The Chosen One 25 (Patreon)

I can't fly right now.

As long as that beast remains on the sky, taking flight is simply impossible. In a way it is like a king saying no one can wander around on his realm without permission. A king of the skies.

So I don't try flying... in the conventional sense. "Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost!" Instead I bring my power to the maximum and then...! "Jet!" Essentially jump into the air, just as Saber had done.

That thing may have an annoying ability, but it's pretty weak. Saber's hurricane was tearing it apart, while Archer's Noble Phantasm couldn't even scratch the doll. And then there's the fact that this flying beast is apparently one without much information about it...

I know why, since it's so weak, Merem must not use it a lot. In the end it is not a fighter, just an annoying counters to people who can fly. I guess the idea is grounding someone so that the Whale Dog can smash through it.

However, there is one problem here. Due to me entering Balance Breaker, I can only utilize one Longinus besides it. And that Longinus is of course, Absolute Demise. If my doll goes out, the Whale Dog will continue its march towards the city after all.

Nonetheless, I take a bit of her focus away from the wall, just enough for her to create a ice blade for me to grasp. "Ten!" I just need to pierce this thing in a important place after all. I don't need anything too showy.

However, there is one problem. The gigantic murderous iron doll is still very much alive, to be honest she might as well not be damaged at all. Maybe due to being a creation of a Dead Apostle she has healed all her scratches already.

She aims her numerous weapons at my direction, but... Yet again Archer fires his Noble Phantasm at her back. Rin is probably close to running out of magical energy at this point, but that's fine.

If we take out this thing, then we can focus all our attention on the doll... And with Rider and Caster close to arriving, we can definitely kill it. Even if we will have to do it by a thousand cuts.

To my surprise however, this time the doll doesn't even flinch. She is probably used to his Noble Phantasm at this point, so she begins firing without a care in the world. However...

She doesn't really fire at me either. Instead her hail of metal is fired towards Saber. I guess that suits me in a way, since Artoria was always meant to be my bodyguard while I killed that dumb thing.

So I focus on the manta-ray, and trust that Saber can survive whatever is coming towards her. I have to admit though... I am a bit pissed.

After all, doesn't this mean the iron doll doesn't even see me as a threat? "I'll teach you to underestimate me!" I'll pierce right through this manta-ray with my ice sword. If he still alive after that, then I'll just do it again.

The manta-ray explodes with electricity, probably as some method to defend itself. That electricity is then focus and fired as a beam... but it really doesn't matter.

I can't change my route midair, since flying isn't allowed, so I'll just charge through it, just like I once did in Juggernaut Drive. This thing isn't actually super strong, it's just annoying, so this should be eas-.

My eardrums burst. "Argh...!" I feel like my eyes have evaporated, I can't see a damn thing, and I even smelling is hard, because it feels like my nose is on fire. In a way, it's like I have been hit with the worst sickness of my life.

I get sent flying back, and it feels like a train has hit me at full force. My body is spasming, as electricity runs through my nervous system, ruining me from the inside.

Once I fall, and actually hit the ground, I end up rag dolling, sending me moving even farther away. "Nine! Eight!" Even as Ddraig announces the timer, I can feel pieces of the armor breaking off.

Once I actually stop moving, I can't help, but mutter. "H-how hard did that thing hit me...?" I can slowly feel my senses coming back to normal, but for a moment I genuinely thought I was dead.

I am sixty-four times stronger than normal. I have the Scale Mail of the Red Dragon Emperor... So how in the hell did that thing just completely destroy me!? It's a miracle I didn't forcefully dismiss Absolute Demise and my Balance Breaker.

Speaking of dismissing, I end my Balance Breaker. "Are you sure about that, partner? I can fix the armor..." That's good to know and all, but...

I'm doing my best to not vomit. "I don't have the strength to handle it right now..." I'm also running out of time. I only have a few seconds left of both my Balance Breakers, so I better make it count.

I also can't underestimate that manta-ray anymore... if I take a hit like that without my armor and my boosts I will definitely die. In fact I might die anyways if I'm hit again. I wonder though... was that thing sandbagging?

"H-hey, are you okay...?" A unfamiliar voice reaches my ears. I turn around and see... a well dressed guy holding a microphone. "You're not dying, right!? I'm not about to see a Kamen Rider die, right!?" What...?

And then my attention is stolen by a camerawoman. "I can help if you're not feeling well! I have done surgeries on the spot before!" Maybe it's because of my obvious concussion, but all I can think about it is how similar to Emiya-Senpai she is.

The guy snorts. "Oh, please Elsa. If you could do surgery on the spot you wouldn't be a camerawoman!" Hah, that makes sense... Wait, why is it that there is a man holding a microphone, and a woman with a camera here!?

Her eye twitches. "Kenichi, I'll have you know I have this job more out of passion than anything else." She then shakes her head. "But seriously, are you alright, Daichi?" She's calling me by my first name...? And she seems genuinely worried too...

I put a hand on my head. "I've been... better. I... I need to take a breather." If I return to the battlefield like this, I will definitely die immediately. "What are you two even doing here th-" I get cut off.

The man has a smile on his face. "Oh, okay then! Would you mind answering a few quick questions!?" There are three giant monsters nearby. "Like for example... are you an alien!? A dragon!? A science experiment!?" It's hard to event talk right now.

The camerawoman glares at him. "Kenichi! Are you seriously bothering him right now!? He looks like he's about to throw up!" She's right, I really can't answer right now because I'm trying to not throw up.

Sadly I have a dragon on my arm. "My partner is a normal human being." Both Elsa and Kenichi basically jump backwards. "He just holds within his soul thirteen incredible weapons." Oi...

He continues. "And he is indeed about to vomit... to be honest his whole head is a mess after taking an attack head on, so please do not pester him." Why are you even answering them at all!?

The camerawoman gulps. "I see..." I'm surprised that she is the one talking right now, while Kenichi simply trembles. "So... what... who are you?" Hopefully he won't respond. I'm already hated by the magus community enough.

Ddraig seems way too happy. "I am the mighty Y Ddraig Goch, the Welsh Dragon!" Why are you so troublesome!? "Oh, and if you're wondering about the White One, that was Albion. Google it if you want to learn more." Seriously, shut up!

I don't have the strength to tell him that however, and so he keeps babbling. "We are not the only beings living on Daichi's soul however. Each and every weapon has a conscience... The Nemean Lion, The King of Arcadia and the first Buddha are a few of the beings housed in this soul." Since when is Buddha inside of my soul!?

Wait... No way. There's just now way. I refuse to accept it.

The camerawoman quickly nods. "Got it. Anyways, what are you guys fighting? Is it an alien civilization?" Am I seriously being interviewed right now? This better not show up on TV.

Kenichi sighs. "Why do I feel like my job is being stolen right under my nose?" Because that's exactly what's happening. This Elsa woman is way too nosy.

And Ddraig is way too compliant. "Oh, we are fighting a vampire right now. These are just his minions though." He takes a pause. "The golden guy wasn't a vampire by the way, he was the legendary hero Gilgamesh. Super evil, ulltra arrogant, mega rapist. Google it." I...

I finally feel well enough to put an end to this. "Just shut up already, Ddraig!" Does this have to do with his obsession over his reputation!? Well, good going, because now we will be remembered as those guys that got shanked by a bunch of mages.

The lady shakes her head. "No, don't shut Ddraig! The people deserve to know the truth!" I deserve to not get killed by a bunch of pissed off mages!

Ddraig takes a deep breath. "Okay, rapid fire of information! Partner, beat up Cú Chulainn once! That blond girl fighting is King Arthur, and she made partner into a Knight of the Round Table and-." Seriously, why haven't I dismissed him already!?

My eye twitches. "That's enough of that." Finally I dismiss him. And then I glare at the two reporters. "And you two... leave already. This place is dangerous, and that vampire is specifically targetting the city." And therefore people. Common people.

The girl glares at me. "Like I said, the people deserve to know the truth... I have visited war torn countries before, this is nothing different!" This feels very different...

Kenichi trembles. "And also, we passed through the military's blockade to get here, so we need a good reason on why arresting us wouldn't be the best thing to do." I see, that makes sense.

The what!? "What do you mean by a military blockade!?" Now that I think about it, they have been suspiciously absent of this whole thing.

Elsa nods. "They set up a pretty huge perimeter around the area... and some soldiers are going in and trying to rescue people." That... That's good. "That said, some people are trying to record the fight and causing them trouble." Those people are you!

She continues. "Basically... don't worry about collateral damage, it's their job to handle that. Just try bringing those monsters down as fast as possible." I'm already trying that...! And I definitely can't end the ice wall!

I hear steps, it steals my focus away. "Caster...?" Why did she suddenly show up? And she's not flying either... which means that Manta-Ray's effects are even spreading as far as here...

She completely ignores the two as she gets closer to me. "Daichi, do you need healing?" Ah, they must have sent her here to check up on me, since I still haven't returned to the battlefield. This also probably means that Rider has joined the fight.

I slowly nod. "I could use it... How's the situation back at the frontlines?" She immediately puts a hand on my head, and with a light glow a sense of relief runs through my body.

Caster clicks her tongue. "Bad. Saber is being... held down by something, it must be related to that flying thing." Shit. "Archer and Rider are trying to protect her, but that iron doll is truly annoying... What are we facing anyways?" I wonder if Archer still has mana at this point.

I sigh. "We are facing a Dead Apostle Ancestor, Merem Solomon." And he's overwhelming us... To be honest, even if he only had one beast this would be hard, but with three we just can't win.

Caster grits her teeth. "A vampire... Well, I'm afraid to say that I don't have a lot of magical energy right now, so I'm staying on the backlines and giving support whenever I can." That's better than nothing.

I smile. "I certainly appreciate the healing... Besides, you can't fly right now, right? Since you're not a close quarters combatant, getting close right now would be foolish." Maybe she can join us once we take down the manta-ray.

I do wish she had more magical energy however... I guess this is the price to pay for telling her she couldn't drain the mana of random people. And Kuzuki is just a normal person, meaning he can't provide for her...

Elsa interjects. "Okay, so are we getting an explanation on who this woman is, or not...?" Ah, I had almost forgotten that these two dumbasses were here. They must be the most insane reporters in the whole world.

I pinch my nose. "Caster, please evacuate these two. I'm going back to the fight." I need to free Saber. Excalibur surely must be a powerful Noble Phantasm, and so if she can fire it maybe we can win.

Elsa obviously protests my decision. "W-wait, I still want to ask you some questions!" Didn't you say I should take those things down as fast as possible?

I tense my body. "Ask them another day. For now I have to teach that vampire that Fuyuki doesn't accept unruly tourists." And before she can answer I rush forward.

I'm still many times more powerful than usual thanks to all those Boosts, so even though I can't fly, I approach the battlefield with far greater speed than any modern sports car ever could.

And I also summon Telos Karma again of course. The Dharma Wheel spins... Not to do anything crazy, simply to make sure that I don't trip on some random debris and hurt myself. Having to run through a war torn battlefield is really dangerous.

"This place really has become hell..." And ironically enough it's probably not even because of the Whale Dog, who has simply left one single line of destruction. The problem here is the doll, her shots don't just disappear when she misses them after all.

Eventually I step forth into the battlefield and see... "A-ah...!" Saber gritting her knees and trying desperately to stand up. She's on her knees for some reason, and... the whole ground is cracking around her.

It's like there's some sort of immense invisible weight being throw atop of her. And I can definitely see what's causing... The manta-ray is shining a bright green after all, and there's no way that's a coincidence.

I summon Regulus Nemea to my hand. "Okay, let's bring that thing down..." Maybe I can throw it at that thing from here? If I manage to hit, then maybe Regulus can turn into a lion, and start destroying that thing while being atop of it.

The Dharma Wheel spins.

I'm pushed away from a light beam by a kick to the chest. Immediate I do my best to get up again and see... "Rider?" She just saved my life just now. That's good. She is also not wearing her blindfold.

Instead she's closing her eyes. "Don't focus completely on one enemy Daichi. If you lost right now, morale would drop and we would lose." I want to say she's lying, but to be honest...

It looks like Rider is losing already. Her entire body is full of holes, bullet holes probably. As always, the iron doll is by far the most dangerous enemy. And I was ignoring her, completely focused on Saber.

I nod. "Got it." It takes me one second to understand the situation.

Saber is being locked down by the annoyingly, and secretly powerful manta-ray. And each and everytime someone tries to free her, the iron doll intervenes. So the solution is simple, let's take down that doll.

Medusa's body tenses. "Try to not engage the doll when I'm not looking at it. Even for Archer it is too dangerous..." Wait, he abandoned firing support from afar!? Why!?

The Rider Servant dashes forward like a missile, and I never have the time to question her. Though I suppose this is normal for a combat situation like this...

Can I really leave Saber here alone though!?

The manta-ray glows, electricity surrounds its whole body... It's charging another beam, and I doubt I'm the target here...! "Saber!" Of course I can't leave her here! Rider and Archer can handle the doll by themselves!

And I don't really have a way to stop the beam...! "Absolute Demise!" Thankfully the Eternal Ice Princess is still Boosted, and while I can't use all her power due to the Whale Dog, I can still make a shield in front of Saber at least!

The beam of power breaks through the shield immediately. I don't even know what I was expecting.

But then Saber stomps the ground. "Excalibur!" A burst of pure golden mana leaves her sword from all sides, and even though I'm decently far away, I still am almost sent away.

The beam naturally gets stopped... I see what's happening here. Saber may be immobilized, but she's still a invincible bomb. It's just that she is a invincible bomb that can't be aimed, and so she can only protect herself.

Which is why neither Rider nor Archer are actively defending her from the beams. It is much more worthwhile to focus on the doll, and then free Saber once a opportunity arises.

Well, Illya's mana might run away eventually... but I know she wasn't struggling to support a monster like Heracles in the Berserker Class. So for now I should stop being stupid and trust that Saber can survive this.

With my axe in hand, I run towards the direction Rider went. Before long I can see her and Archer battling the iron doll.

It seems Archer really did decide to abandon his strategic position. Instead he's close to the doll, with a black bow in hand, he tries using any and all opening he can find to attack her.

Rider is naturally creating those openings, putting her life on the line to do so. She also has her eyes wide open, and while she isn't turning the doll into stone... I can tell that its moving slower than normal.

Honestly... getting attacked by two Heroic Spirits should be enough to bring down anything on this planet, but that thing is just brushing it aside. Is this the power of a Dead Apostle Ancestor?

Our only advantage is that we have forced it into a battle of attrition, but that's clearly something we will lose. The doll has more Magical Energy than us, it is more durable than us, it has a higher attack power than us, and it can even heal. I suppose she's not much faster though...

I shake my head, enough about admiring the enemy. I'm going to find a way to kill this monster.

I'm not enough of a fool to think she isn't aware that I'm here. So I need to make some extra distraction to approach her, since Arched and Rider definitely aren't enough. If I take the same wounds they have, I will die.

So instead... "Canis Lykaon!" I summon my dog to her shadow and order him to attack. After he makes an opening I will attack her directly with my axe.

A direct attack like this penetrated even the skin of the Whale Dog, so there is no way she can just ignore it like everything else. It will do at least as much damage as Archer's previous Noble Phantasms were doing.

Except this time... She just ignores Canis Lykaon. As in she genuinely acts like he isn't even there. It must be because she's now aware that he genuinely isn't a threat, I've used this tactic before after all.

For a second I think about using Transfer on Canis Lykaon and getting a free hit, or even using Transfer on one of the Servants, but... If I do that I will die. I can't reset to having a value of one right now.

And worst of all... the doll aims one of her guns at me. Immediate a volley is fired at my direction.

I shift Regulus into a lion, and he acts as my shield. Currently, with all my Boosts, I'm probably a high tier Servant when it comes to strength, so I manage to more or less defend myself. A few bullets graze me, but that's it.

I order Regulus to dash towards her, maybe since she doesn't know much about him, he will genuinely treat him like a threat. And while he does that, I speed towards Archer.

I want to hear his plan. If he abandoned his strategic position... wherever that was, he definitely has a reason for it. Maybe some sort of close range Noble Phantasm?

The doll naturally fires at Regulus, and he naturally ignores it. Her eyes widen, and Medusa takes this opportunity to approach and kick her head... the doll doesn't bulge an inch.

I arrive next to Archer though. "So, what's the plan!?" He better have a good one, because I don't. I don't even know if I can still use any of my Balance Breakers right now.

Archer sighs. "I have something that can trap her, I was hoping I could hold her back while Rider freed Saber!" He clicks his tongue. "The problem is that the stupid manta-ray will definitely break my trap!" Right, that gigantic thing can probably even reach all the way here...

Once Regulus gets to close, a gigantic mace grows out of the doll's body and tries swatting him away. I have no idea what that thing is supposed to do, and I have no intention of finding it out, so I call him back while Medusa barely dodges a blow.

I immediately summon him to my hand again. "What if Rider or me distract that thing for a little bit!?" We obviously can't kill it, but maybe we can stop the gigantic beam. And then once the iron doll is trapped...

Well, killing will still be super hard, but its hopefully doable. And maybe we don't even need to kill it, maybe dealing enough damage will free Saber. And then she can kill with her Noble Phantasm.

Once flight is made available again... cleaning up the iron doll will become a lot easier. I can try getting off a few Divides while Medusa, Archer and Artoria wail on it. And hell, this thing definitely can't just shrug off Excalibur.

Archer grits his teeth while firing a few arrows. "The only way I'm survive this thing is if Rider is here too." For real!? "Feel free to sacrifice me however, this beast goes beyond the Holy Grail War." I see...

I understand Rider's plan. He holds back the iron doll with his... trap. In the meanwhile Rider and I stop the manta-ray from destroying the trap and free Saber. Archer dies, but he sees Saber returning to the battlefield as a worthwhile investment.

For one moment I think about telling him that I could help him hold down the iron doll, but... I know I can't. Medusa is clearly doing something with her eyes to slow the doll, and I lack that ability.

And could Medusa by herself take down the manta-ray anyways? I know I couldn't... In a ironic way Archer is the one most suited for this task, but he is also the only one capable of trapping the iron doll.

What a pain. "We can't let you die!" Because he put trust in me. He joined my stupid alliance. "Don't forget that we have other threats to deal with too!" Like Gilgamesh and the Shadow. We can't lose Servants here, losing Lancer was already awful enough.

Archer snorts while dodging a few bullets. "Sometimes sacrifice is necessary. I can't contribute to this fight anymore... Rin is pretty much drained. At this point I might as well bow out."

"Hell no!" I too need to dodge a hail of metal. This time instead of using Regulus however, I use Absolute Demise to construct a path of ice, and essentially skate my way out of danger. Just like before, I only get light wounds.

And then suddenly the iron doll stops firing. "I've seen enough." Huh...? "Not a single one of your abilities is enough to wound me. So I will complete my mission and eliminate the White Dragon already." Ah. She finally realized it completely...

That we are just a bunch of rats delaying the inevitable.

From her back comes out that damn railgun again. She starts charging it, illuminating the area around us... Her target is obvious, and I know I won't be able to dodge it. She can miss, but I can't dodge it.

Both Archer and Medusa dash towards her. The bowman now carrying two swords on his hands, while Medusa is using her nail as usual... their attacks go ignored. The iron doll just shrugs it off, because she knows she cN shrug it off.

Now, how do I survive? A shield from Absolute Demise is worthless. Telos Karma isn't guaranteed. I won't be fast enough to cut with Canis Lykaon. Regulus Nemea can't cover my whole body. Divine Dividing and the Boosted Gear obviously can't do anything either... unless?

The timing will have to be perfect. I have to execut that the moment she hits me. And so, before I dismiss Telos Karma, I order it to spin and beg for a miracle.

Afterwards, every single Longinus besides Absolute Demise is dismissed. I call my trump card, and pray that enough time has passed. "Vanishing Dragon Over Booster! Seven!" Scale Mail covers my body, the armor of the White Dragon.

The iron doll fires at me.

The instant the projectiles touches me... "Divide!" I weaken it as much as I can, hoping that I can now survive it and then... Oh, I teleported. I mean, I'm in the middle of the industrial area of Fuyuki.

Pain floods every bone of my body, not even leaving me enough strength to scream. My armor has been completely and utterly destroyed, and I can feel Divide Dividing and Absolute Demise dismiss themselves without my command, because my body simply cannot handle it.

And then my brain catches up to what happened.

I didn't teleport, I simply got sent all the way here. I blanked out the moment the blast collided with my body, so it simply looked like I teleported.

I look above... and see the upper half of a building falling. I must have crashed through it, destroying it... People are falling from the skies, people who got launched from the impact of my fall.

My body is covered in blood, and it's definitely not mine... I... I...!



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"I must say... I didn't expect your first slaughter would be like that one. Tell me my Master, how did it feel? To be covered in blood? To feel it enter your mouth?" As soon as I open my eyes, I see Lycaon... and nothing else.

Oh no. Oh, no, no...!

I immediately start having difficulty breathing. "You have to be kidding me! I can't pass out right now! I'm in the middle of a fight!" I have to wake up, if I don't wake up then even more people will die...!

My body is covered in blood...! I crashed through a person, I...! And now that I've passed out Absolute Demise won't be able to hold down the Whale Dog! This is... this is... this is...!

Blood! My body is covered in...!

Lycaon interjects. "Take a deep breath, Master." And almost as if by instinct, I do as he orders. "You shall wake when your body decided to do so... for now we must talk." I can't...!

Merem is killing people, so I can't just stay here and have a chat! And why is it that only this bastard showed up!? Where is Regulus and the others!? Maybe they can come up with a plan and...!

"Only I have shown up, because only I have something to say to you." He chuckles. "And don't blame the vampire, the moth will naturally come towards the flame..." Is he... is he saying that those deaths are...!

"Yes, they are your own fault. With your own body, with your own soul, with your own actions... You slaughtered them all." I can't demy that.

Ah. I really can't deny that.

My body is covered in blood.

My body here is spotless.

Ah.

My body is coveres in blood. My body is spotless. My body is coveres in blood. My body is spotless. My body is coveres in blood. My body is spotless. My body is coveres in blood. My body is spotless. My body is coveres in blood. My body is spotless.

I need to get up and kill those beasts. Or they will make me kill even more people.

Lycaon sighs. "I see that your mind has not broken... I was hoping you would feel pleasure, but it seems you didn't. What a shame." Of course I didn't...! I'm not a monster.

I don't want people to die. I really don't. It's because I'm a normal person, and so I understand the value of human life. However, I also understand that the world of mages exist and so I... I have to get up and fight.

I'm a murderer now, so I have to get up and fight. I had already decided that Merem needes to die from the moment he summoned that thing, but now if I die... I won't die as Daichi the normal person. I will die as Daichi the normal murderer.

Lycaon giggles. "Sorry, but even if you stop the vampire... you will still be a murderer. Repentance does not mean purity." That's right. Yet again I tried denying a basic fact, and yet again I was shot down.

I look down. "So what am I supposed to do...?" I'm an idiot. I can't believe I am asking this guy in the first place.

He shrugs. "Do whatever you want to... I for one orgasmed when I killed for the first time." I definitely shouldn't have asked... "However if you wish to hear some advice from me... get up and save those people." Huh?

"Their lives has become no less precious. Not to me, not to you, not to them." I never expected to hear this from Lycaon of all people. "Well, what fun would there be in taking someone's life if it was worthless?"

He grins. "As a king I was expected to see the lives of my subjects as numbers and yet I remember each and every single victim of mine... Maybe that's why we are so compatible. We both understand the weight life has." That's so stupid.

But he's also right in a way. I can't lose myself right now... because people are still counting on me. I have already become a disgusting murderer, so I must not increase my kill count, I must not end the lives of even more people.

Lycaon nods. "Good... and Master, there is one more thing I would tell you... Feel free to ignore this advice however, because I'm no fighter. I'm a murderer." Well, I might as well pay attention to it. I'm still waiting to wake up after all.

"Very well... You have decided you need to kill that vampire, but you still lack the desire to kill him... Please think more like the murderer you are and gamble." I have no idea what's that supposed to mean.

So I close my eyes and think.

Just what have I been doing wrong? I can't break through those beasts no matter what I try and... Ah, I see. It really is a gamble. It might do nothing... Hell, it might even end up putting me in a even more troublesome situation.

But it could work. Truly a strategy of a killer. "Got it, I will try it Lycaon." And when I open my eyes to once again see him... I don't see a dog anymore.

I see a hound. One even bigger than a lion.



/////////////////////////////////////////////////



I get up with a jump. "Wow." I still feel like shit, but at least I don't feel as hurt anymore. I do feel a heat at my back though... and a new weight on my body. I have awakened a new Longinus.

Ah, I see. That heat on my back is that new Longinus. It's some sort of flame, one shaped like a cross. I instinctively feel like I could change it into anything I deside however... This might be a counterpart to Absolute Demise.

"Daichi! You're up!" Oh. Caster is here. She must have been healing me, and I just scared her a lot just now.

And she's probably not the only person I scared right now. We are surrounded by civilians after all, and they just saw me raise up from the ground while being covered in blood...

So why is it that they're filming me!? Is everyone as crazy as Elsa!? "Yeah, I'm up Caster..." And now I have to kill that vampire, and save those nutjobs.

I take a deep breath. "Please keep helping people, I'll go turn the tables to our side." If I still have time to do that... Well, I probably do. Since the city is still standing that must mean the Whale Dog hasn't made his way here yet.

I must have passed out for only a few minutes. Either that or the Servants found some way of holding that thing down... I doubt it though.

I tense my body. "Welsh Dragon Over Booster! Seven! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost!" And then I jump as high as I can. Once I reach high enough... "Jet!" I propel myself even harder.

The purple flames follow me, and surround my entire body, acting as a type of aura. And then they shoot me forward... I really have become a rocket. One that can cheat his way through that bastard manta-ray.

I am making my way towards the Whale Dog, he is my target. Or more accurate my target is in him. Maybe. "Hey Ddraig, what's this new Longinus?" It certainly woke up at a convenient time!

"It is called Incinerate Anthem... For now just be aware that it will help you kill the vampire." That makes things easier. I wasn't even planning on awakening a Longinus, so this is definitely nice.

And besides, if that's the case I might as well... "Transfer!" Make it even stronger. Though since my original plan didn't rely on it... "Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Six! Five!" I'm forced to end my Balance Breaker.

That's fine though. I can now fly by using Incinerate Anthem. The flames don't wound me... I wonder if I'm extra resistant to heat now, just like Absolute Demise made me extra resistant to cold?

Most importantly... the fire evaporates the blood glued to my skin, the blood that wasn't mine. It feels disrespectful in a way, but it also feels amazing. Like taking a bath after being dirty for an entire day.

I eventually spot the manta ray, it is dangerously close to the city. I can see it approaching that military blockade I heard about... they're firing at it, but it obviously they're falling to do anything.

If I had stayed just one moment more asleep, then even more people would die.

I shake my head. "No time to think about that!" And then I land on the Whale Dog. Just my flames being near him makes the beast roar in pain... but I don't have time to feel happy about that.

I have to move before he decides to roll his body and crush me or something. "Canis Lykaon!" So I call my dog. He already appears as a blade, flying to my hands. That isn't enough however, so I made a blade from my shadow.

Not a blade from his body. A blade from my shadow... He definitely evolved, just like Ddraig once did. In the end though the important part here is that Canis Lykaon can cut through anything.

There is something curious about these blades however... The tiniest of black and red sparks keep leaving them.

This will be my last maneuver with the Boosted Gear. After it I will dismiss it... I can't handle any more boosts. "Transfer!" I throw all my extra energy to Canis Lykaon.

That spark grows.

While my body is surrounded by purple flames, my blades are surrounded by red and black ones. I become a beacon of unnatural fire.

And then I lower my blades, penetrating the beasts body, cutting through it is easy.

And so, I start carving my way to it's insides, like I'm digging a tunnel. Blood and flesh flies everywhere, but it never touches me, my flames destroy it before it could ever taint my body.

I expected this process to be much more disgusting, but in the end it doesn't matter, I was willing to go through it from the moment I woke up. My objective is simple, I will murder Merem Solomon.

This is really dumb. I don't even know if he's inside of the Whale Dog in the first place, I'm just assuming it. I never saw him after the Church, so I'm just guessing he is taking shelter inside of here.

And besides, even if I do find him... then what? Merem is a Dead Apostle Ancestor. It wouldn't surprise me if he was even stronger than his already powerful demonic gods. For all I know I'm heading to my death.

And if I do miraculously defeat him... What if that doesn't stop these monsters at all? This is not a video game, taking out the summoner doesn't mean victory, and even a Servant can exist after his Master has been killed, at least for a little bit.

This is the strategy of a murderer. It doesn't have any deep thought behind it besides me wanting to kill Merem. But I have tried pretty much everything else at this point, so what else do I have to lose?

Finding him is easy. I can smell him... no, my blades can smell him, and they're simply telling me where he is. Or maybe it's both. Either way, this is definitely due to the evolution of Canis Lykaon.

I cut my way to... something. "Is this... a stomach?" There is no way to know.

Laughter reaches my ears, Merem is here. "Yep. Man, I'm surprised you got here! Finding me is easy, but no one has ever carved their way here like that!" He... he doesn't have most of his limbs.

I don't have time to question that. "Every single one of those beasts are stronger than me, I just got lucky..." It's strange though. I was expecting the Whale Dog to heal, to make this difficult, but... that didn't really happen.

Merem nods. "I can see that. Holy flames, and flames that kill the divine... In a way they are the perfect counter to my monsters." Ah. I see, so it was that. "So now you're gonna kill me, right?" He...

My eye twitches. "Aren't you way too calm?" He must have some trick in his sleeves, so I keep my guard up. Worst case scenario I can hide in my shadow... Since when can I do that?

He shrugs. "Dying sucks, but it was bound to happen... My monsters may be super strong, but I'm super weak. Really, it was a matter of time until someone custom made to kill me showed up." I guess so...

Does he really have no tricks on his sleeve. "So, why did you attack the city? And try to kill Albion, I mean..." I don't even know why I'm asking him... I already decided to act like a murderer.

Oh, I guess it's just like Lycaon said. Even a murderer can see the value of life.

The vampire sighs. "Because Albion is a threat to the woman... the man I care most in the entire world. It's okay though, because I now see you have no way of usurping. You're just not built for it." Usurping...?

I bite my lip. "And so what? Why involve innocent people? I told you we could settle this among ourselves..." He made me into a murderer. I did something I could never take back, because of him.

He better have a good excuse.

He shrugs again. "Eh, it seemed like good leverage. And besides, while I like humans... they just don't matter that much in the grand scheme of things. There are so many of them... and they live for such a short amount of time..."

"In the end they just can't compare to more important things. They can't compare to plots that have been going on for thousands of years. Since you're crying though, I'm guessing you don't understand that?" I...

The flames are evaporating my tears. "Yeah, I don't get it... I don't get why people had to die because of some stupid idiot I never met. I don't get why people had to die because of me, some stupid idiot that they never met."

I start walking towards him. "And to be honest... I don't want to understand. I don't need to understand. I'm not sick enough to understand. And even if I live for thousands of years I never will."

Now that I'm staning in front of him, I raise my blades. "So let me make something clear... I don't care how strong you are. I don't care how old you are. I don't care how important you think you are." My hands are trembling.

I steel my heart. I feel nothing for this bastard, but this still hurts. "If you hurt innocent people while I'm around... you won't get to see tomorrow!" I lower my blade.

In the end I choose to close my eyes, I don't want to see his body being destroyed. But I can still hear his flesh being cut and burned, and I can still smell it. At least he never screams.

I open my eyes.

I'm falling, but I land on my knees. "That gamble worked out." The Whale Dog simply disappears, like a nightmare which I just woke up from.

The destruction he caused remains however. Yet again I fail to win without losing.



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AN: Kaiju fights are a nightmare to write... Hopefully the finish was fun. Anyways, next chapter I will probably write a chapter from the perspective of different people.