Fate/Dragon Ball Wars 18

Chapter 18: Keyneth’s entry

"Never thought things would turn out this way/"

Kirei Kotomine muttered, his voice strained. He clutched his bleeding right arm, his fingers slick with crimson, and stole a glance at the blurred figure of Kiritsugu Emiya disappearing into the labyrinthine alleyways.

The sudden convergence of all the Servants at this central location had thrown the entire War into disarray.

Even Caster and Lancer, locked in a ferocious duel on the outskirts of the city, had inexplicably shifted their course towards this unforeseen epicenter.

The hidden Berserker and Rider, previously shrouded in secrecy, also emerged from the shadows, their motivations as obscure as the swirling mists that often cloaked the city.

This unprecedented development had thrown a wrench into everyone's meticulously crafted plans.

Mana, the very lifeblood of magecraft, was being siphoned from Kirei's body at an alarming rate. It was a tangible consequence of the colossal battle raging between the Servants, a battle that threatened to engulf the entire city in its destructive wake.

'I can't stay here long.'

Kiritsugu Emiya thought, his mind racing calculations and strategic maneuvers.

Though he had managed to inflict a nasty gash on Kirei Kotomine's right hand, his own body was far from unscathed. Every muscle screamed in protest, his body a canvas of throbbing bruises courtesy of their brutal confrontation.

'Over there...'

He could only vaguely sense the epicenter of the battle through the faint tremors that ran through the city's very foundation. The exact situation was still in the shadows, a tangled web he desperately needed to untangle.

"Oh my, this is indeed a surprising scene."

A sardonic chuckle shattered the tense silence, causing both Kirei Kotomine and Kiritsugu Emiya to furrow their brows in unison. Their gazes snapped upwards, converging on a figure that had materialized before them.

It was Kayneth Archibald El-Melloi, the name a bitter echo in their minds.

Kayneth, a prestigious Lord of the Clock Tower and the arrogant backer of this year's Lancer Master’s assistant, stood there with an air of imperious indifference. A slime-like creature, the monstrous Volumen Hydrargyrum, slithered lethargically beside him too.

"My initial plan was to have Lancer eliminate Caster and dismantle her magical binding spell. However, fate, it seems, had other plans. It appears I've stumbled upon a rather curious spectacle – a duel between two lowly Masters."

A sickeningly obsequious smile stretched across his face. Stepping forward, the pulsating, metallic mass of the Volumen Hydrargyrum mimicked his movement, its grotesque form undulating with an unsettling grace.

"By eliminating both of you," he continued, his voice laced with a cruel amusement, "I would be doing my dear Sola a tremendous favor. After all, with her Masters gone, her Servant would be forced to withdraw from the competition."

This golden opportunity, a chance to cripple two rival Masters in one fell swoop, was far too tempting for Kayneth to resist. If he could orchestrate their demise, their Servants, robbed of their Masters' command and magical energy, would be rendered harmless, effectively removing them from the intricate game of chess that was the Dragon Ball War.

"Let me assure you, gentlemen, I have no desire to engage in a prolonged battle. You are both, after all, nothing more than bothersome gnats, mere insects buzzing around the periphery of true power. In the eyes of a Lord of the Clock Tower, you are nothing but insignificant specks of dust."

Disgust contorted Kayneth's face as he surveyed Kirei Kotomine, who had retrieved the Black Keys.

He mused that facing the illustrious heads of the Tohsaka or Matou families might have elicited a modicum of respect from him.

But Kirei Kotomine, a mere hanger-on to the Tohsaka legacy, and Kiritsugu Emiya, a disgrace who had forsaken the true path of magecraft? They were beneath his notice, unworthy of his time or magical prowess.

"Kill them!”

Fueled by his arrogance and a misplaced sense of superiority, Kayneth issued a chilling command to his monstrous familiar, the Volumen Hydrargyrum.

!!

The scene erupted into chaos. Both Kirei and Kiritsugu, despite their precarious positions and simmering animosity, reacted with lightning-fast reflexes.

The unexpected arrival of another enemy had thrown them into a precarious situation, forcing them to set aside their differences for now.

'I should retreat for now.'

The decision hammered in Kiritsugu's mind.

There was no point in prolonging this precarious standoff. Eliminating Kirei here and now seemed improbable. Besides, he was still worried for Maiya and Irisveil. He desperately needed to confirm if they were still alive even if there was a single fickle of hope…

Bang!

Kiritsugu channeled his magic as he evaded another assault. Seizing the momentary window, he sprinted towards his concealed vehicle, his movements a blur of desperate purpose.

The engine roared to life. Kiritsugu slammed his foot on the gas pedal, the tires squealing in protest as the vehicle lurched forward, accelerating into the streets.

"That magic..."

Keyneth was surprised.

The display of "time" magic Kiritsugu had just employed was unexpected. He paused for a moment, a contemplative frown etched on his face.

"Hmph, how naive. You won't be getting away scot-free just yet."

Did this renegade magus truly believe he could waltz in, disrupt his plans, and vanish?

His cold gaze shifted to Kirei, who stood resolute, a lone figure valiantly attempting to shield himself from the menacing tendrils of the Volumen Hydrargyrum.

"Let's turn our attention to you, shall we, watchdog of the Tohsaka family?"

---

"Ugh!"

Kiritsugu gripped the steering wheel tighter, knuckles turning white as he pressed down on the gas pedal, urging the vehicle forward at breakneck speed.

The deserted streetscape stretched before him, an unsettling anomaly. Even in the quieter outskirts where Kirei resided, some semblance of life should have been present.

A stray cat slinking through an alley, a lone figure walking a dog – anything. But there was nothing.

Just an unnerving emptiness shook his nerves.

Howl!

A guttural howl shattered the eerie silence. A dark shape darted across the periphery of his vision, a blur of obsidian fur against the asphalt. It materialized in front of him with inhuman speed, a snarling wolf with eyes that glowed an unnatural crimson.

Familiar.

Recognition slammed into Kiritsugu like a physical blow. He didn't hesitate. Raising his weapon in a practiced motion, he unleashed a single, resounding gunshot.

Bang!

The familiar exploded in a shower of gore and fur, the stench of burnt flesh momentarily filling the air. The message was delivered starkly and violently.

Now Kiritsugu realized.

"Has he set up a magic barrier throughout this area? He even used wraiths, familiars, and turned it into a labyrinth."

Kayneth had meticulously woven a web of magic around this entire area. The extensive setup reeked of the meticulous planning and vast resources at the disposal of a Lord of the Clock Tower.

Without the overwhelming power of a Servant at his back, this situation presented a significant threat.  His initial thought, the desperate urge to utilize a precious Command Seal, quickly faded. But amidst the escalating tension, a spark of a different kind ignited within him – an opportunity.

"I need to find the source."

He was trapped in a meticulously crafted maze, a loop that would keep him perpetually chasing shadows unless he could unravel its secrets. Escape, at least for now, seemed like a distant dream.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

Explosions echoed through the deserted streets as he unleashed a relentless barrage of gunfire, each shot tearing through the spectral forms of attacking wraiths and familiars.

The methodical approach he'd initially considered was no longer an option. This, he realized, might be a twisted test, a gauntlet thrown down by Kayneth.

And perhaps, just perhaps, within this elaborate trap lay the key to not only escape but also turning the tables on his arrogant prick.

---

The clash of steel echoed through the deserted streets, a cacophony of violence that served as a stark counterpoint to the tense standoff between the Masters. The Servants, unbound by the limitations of human bodies and fueled by the potent energies of the Dragon Ball War, had already thrown themselves into the fray.

Lancer versus Caster,

Berserker versus Assassin,

Rider versus Saber.

Except for Archer, perched on a lamppost like a brooding gargoyle, every Servant was locked in a fierce duel.

"You bastard! Hurry up and undo this weird magic array!"

Kyouko Sakura lashed out at Jonouchi with her thorny tendrils of magical energy.

"With you looking like that, no way I'd release it!"

Jonouchi roared, exasperation coloring his voice.

This monstrous girl was proving to be a formidable foe. Her tenacity and relentless pursuit were a force to be reckoned with. Even worse, her bizarre clones were devouring his precious cards, leaving him with a dwindling arsenal to counter her onslaught.

Bang!

The clang of steel resounded as Kenshin, the legendary Hitokiri Battousai, clashed with Berserker.

'He's so skilled in swordsmanship as well... Who is he??'

The whirlwind of attacks from the hulking Servant had momentarily surprised him. While he'd anticipated Berserker's mastery of brutal weaponry like the greatsword, spear, and heavy axe, his skill with the katana was a revelation.

The unfamiliar yet strangely familiar style, the sheer power behind each blow, left Kenshin with a growing sense of curiosity.

Just as he pondered Berserker's origins, a blinding flash of azure energy forced him to raise his blade in a desperate block.

Five Swords of Heaven

The earth shuddered, leaving behind a trail of gouged trenches where the energy blades had carved through the ground.

---

The clash between Lelouch as Rider and Artoria as Saber starkly contrasted the other battles. Initially tense, Lelouch found himself bewildered by Saber's sudden shift in behavior. The erratic aggression that had characterized her earlier actions had vanished, replaced by a quiet intensity.

The complexities of the King of Knights, her unwavering principles, and enigmatic thought processes were a puzzle he found difficult to decipher. To be honest, he found it difficult to grasp women's minds in general.

"Can you tell me? Your wish?"

Saber's unexpected question pierced through the silence, catching Lelouch off guard.

"What does that have to do with you?"

Lelouch bristled, his voice laced with suspicion.

"I just want to know... If you truly are the King of Britain, what wish do you seek to fulfill with the Dragon Ball?"

Saber continued, her voice softer now.

"That's classified information."

Lelouch, momentarily thrown off balance by the unexpected sincerity in her words, offered a curt reply.

Saber's shoulders slumped slightly, disappointed. However, unlike before, there was no childish outburst, no humiliation.

Instead, she spoke softly, her voice barely a whisper. Now that Saber looked desperate, Lelouch decided to honor her demands.

"What if I said it was for the so-called world peace?"

Hearing this, Saber was taken aback.

It was a phrase, a yearning, which echoed a similar sentiment she'd heard from Kiritsugu.  World peace – a noble ideal, yet somehow incongruous coming from a figure like Lelouch, a Servant cloaked in the mantle of a king. The juxtaposition sent a wave of confusion through Saber, leaving her wrestling with the complexities of the Servants gathered around her.