hornet's nest. I could only pray that she wouldn't cause any trouble for us.
Just as I was lost in thought, a bell's sharp ringing cut through the air. With my enhanced hearing, I picked up the panicked shouts of soldiers.
"Enemies!""...like skeletons...""Works of the Witch!"
[Evelyn! We have trouble coming from the gate where you entered!] Alex's voice rang through our communication link. Being connected with LAPLACE and CHALDEA, she had access to the same information as those back home. And if she was giving a warning, it meant trouble was already upon us.
Without hesitation, I sprinted toward the gate, my speed allowing me to reach the scene in under a minute.
"What is—" My words died in my throat as I arrived just in time to see Saber Alter decapitate a skeleton, dispatching what I assumed to be the last of the enemies.
"Tch. How weak." Her voice was filled with nothing but disdain as she wiped her blade clean.
The rest of my group arrived moments later, led by Saber, who immediately took in the fading remains of the skeletons. "What in the world happened here?" she asked, her sharp gaze scanning the battlefield.
One of the soldiers, still wide-eyed from what had just transpired, answered in a tone laced with awe. "M-Madam! We—we were just being attacked by these skeleton men moments ago, but after someone rang the bell, your friend suddenly appeared and cut them all down in a second!"
As if to punctuate his words, Saber Alter flicked her sword, ridding it of the last bits of filth clinging to the blade. Then, without a care for the admiration she had just received, she turned to us, her expression twisted in irritation.
"What a waste of time." To the others, her frustration might have been confusing, but I knew exactly what it meant. She wasn't angry because of the attack—she was frustrated because the enemies had been too weak to be of any real challenge to her. Wanting to defuse the situation, I tentatively placed a hand on her shoulder.
Instantly, she turned to look at me, her gaze cold and piercing.
"Don't worry, Alter. I'm sure you'll find someone strong enough to go all out against." Somehow, my words hit the mark. Her irritation faded, replaced instead with an honest-to-God pout. Internally, I admitted that she actually looked kind of adorable like this—not that I'd ever say it out loud.
Before I could suggest we head back in, our communication links lit up, displaying a holographic projection of the Director.
She looked hurried, worried even, as she spoke. [We're detecting large creatures heading towards your group! And they're coming in fast!] Just as the warning left her lips, a voice from above the walls shouted in alarm.
"Dragons! I see the Witch's dragons coming towards us!" The bell rang once more, sending soldiers into a frenzied panic.
Predictably, Saber Alter's grin widened. "Hah! Ask, and ye shall receive!" Like the battle maniac she was, she unsheathed Excalibur Morgan, eyes locked on the incoming beasts.
Seeing the sheer number of them, Saber took a step forward, her own uncorrupted blade at the ready. "Everyone! Stand back!" Unlike Alter, Saber was composed, treating the situation with the gravity it deserved. But no amount of orders could keep the soldiers from panicking, many already on their knees, praying desperately for divine intervention.
Then, from the forest, a voice rang out. "Soldiers! Douse yourselves with water! It will grant you temporary protection from their flames!"
The sudden command caused a momentary pause, with even a few soldiers looking around in confusion. "Eh?" one of them muttered.
The woman who had spoken paid no mind and continued barking orders. "You there! Pick up a weapon and fight!" She pointed to a previously cowering soldier, who, despite himself, followed her command.
"Together with me! To battle!" With that, she charged straight toward the wyverns that had landed, a surprising number of soldiers rallying behind her.
To my left, Saber Alter let out a low growl. "Tch. The hell is this!? Why is she interfering with my fight!?" I had to quickly grab her wrist before she could charge forward and attack a potential ally. Thankfully, the act of restraint seemed to intrigue her more than irritate her, as she simply stared at my hand clasped around hers.
[This energy... It's faint, but we're certain—this woman is a Servant!] The Director's words confirmed our suspicions, but before we could process it further, chaos erupted again. A group of soldiers was flung back, some engulfed in flames.
"Let's talk later! For now, we need to help! Mash, Saber, go!"
With Fujimaru's command given, her Servants wasted no time in joining the fray, charging headfirst toward a group of soldiers who were on the brink of being slaughtered. They managed to arrive just in time—Mash threw herself in front of the soldiers, raising her shield to intercept a devastating swipe from the dragon, while Saber lunged forward, her sword sinking deep into the creature's elbow.
"These—these aren't dragons! They're wyverns!" Saber suddenly shouted as she twisted her body to narrowly evade a lashing tail.
Alter let out an annoyed click of her tongue, her sharp eyes scanning the battlefield. "Wyverns, she says? No wonder they looked smaller than I expected."
Her irritation visibly rekindled, Saber Alter exhaled sharply before sliding her sword back into its sheath. The movement caught my attention, and I shot her a questioning look.
Noticing my stare, Saber Alter scoffed and explained, "These overgrown lizards are hardly worth my time. I refuse to waste my energy on such insignificant pests. Let the others handle it."
Apparently, the revelation that they were merely wyverns had dampened any motivation she had to fight. While I could tell that the battle was shifting in our favor—albeit gradually—it was also clear that many people were still getting injured in the process. And, of course, there was Fujimaru, being her usual self-sacrificing idiot, throwing herself into danger as she dragged wounded soldiers away from the chaos.
Letting out a sigh, I turned to Alter. "Can you do me a favor? Keep an eye on Fujimaru while I join the fight. I'd rather we end this quickly so we can focus on our mission."
There was a moment of silence before I heard the smirk in her voice. "Very well. I shall watch over the weakling while you go prove whether or not you are a worthy Master."
There was a distinct hint of curiosity laced in her words. Even if my Servant was a total bitch, I sure as hell was going to prove that I wasn't weak.
Letting my mantis blades extend with a sharp metallic hiss, I immediately launched myself toward the nearest wyvern. The winds at my back aided my leap, propelling me farther than I should have been able to go and guiding me straight to its massive, reptilian head. As I landed atop its skull with a resounding thud, I let out a roar of my own and plunged both of my blades deep into its eyes. The wyvern responded with a deafening screech, violently thrashing its head in an attempt to dislodge me. Fortunately, my blades had embedded themselves deep enough to keep me anchored, but the relentless flailing made it impossible for me to gain stable footing and drive the blades further into its brain.
Clicking my tongue in frustration, I regretted not installing blades in my boots. I had been putting it off, wanting to wait until I had the perks necessary to craft my own gear. Now, ironically, I did have the ability, but I hadn't found the time to actually make use of it. Still, I wasn't out of options. With a sharp yank, I ripped one of my blades from the wyvern's eye, eliciting another agonized shriek from the beast. Without hesitation, I aimed for its snout and stabbed downward. My first attempt glanced off its scales. The second barely pierced the skin. The third dug deeper, tearing into muscle. Then, on the fourth attempt, the blade finally bit into bone. Now that I had a grip on something solid, I adjusted my stance and drove the remaining blade—still embedded in its eye—further forward. Since the eye socket offered the least resistance, my weapon easily carved its way through. When I finally reached what I assumed was the wyvern's brain, its frantic movements slowed. A second later, it collapsed entirely, its lifeless body crashing to the ground beneath me.
Retracting my mantis blades with a flick of my wrists, I took a quick moment to survey the battlefield. The fight was far from over. "One down, more to go," I muttered, wincing as I counted the remaining wyverns. Five more were still rampaging. Three of them were preoccupied with Mash and Saber, while another was being skillfully handled by the mystery Servant, whom I was now certain was Jeanne d'Arc. The final wyvern, however, was currently slaughtering a group of soldiers.
Clicking my tongue in irritation, I sprinted toward the bloodbath, arriving just in time to yank two soldiers out of the way of a scorching breath attack. "Oy! You overgrown lizard! Keep your eyes on me!" I bellowed, activating my laser to catch its attention. To my surprise, the beam melted through a portion of its wing upon impact. The unexpected damage caused the wyvern to release a furious roar, its gaze snapping to me with pure, undivided rage.
"Good boy." I muttered under my breath, dodging a massive claw swipe without even needing my Sandevistan. Deciding to test out my other weapons, I deployed my mono-wires, expertly wrapping them around the wyvern's wings as I maneuvered onto its back. The wires held firm, securing me in place, but as I tightened my grip to maintain balance, something unexpected happened—my mono-wires sliced clean through its wings.
"Shit!" I barely had time to react as the wyvern shrieked in agony, plummeting from the sky. I managed to steady myself using my feet, but with nothing left to hold onto, I had no choice but to leap off before I was dragged down with it. Just as I was about to land safely, a blur of movement caught my eye—a tail, swinging directly at me. With no time to dodge, I instinctively sucked in my stomach and crossed my arms to shield myself.
The impact was jarring. I expected pain, maybe even broken bones, but instead, I felt… nothing. No pain, no internal damage—just the force launching me straight into the ground, where I cratered upon impact. Blinking up at the sky, I let out a disbelieving, "Huh."
I didn't have time to dwell on it. A split second later, gouts of flame came rushing toward me. I barely managed to yank myself out of the crater, narrowly avoiding the fiery attack. Brushing dust off my jacket, I muttered to myself, "Alright. So my mono-wires are strong enough to slice through wyvern wings. And apparently, I either can't feel pain or these wyverns just aren't strong enough to hurt me."
As I continued dodging, I activated my Sandevistan to push my limits, testing just how much my android body could handle. No matter how hard I pushed myself, I didn't feel like I was reaching any kind of limit. That realization filled me with a new surge of confidence. This fight needed to end.
Summoning my mantis blades once more, I infused them with the power of the wind, sharpening their edges. With renewed determination, I weaved through the wyvern's attacks, slipping past its defenses until I found myself directly beneath its massive head. Seizing the opportunity, I thrust both blades upward. The wind-enhanced edges sliced through its hide effortlessly. That's when I realized my mistake.
The moment the wyvern died, gravity took hold. Its full weight came crashing down toward me. Gritting my teeth, I braced myself against the sheer mass, straining under the pressure. Yet, despite the immense weight, I didn't feel like I was at my absolute limit. The realization hit me like a truck—I was far stronger than I had initially thought. With a final burst of effort, I pushed the corpse off of me, sending it tumbling to the ground.
I stared at my hands in stunned silence. I had just pushed an entire wyvern off me, and yet… I hadn't accidentally crushed anyone before this battle. That was a relief.
[It's because you've been unconsciously acting within the limits of your previous body, I think.]
Alex's voice chimed in through my comms, and her reasoning made sense. I exhaled, grateful that I had discovered my strength here rather than accidentally killing Fujimaru in a careless moment.
Before I could dwell on it any further, the sound of triumphant cheers echoed across the battlefield. Turning around, I saw the surviving soldiers raising their weapons, celebrating their victory.
"Good on them." I muttered, though I felt no desire to join in the celebration. Instead, I turned my back on the cheering crowd and made my way toward Saber Alter, who stood apart from the festivities.
She regarded me with her usual cold expression. "Hmph. It seems that you were not as weak as I thought."
To anyone else, her words might have sounded condescending, but I could sense the faintest hint of satisfaction beneath them. It made me smile.
Glancing back at the soldiers one last time, I let out a sigh. I knew I had done well—more than well, if Saber Alter's words were anything to go by—but this had still been my first real battle. Now that the adrenaline was wearing off, I was beginning to process just how terrifying the whole experience had been, despite my newfound strength.
Needing a distraction, I decided to check on the perk I had earned during the fight.
Bling of War (Macross) (100CP)It's one thing to have a weapon or vehicle of mass destruction, capable of rending an entire ground force or a squadron to shame. It's another to make it look so damn good your enemies would not dare get near it if they had a lick of sense. By purchasing this perk, you can design your equipment to look much more stylish and carry a 'theme' you prefer. This can range from the clothes you wear, to the weapons you wield, to even the vehicles you pilot into battle. It's all about style
Points banked: 400 CPClick to expand...
The host has slain their first wyvern, receiving 100 CP.
Rolling...
Roll failed.
Points banked: 500 CP
Well, I suppose that's just another perk of making things beautiful. With a small shrug of my shoulders, I redirected my attention back to the celebration, which was gradually losing its energy. The Servants and Master had begun to split off from the larger group, and it wasn't long before they made their way toward us.
"Hey, Evelyn! Guess who we have with us?" the young Master asked excitedly, practically bouncing on the balls of their feet.
Wanting to tease them a little, I smirked and casually said, "Well, that wouldn't happen to be Jeanne d'Arc, would it?"
The moment the words left my lips, the entire group froze. The sheer silence that followed only made the grin on my face widen as I watched Fujimaru's excitement shift into a dramatic pout. They huffed and kicked at a few stray pebbles on the ground in mock frustration, clearly unimpressed by my correct guess.
Jeanne d'Arc, after shaking off her initial surprise, finally stepped forward and raised her hand in greeting. "Well met, madam. As you have correctly surmised, I am Jeanne d'Arc, a Servant summoned by the Holy Grail to maintain balance in this world..."
Spoiler: Jeanne d'Arc
Her voice trailed off slightly as her gaze drifted toward the group of soldiers nearby. They stood oblivious to the true identity of one of their so-called saviors. That alone made things a little more interesting.
"Hmm," I mused, crossing my arms as I glanced between her and the soldiers. "It's going to be a bit cramped, but Miss Jeanne, why don't you come with us? That way, you can explain the situation properly without any unwanted ears listening in."
Jeanne regarded me thoughtfully for a brief moment, her expression unreadable as she mulled over my offer. Just then, as if in response to the situation, the Celestial Forge flared to life once more, only to flicker and die just as quickly, failing to latch onto anything of use. Typical.
Finally, she nodded, seemingly coming to a decision. "Very well. You all seem to be a decent lot..." Her voice held a trace of uncertainty as she glanced—rather warily—at Saber Alter. Despite that, she continued, her tone shifting into something more resolute. "And given the aid you have provided these poor soldiers, I am willing to accompany you and share what I can."
Pleased with her agreement, I flashed her a wide smile before reaching out to shake her hand. "Marvelous. Now, let's not waste any more time, shall we? If you would?"
With another small nod of acknowledgment, the blonde woman allowed me to lead her toward the car, ready for whatever revelations were to come next.
During our ride toward La Charité, Jeanne Ruler shared everything she knew with us. Unfortunately, that wasn't much—either because the original Jeanne d'Arc had perished only a few days prior or because the corruption of the Holy Grail had weakened her abilities as a Ruler-class Servant. Regardless of the reason, what should have been our primary source of information turned out to be a dead end. Faced with that reality, we decided our best course of action was to gather information from a town along the way.
That town was La Charité.
I was fairly certain that in the game, by the time Mash, Jeanne, and the Master arrived, the town had already been reduced to ruins. However, given everything that had happened so far, a creeping sense of dread settled over me. If my car allowed us to reach La Charité earlier than expected, then we might arrive before a critical event took place. Considering we had left immediately after dealing with the wyvern attack and were moving across the land at a decent speed, there were only two possible outcomes: either we would reach La Charité while it was in the process of being attacked, or we would arrive just before Jeanne Alter's forces laid siege to it.
I had no doubt that our Sabers were strong, but I wasn't sure how well they would fare against multiple Servants under the influence of Madness Enhancement. We could, of course, throw caution to the wind and have Saber Alter unleash her Noble Phantasm without restraint. But that would require me to use a Command Seal, considering Alter was unlikely to resort to such a move unless she personally deemed it necessary.
"Madamoiselle! I believe I can see La Charité!" Jeanne suddenly called out.
It took some effort to maneuver the car through the shrubbery, but sure enough, when I looked in the direction Jeanne was pointing, there it was—a city, standing intact. As expected, it hadn't been besieged yet.
"Miss Jeanne, I suggest you stay in the car with Saber while we gather information." I said.
She reacted with immediate indignation, her expression darkening as she prepared to argue. Before she could, I quickly explained my reasoning.
"You got lucky with the soldiers a few hours ago, but sooner or later, people are going to recognize you. If you come with us, it'll only lead to chaos." Through the rearview mirror, I could see Jeanne pouting, clearly not convinced. I sighed and pressed on.
"You must remember, Miss Jeanne, that as far as the people are concerned, you are the Witch who has been wreaking havoc. If anyone manages to piece together your identity, I doubt they'll be rational enough to hear you out." Even then, she still looked reluctant. Jeanne was the kind of person who wouldn't sit idly by if she could help others. But after a moment of silent contemplation, she conceded.
"I don't like this," she admitted, crossing her arms. "But if my presence will truly cause trouble, then I'll stay behind."
A small smile formed on my lips. Hopefully, she saw it through the mirror.
"Thank you, Miss Jeanne. And don't worry, we'll gather all the information we can on your behalf." Judging by her expression, my reassurance did little to ease her frustration, but she was at least reasonable enough to acknowledge the logic behind it. Well, unless people's lives were directly at stake—then all reason went out the window.
As we continued our approach, the Celestial Forge flared to life… only to fail in grasping anything. It didn't just miss a single connection—it completely bypassed an entire constellation. Letting out a sigh, I refocused my attention on the path ahead. At least the carts that had passed through had already paved a makeshift road for us.
Then, just as we reached about a hundred meters from the city, soldiers began pouring out of La Charité.
"Alright, people, you know the drill." I said offhandedly, slipping off my sunglasses as I prepared to deliver the same spiel I had used at the fort.
Things were going well. Too well, in fact. I just knew that Murphy's Law was lurking around the corner, waiting for the perfect moment to strike and turn everything to shit. Still, until that inevitable disaster struck, we were making significant progress.
We had managed to gather a wealth of information, much more than I initially expected. It turned out that La Charité was a major trade hub, meaning a constant flow of people coming and going. Thanks to that, we uncovered quite a bit about the so-called Dragon Witch—Jeanne d'Arc's corrupted counterpart.
From what we gathered, she had five "demons" under her command. One had control over a dragon of their own, two had an unsettling obsession with blood, one was an archer, and the last one was so elusive that no one could even determine their gender. These descriptions triggered some long-buried memories within me. I couldn't recall all of their names, but I did remember two: Vlad the Impaler and Elizabeth Bathory—Servants of Jeanne Alter.
That knowledge alone was invaluable. Every single one of Jeanne Alter's Servants had Madness Enhancement, making them stronger and significantly harder to kill. However, due to their vampiric nature, Vlad and Elizabeth had a critical weakness. I was fairly certain that I could kill them—possibly—thanks to the Holy Stones and their Holy Element. And if that failed, we had Saber and her Excalibur. Against those two Servants, we at least had a solid chance of eliminating them.
The real problem lay with the remaining three. My inability to recall who they were was a serious hindrance. It made planning difficult, leaving a dangerous gap in our strategy. Still, this was better than when I had first entered the Singularity. At least my memories were slowly resurfacing.
"How are things on your end?" I activated the comm link and called Fujimaru's group.
[Well, I think we've gathered all we can from here, honestly.] Fujimaru's reply came instantly, and I nodded. I felt the same.
At this point, I debated whether we should stay or leave. We had obtained the information we came for, so withdrawing now would be the smart move—especially if we wanted to remain undetected by Jeanne Alter. If we could keep our presence hidden, we might be able to mount a surprise attack later.
That thought was just starting to feel appealing when Murphy's Law decided to make its move.
[Everyone! Five Servant signatures are heading toward your location!] The warning came from the Director at the same moment I felt the very air around me become saturated with malice and bloodlust. The sheer intensity of it nearly made me sick.
"Fucking... hell..." I cursed under my breath, momentarily caught off guard by how overwhelming the presence of these Servants was to my Fae senses. I had no idea why Saber and Saber Alter's presence hadn't affected me like this. Perhaps because Jeanne was too weak, I had barely even noticed her at all. But this? This was entirely different.
It took me a few seconds to reorient myself, and by then, I could already hear the sounds of battle outside La Charité's walls. Panic spread like wildfire as the townspeople scrambled, their fear palpable. Gritting my teeth, I forced myself to push past the suffocating sensation and shouted:
"Everyone! The Dragon Witch has come! She's attacking from the south! Escape through the north! GO!" Thankfully, multiple Perks worked in synergy, amplifying my voice and authority. The people listened without hesitation, fleeing in the direction I indicated. The moment one group moved, the rest followed.
Then, three wyverns crashed down into La Charité.
I clenched my fists. I had made the right call by helping the townspeople evacuate. If I had ignored them, their screams would have distracted me mid-fight, possibly getting me killed. Taking a deep breath, I deployed my mantis-blades.
"Fujimaru! Tell me what's happening on your end!" I reconnected the comm link with Fujimaru, immediately asking as I dodged a wyvern's tail swipe, then sidestepped another as it attempted to body-slam me.
[Evelyn! We—we're currently fighting—ugh, shit! Jeanne and Mash are holding off two Servants, while Saber and Saber Alter are handling three others!] I clicked my tongue in frustration. Not ideal.
One wyvern lunged at me with its claws. I reacted instantly, stabbing my mantis-blade downward, pinning its tail to the ground. At the same time, I infused wind magic into my free mantis-blade and swung it to intercept another wyvern's strike. Instead of merely blocking, my blade sliced clean through its hand.
Grinning, I charged up my laser, my palm humming with energy. Once it reached full power, I fired—blasting the first wyvern's head apart in a searing flash of light. With one dead, I turned my attention to the second. Its tail was still pinned, leaving it vulnerable. Seizing the opportunity, I grabbed it with both hands, braced my stance, and yanked.
The wyvern was heavy, but I was stronger.
Its massive body lifted off the ground, and I began spinning it by its tail. Faster and faster, its wings flailed uselessly as I built up momentum. Then, with a final grunt of effort, I released it—hurling the wyvern straight into its brethren. The two wyverns crashed together in a mess of wings and scales, their pained roars echoing through the town. I didn't let up.
Empowering my mantis-blades with both wind and fire, I felt the two elements merge. Flames wrapped around my weapons, but this time, they weren't just for show. The synergy between wind and fire created an explosive force, so strong that it nearly sent me flying.
Thinking quickly, I adjusted my grip, pointing my blades backward. The repulsive force propelled me toward the struggling wyverns at high speed.
Then, at the perfect moment, I unleashed my flames in full. A blazing arc cut through the air as I swung, aiming to cleave the wyverns in half. But instead of slicing cleanly through, the flames merely scorched them.
"That... didn't go as expected." I muttered, frustration creeping in. I had anticipated a clean kill, but these wyverns were tougher than I thought. They were already shaking off the burns and preparing to rise again.
No time to hesitate.
I channeled even more wind magic, further amplifying my flames. The sheer force nearly launched me skyward again, but I activated my Sandevistan, slowing my perception of time. Adjusting my stance, I angled my blades just right—turning my momentum into a deadly spinning attack.
This time, it worked. My blazing mantis-blades carved through both wyverns in a single strike. Their bodies fell, lifeless.
Breathing heavily, I looked down at my weapons—only to grimace. The intense heat had begun melting them. "Yeah... Looks like I'll need to experiment more with my magic. And upgrade my damn blades." Despite the setback, I had at least learned something valuable. But there was no time to dwell on it.
-*-Fujimaru's POV-*-
I hated this. Hated the feeling of being utterly useless in a fight. Watching from the sidelines, powerless, while my friends risked their lives. Cowering away while they fought tooth and nail. There wasn't a single damn thing I could do—not even a single Gandr shot. It made my stomach churn, the bitter realization that I was nothing but dead weight. A liability.
Mash gritted her teeth, bracing against the impact as she blocked the androgynous Servant's sword. The force sent sparks flying, but she held firm, parrying with expert precision before retaliating with a Spartan Kick. It should have landed—it would have—but the enemy Servant reacted instantly, leaping backward in a fluid motion, narrowly avoiding the blow. Jeanne took the opening, her flagpole-spear lunging forward, aiming to strike. But the attack never connected—another enemy Servant intercepted, their spear clashing against hers in a resounding clash of metal. The fight was at a standstill. A deadlock. Both sides equally matched. And I? I could do nothing but watch, useless as ever.
Spoiler: Androgynous One
Spoiler: Spear-user
I clenched my fists, cursing my helplessness. If only I had trained more, if only I had learned more from Da Vinci's lessons—
"Kyaaa!!" A piercing scream shattered my thoughts. My head snapped in the direction of the sound. A woman—civilian—had suddenly appeared in the middle of the battlefield. How long had she been there? Had she been hiding all this time, waiting for a chance to escape? She must have been forced out of her hiding spot by a stray attack.
Shit.
I wasn't the only one who noticed her. One of the enemy Servants—one Saber and Saber Alter had been fighting—turned their gaze towards the woman. Their intent was clear. They were either going to kill her outright, just like the others, or worse—take her as a hostage.
Spoiler: Would-be Killer
I didn't think. I just moved.
I sprinted toward her, heart pounding against my ribs. I might have been useless in a fight, but this? This was something I could do. At the very least, I could protect someone who wasn't supposed to be here.
"NOOOO!" I shouted, my voice raw with desperation. But it didn't matter. I was too slow. The Servant was already closing in on her, far faster than I could ever hope to be. My pulse spiked in sheer panic as I raised my right hand, my mind set on one course of action—I would use my Command Seal. I had to.
I gritted my teeth, preparing to give the order—
Then, the air whistled.
A sudden, deafening blast tore through the battlefield. The force of the explosion sent the enemy Servant flying backward, swallowed by smoke and dust. I stumbled to a halt, coughing as the thick debris clouded my vision.
"What—cough—what the hell was that?!" And then, from within the dust, a voice rang out.
"Heh. Perfect landing." The entire battlefield froze. Her words cut through the tension like a knife, echoing in the silence. As the dust finally began to settle, my eyes widened at the sight before me.
Evelyn.
She crouched atop the downed enemy Servant, orange, glowing wires wrapped tightly around their struggling form. The wires pulsed with energy, searing into the Servant's flesh, smoke rising from where they bit into skin.
"What is this, you wench?!" the man beneath Evelyn bellowed, thrashing in an attempt to break free. The more he struggled, the tighter the wires constricted, burning deeper into him.
Evelyn didn't answer. She only grinned, tightening the trap. And then, a voice that I had come to loathe.
"And another joins the fray. Tell me, you worthless imitation of myself, how many more are you intending to bring into this lofty goal of yours? You claim to act under the Will of God, and yet, ever since I awoke, He has not spoken to me! Not once! That can only mean one thing, you pretender! This land has been forsaken by the Lord, and it is my duty to cleanse it of its filth!" Jeanne Alter. Or as I had come to call her, Jalter. Ranting. Again.
Spoiler: Jeanne d'Arc (Ruler Alter)
Seriously. Did Hollywood secretly hire actual villains for their films? Because this woman could go on for hours about how 'God hates you' and 'I'm the true savior' without breaking a sweat.
Then, Evelyn spoke, cutting through the dramatic monologue like a blade.
"Are you really working for that woman?" Jalter's face turned red, fury twisting her features.
"Lancer! Kill that wench immediately!" With renewed strength, the Lancer beneath Evelyn let out a guttural roar. His muscles tensed, veins bulging as he flexed—and in a violent burst of energy, the wires snapped. Evelyn barely managed to jump away in time, flipping mid-air to gain distance.
Lancer barely had a second to react before Saber was upon him, her blade slashing downward. He blocked—just barely—but it left him open. In that instant, Saber Alter moved. A flash of black and red. A single, clean stroke. The next moment, Lancer's head left his body.
I almost threw up. My stomach lurched at the sight, but I forced it down. Now wasn't the time to fall apart.
"Are you serious?!" I heard Evelyn curse behind me. Then—
A roar.
It wasn't human. It wasn't natural. It carried a weight so suffocating, so dreadful, that my knees nearly buckled from sheer terror.
"Lancer! What are you doing!? Use your Noble Phantasm and kill them!" For the first time since we met, I heard true panic in Jeanne Alter's voice.
"NOOOOOOO!!! NEEEVVEEERRR!!!" The voice—the roar—belonged to Lancer. Or rather, what remained of him. His severed head trembled, his body shaking violently. Saber Alter didn't hesitate.
"Hmph. How…admirable." She raised her sword, energy gathering along its blade, dark and ominous.
"Everyone! Stop her!" Jalter screamed, desperation coating her words. Her Servants moved without hesitation, but so did ours. Each enemy was intercepted, locked in battle once more.
Evelyn, standing at the ready, squared off against the androgynous Servant.