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Topic Started: Jan 31 2010, 01:16 AM (767 Views)
Avvil
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Weaver of Tales
Caster leaned back in a tree just outside the Mansion, his head cocked slightly, as though turning his ear to the breeze, waiting for several minutes. At last, satisfied that the only sounds coming from the direction of the temple are those of birds, small rodents, and wind against stone walls, he leaps down, using a slight gust of air to slow his descent at the end.

"It's clear. We should get moving now, before someone else decides to claim it and...now's really not the time to be sleeping."

Hacon's head snaps up immediately, almost falling over from his position leaned back against the tree.

"Sleeping? What? Nonsense. Right you are though, time is of the essence...at least until I acquire all the time I'll ever need..."

Caster sighs, resigning himself for the third time that night to being paired with such an incompetent Master, as they head in the direction of the temple. Finally, as they come around to the southern entrance, the moon blinks out for a second, before reappearing, almost as though someone had drawn a curtain across it. Hacon glances askance at his Servant, not trusting his own eyes.

"Did you just...?"

Kazuma nods, confirming it beyond a doubt. "Yeah. Something in the skies above the skyscraper definitely just passed in front of the moon."

Hacon looks about himself uncertainly. "I don't like this at all..."

Kazuma offers only an indifferent shrug in response, though his eyes trace the sky before them, grasping at another hint as to the true nature of what they just saw, but finding none.
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Avvil
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"It's faint...I can hear the voices of two women, but they're already too distant to make out anything. It should be clear now."

Caster makes his announcement to Hacon, who is busy with the extremely important task of trying to act like he knows what he's doing. Nodding aggressively at his Servant, he begins leading the way. "Excellent, excellent...exactly what I wanted to hear, that is. We'll go to the Skyscraper then. Try to get closer to somewhere where we can...make a plan...or something. I'm sure the details will come to me when we get there. I'm an Alchemic genius, after all!"

He emphasizes his last statement with perhaps just too hard a forced laugh, as Caster follows behind him, trying to discern how exactly this person was selected as a Master in the Holy Grail War, when they arrive at their destination. Taking the main elevator to the roof, they're able to get an excellent bird's eye view of the city, but nothing in particular seems to be happening. As Kazuma predicted, the area is free of any other Servants or Masters, and there seems little to do but plan their next move.
Edited by Avvil, Feb 1 2010, 01:46 AM.
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Night 3: Hacon

"Alright. We're setting up base here. Erm...that makes sense...right?"

With his usual air of absolute certainty and confidence, Hacon delivers the next set of orders to his Servant. Kazuma sighs slightly and shrugs, but then gives it a more careful consideration.

"Actually...you really could do worse. I have an odd feeling it's going to see a lot of use. Alright. I'm going to bind this area to me. Stand over there, somewhere, and don't disturb me for awhile. This takes real concentration."

Hacon nods affirmatively, actually confident for once, as Caster begins to bind the area surrounding the Skyscraper to himself. Doing nothing is one of his greatest areas of talent. However, just before he can proceed to accomplish this one task, the elevator door opens in front of him, and out steps a wizened old man with a long white beard, clad in green robes, and carrying an gnarled walking stick on one side, and a young woman with almost bleach-blond hair, outlandish armor, and an enormous sword. Her face looks peculiar and distorted, and her eyes shine with a golden light. The man blinks for a second, then steps forward and speaks.

"Is...is that you Hacon? What in the hells are you doing in a place like this? Don't you know that this is-" Realization dawns on his face, as he puts the situation together. "Hacon. Please tell me that the Servant on this rooftop doesn't belong to you."

Looking mildly disconcerted, Hacon responds sheepishly, "Well, I won't if you don't want me to..."

Promptly, the old man brings his stick down on Hacon's head, not really doing any damage, but as a stern reprimand. "Idiot! Buffoon! What in the hells do you think this is?" Sighing, the old man strides past him, surprisingly strong on his feet. "Didn't I teach you better than this? You couldn't summon enough of a flame to burn your way out of a cardboard box during the time you spent training under me! Why would you possibly join something like this, knowing fully well how limited your own power is!?"

Hacon doesn't provide much in the way of a response beyond a vague shrug, and the man turns away. "I suppose there's no changing it now. I need time to think about this. At least leave me in peace to think for a time."

Nodding, Hacon moves toward the far side of the rooftop, but as he does, he leaves a parting remark, suddenly sober. "Don't think I'm the same man who studied under you all those years ago, Master Zhijian. I've grown in my own way. In this War, we're equals." With that, he proceeds to walk away.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MR6PYrjEzcQ

At that time, the elevator doors let out a sound, announcing the arrival of more visitors. Turning around sharply as the tone rings through the air, Hacon is just in time to see the doors part, revealing not two figures this time, but five. On the far left stands a woman in elegant white robes lined in gold, probably a good ten years younger than himself. She is surrounded by a peculiar hemisphere of softly shimmering light. To the right of her is a pair of women, one in jeans and a light jacket, the other in a brown overcoat and wearing glasses. Both of them have long black hair. The second pair on the far right of the elevator is that of a man in a formal black suit, carrying an attache case, while a figure covered completely in white robes and a matching white veil stands behind him, obscuring all features from view.

For a moment, time stops, and everyone stares at each other. Then, as if to make up for this peculiar deficiency, everything happens at once.

The man in the suit and the girl in jeans announce orders in unison, as their eyes lock on Zhijian's Servant.

"Rider, prepare for combat!"
"Archer! Take out that one!"

The figure in white holds out a hand, and a thin black rod forms in it, after a brief flare of mana. Bringing it to her lips, an eerie sound fills the area, as an enormous creature descends from the sky, an enormous bird with black feathers, one leg, and glowing red eyes. In unison, the woman in the coat dashes forward, closing some of the distance between herself and the Servant.

A thin smile appears on Zhijian's lips. "Come after me, will you? Ha! Saber, take out the short one!"

The woman with Zhijian springs into motion, the speed of her actions outclassing those of the other two Servants by leaps and bounds. In the span of seconds, she stands within reach of the shrouded figure, but the bird bars the path. In an instant, she delivers two massive swings of her greatsword, goring the bird heavily, but it looks as though it hasn't sustained truly serious damage yet.

Immediately following the second slash, Archer leaps into the the air, now fully behind her target, slips of paper held between her fingers, and one group at a time, she hurls them at Saber passing through joints and weak points in the armor with ease. Blood trickles down her skin, but she seems barely phased by the attack. Not finished, however, Archer flicks out out both her arms, a white rectangle in each hand. Saber spins around to dodge, but it's beyond hopeless, as her opponent throws dozens of index cards at her in rapid volleys, scoring across her body, leaving her legs and arms a bloody mess, and generally doing far too much damage for pieces of paper. Rider seizes the lull to strike.

Rearing its head, the bird lets out an enormous screech as a disturbing melody again fills the air. This time, though, a surge of mana gathers at the bird's beak, rapidly forming into an annihilating blast of energy, aimed at Saber. She throws up an arm to block it, just as a piercing laser blast is released, exploding on contact with her body, and caving in the floor beneath her. However, before the dust has even finished emerging, she springs from out of the smoke and ashes, landing lightly atop the roof once again. Not satisfied, the bird glides in to rake against her body with its lone claw, while a different melody floods the area. Clutching her ears in pain, Saber falls to the ground, apparently the target of this bizarre series of assaults.

During the momentary pause in combat, Zhijian stares at his opponents intently, finally getting a second to actually look at them. He chuckles lightly, but there is no mirth in his tone. "Moriko...Imagine meeting you here. In all my days, never did I expect to meet both my greatest student and my worst at this place and time..."

The woman in jeans gives a curt nod in response. "Sensei. I won't hold back."

He grins oddly, perhaps some faint hint of genuine happiness there, pride as a teacher and a mentor that he would never consider showing to Hacon. "The time and place for holding back are long since passed, child. Show me your determination!"

The suited man to her side shrugs, not really caring one way or another about the exchange. Meanwhile, the other woman who was with them suddenly appears at Hacon's side, somehow getting around the new crater in the roof and the perils of combat, as she whispers in a soft, purring voice, "Listen, my name's Judith, and I may have a proposal for you..."

And then the battle resumes...
Edited by Avvil, Feb 2 2010, 01:33 AM.
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Night 4: Hacon

http://www.youtuberepeat.com/watch?v=NXeclBNp0Q8&feature=related

"Very well, I'll accept your offer. I'll fight alongside yourself, Vincent, and Moriko, at least for the time being. It would be difficult to pass up such a fortunate opportunity."

Judith smiles warmly in response. "Excellent." Suddenly, their attention is drawn to the figure of the old man, as Hacon runs to join the rest of the group. Judith stays back and observes, for the time being.

Zhijian grits his teeth, clenches his fists, and weighs the situation carefully. Before anyone else can act, he shouts, "Berserker, stop holding back!!!"

An enormous surge of mana flares out from his body. The surrounding area darkens, even in the middle of the night, and cuts appear all over his body, the resulting stress on his body practically tearing him apart. Unable to last under these conditions, he passes unconscious from the sudden burden. In unison, though, a series of changes in Berserker begin, as a large, toothy smile spreads across her face. Her entire body begins to distort like her face, but to a much greater degree. Her skin becomes twined about itself into threads, and her bleeding slows as wounds sew themselves shut. While her flesh darkens into an inhuman purple tone, an enormous horn grows out of her forehead, and wings spread out from her back. Berserker's transformation is complete.

Reacting immediately, Berserker practically teleports across the rooftop, appearing before Caster in an instant. Taken aback, he doesn't even have time to react as she delivers a brutal arcing blow, sending him flying back across the building. Following up immediately, she holds out both her hands, her fingers and arms unraveling into a series of tendrils. Holding her left arm forward, she sends five of them directly at Caster, still recovering from the earlier blow, while she holds her right out to the side, sending five more strands at Rider. Again, a loud shriek tears through the air, and an enormous black bird with one claw intercepts them all. Both targets impaled by all five hits, Berserker draws back her limbs to herself, as her foes collapse on the ground. The young man pants heavily, injured but alright, while Rider's familiar collapses on the ground, badly wounded. Then, the counterattack begins.

Hacon glares at Berserker, directing an order to his Servant in response. "Caster. It's time! Prepare to fight." Glancing over at Vincent and Moriko, he offhandedly remarks, "Don't mind me. Looks like it's time my master found out just how much I've learned over the years."

Moriko grins fiercely in response. "Right. Let's show Sensei he can't always do as he pleases. Archer, it's time. Use your Phantasm!"

"Rider, begin preparations." Vincent directs his Servant to start another attack, as she brings the rod sideways to her lips once again, an eerie melody floating through the air.

Caster stands, dusts himself off, and focuses. He stares cooly ahead, his eyes unwavering, before closing them in concentration. Searching deep within himself, he locates his tie to the Lord of the Wind Spirits. Calling upon that power, a gate opens in his mind, as an incredible surge of energy and mana flows through him, infusing every part of his being with control over the wind and air. He waits calmly, his stature tall and collected despite the five holes in his chest.

Archer, however, responds swiftly to Moriko's order, leaping atop the roof of the elevator, and standing above the battlefield. Kicking open her suitcase, papers begin to fly out, gathering around her hands as a longbow forms, made entirely out of paper. Creating an arrow in the same way, she focuses mana at its tip, Berserker in her sights. Letting it fly through the air, it punches a hole flawlessly through her chest, a spray of bloodied papers drifting about as the arrow comes apart on the other side. Berserker doubles over, but still remains standing.

Leaping from atop her perch, Archer holds a row bookmarks in each hand between her fingers, throwing each set into Berserker and drawing blood, despite her transformed state.

Suddenly, Judith calls out from the other side of the building, "Strike now, Assassin!"

The form of a lithe figure with a mop of green hair fades into view from out of the shadows, leaping far above the collapsed Berserker before shifting its right fist into a blade, and diving down toward her. Spinning around, Berserker regains her balance, and catches the attack on an arm, preventing truly serious damage, and Assassin leaps away before its opponent can execute an effective counter.

Unexpectedly, Caster's wounds suddenly begin closing, and Hacon glances across the rooftop to see Judith chanting furiously under her breath, most likely a healing mantra.

An enormous screech echoes around the surrounding buildings, as Rider's familiar once again takes flight. Diving in low, mana again gathers within its beak, matching the melody played out by the girl in white robes. Directly over Berserker, it lets loose another blast, shattering the ground beneath her and creating a second crater in the already damaged roof. This time, though, Berserker, doesn't leap forth from the ruins. Flapping its wings, the bird drives away the smoke and debris. The form of Berserker lies on the ground, wings flat, and attempts to move an arm toward her blade. Sensing the fragment of life still left within her, it immediately executes another dive, letting its lone claw rake along Berserker's body vertically, drawing blood as she ceases motion at last.

Hmph. Is this really all the strength my master possessed? To think that such a man lorded over me as he did...

Looking at each other, the four Masters still standing atop the skyscraper eye each other warily, having felled such a massive opponent through cooperation. Before they can begin celebrating, though, yet another massive surge of mana ripples through the area, coming from Zhijian's body again. The cuts along his body worsen, and his face grows very pale, but an undeniably massive surge of mana moves directly from him into the still form of Berserker. Astonishingly, the gaping hold in her chest closes, she plants one hand on the ground for support, and rises, once again gripping her sword. Letting forth a deep scream of rage, she flaps her wings once, shooting out of the pit, and alighting back on top of the roof, almost as though nothing had even occurred. She still appears to be damaged somewhat, but the a majority of her wounds are sealed, and she looks prepared to fight with renewed energy, at the expense of her Master's well-being.

Glaring at the assembly of foes in front of her, she stands tall in front of Zhijian's body, as if daring anyone to advance. Slowly, he comes to, though it seems to be all he can do to stay awake, his body drenched in blood. "Well, done...Berserker. Heh...looks like I've been given worthy opponents after all...but giving up...isn't a luxury I can afford..."

Vincent laughs coldly, while Judith smirks. Hacon and Moriko resolutely hold their ground in the face of the man who taught them in the ways of the elements. Does this broken and bleeding old man even have a chance? Clawing his way to his feet, he cackles insanely, and pulls himself together, finally able to stand again. "So, that's the way it is, eh? Fine. Line up as many foes before me as you like. I'll take all of you down without fail! Even if the entire world stands against me, I will continue fighting!"

---To Be Continued---
Edited by Avvil, Feb 4 2010, 02:09 AM.
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Night 5: Hacon

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ksK1dudxDw

"Berserkeeeeeeeeer!!!!!! Slaughter Caster now! Leave him as nothing but a memory! Rend him limb from limb! Attaaaaaaaack!!!!"

Zhijian is practically frothing at the mouth, as he delivers his command to Berserker. Again, she dashes to Caster's location, practically warping through the air with her sword ready in hand. As she sprints forward, Caster's eyes open with a striking azure glow, his preparations finished at last. Holding out an arm in front of his body, he channels some mana, shifting the air in front of him oddly. Not caring, Berserker continues her mad rush at her Master's orders. This attack isn't like the last, though. Colliding with the barrier at full speed, it slows her momentum to the point of being traceable, but she plows through, her sword slashing in three incredible arcs through Caster's body, resulting in heavy bleeding, as his body is knocked away. Even then, her attack doesn't let up. Rushing forward with a roar of rage, she dashes behind Caster before he can even hit the ground, and slices open his back with an additional swing, sending him flying into the air. Springing into the air, she kicks off with her wings for a momentary burst of speed accelerating past her opponent and brutally swinging her blade down across his rising form, sending his body plummeting back to the ground. With another sharp flap of her wings, she races to the ground after him, finally bringing her massive sword down across his body before she leaps away, completely depleted of her reserves.

Hacon smirks coldly, a due return finally at hand for all the years he suffered under the title of the worst student of the renowned mage, Zhijian. "Caster, retaliate!"

Caster, using a hand to support himself, rises to face Berserker. Mana gathers about his body like a cloak, his strange blue eyes focused only on her. Lifting an arm, air condenses about his body, and solidifies. "Now it's my turn. Consider this payback."

With a quick gesture, he throws his arm to his side, releasing a fraction of the stored energy. The air around Berserker suddenly becomes hazy, immediately before a series of blades of wind cut across her body, lifting her into the air. Running forward, he executes the same attack again and again as Berserker's body is flayed from every direction, splatters of blood hitting the ground below as the air itself skins her alive. As the last blade ripples across her torso, she falls from the air, crashing into the ground below, her entire form bloody and beaten.

http://www.youtuberepeat.com/watch/?v=AFuzVeJnSR0&feature=related

Still, she reaches for her greatsword, rising to get up again. Her desperate attempt to stand and fight is shattered as Moriko's voice echoes out across the tower. "Archer, now!"

The form of Archer, a silhouette framed in the moon as she stands atop the elevator, holds her bow once again, Berserker's trembling form again the target. Just as she manages to get up on one knee, Archer releases the arrow. Looking up just in time to witness the shape of her own death, Berserker stares straight ahead the arrow again unerringly pierces her chest, the sound of papers fluttering through the air the only noise atop the skyscraper as everyone watches breathlessly. She falls forward, hitting the ground with a dull thud as blood pours out of the gaping hole in her body. There is no surge of mana. There is no revival. This is, beyond any doubt, the true end of Berserker.

Zhijian falls to his knees, tears running down his face and mixing with the blood there. His robes, already stained black from his earlier bleeding, cling to his body as he kneels next to Berserker's still form. "Damn it! Why did this happen now!? Everything was set up! I could have found a way to save him, Moriko, if I'd succeeded! So why? Why did you choose to end it this way!?"

A tear runs down Moriko's cheek, perhaps in mourning for her teacher's dream, but she responds without wavering. "Perhaps a way existed that you could have saved him. But whatever means you would have found, I know without a doubt what your intentions were. You could no more hope to guarantee his life than you could guarantee victory in this battle. Perhaps you would have felt badly if you failed to find a way, as I now feel after killing your final hope, but in the end, the result would have been the same. He would be dead, and no force in this world would exist with the power to bring him back. So I defeated you, because it was the only choice for me. Take care of yourself, Sensei. Even if you do not, I believe there is still hope that a miracle may come to pass, so please don't throw your life away."

With that, Moriko walks back to her allies. She exchanges a brief word with Vincent, and he hits the button for the elevator. Zhijian, however, looks over at Hacon and glares. "You...you...you imbecile! If you hadn't intervened, this never would have happened! I can't accept it! I won't accept it!"

Hacon shrugs slightly. "I've spent my entire life in study. Always, always, I was looked down upon by everyone. Even in the skills I excelled in, I was outclassed by your other students. Prodigies from around the world, come to study under the master of the elements. But you know what? I finally learned something. Isn't it fate for the student to one day surpass the master? Be happy for me, then, teacher. This is simply what was meant to come."

Zhijian rises to his feet suddenly, stumbling forward as he coughs up blood. Caster stands in front of Hacon, calmly guarding his Master. "You're at your limit. Attacking me in your state is no different from sentencing yourself to death."

"Silence! I don't care any more! It doesn't matter whether I live or die!" Zhijian mutters an incantation under his breath, extending his arms with his palms facing Hacon. "Die! Rot and die, you damn fool!"

Shards of ice spray from his fingers, but Caster steps in the way, easily shielding his Master from harm. Pulling them out of his body, he shatters them on the ground at his feet. He glances coldly at Zhijian, and says simply, "That was a mistake."

Moriko glances mournfully back at the scene unfolding as the elevator door opens. Archer puts a hand to her shoulder, offering what little comfort she can in the face of such events. For a brief moment, Moriko looks about to say something, before turning away and entering the elevator with Archer, Vincent, and Rider.

Judith glances over at Assassin. "I think it's time we left as well."

Assassin nods indifferently, and walks with her to the elevator as they depart from the rooftop as well, leaving only Hacon, Caster, and a heavily wounded old man. Unexpectedly, a tone sounds from the second elevator, and a young woman in an elaborate pale-blue dress emerges, a Servant in red robes following behind her. Waving from the opposite end of the two craters dotting the roof, she calls out something, but the other occupants don't even hear her, staring each other down...
Edited by Avvil, Feb 5 2010, 01:45 AM.
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Night 6: Hacon

http://www.youtuberepeat.com/watch?v=qunBNGMNt3k&feature=related

Caster raises his arm to deliver the final attack, and Zhijian faces his death directly, standing firm and unflinching despite the injuries and pain he's already suffered through. Unexpectedly, Hacon rests his hand on his Servant's shoulder.

"That's enough, Caster. Moriko asked for him not to throw his life away. I will respect her wish, and not deliver the final blow. There's nothing more he can do to harm us in his state, right now."

Zhijian glares daggers at his student, but finally slumps forward. "Even a death on the battlefield will be denied to me, then? Such fools, my students turned out to be. That girl, telling me not to throw my life away, and you, agreeing with her. Fine. I'm not so far gone as to deny both of you your requests. I will go..."

With that, the man legendary around the world for his skill at elemental combat turns, and hobbles away, using his walking stick for support as he makes his way to the elevator.

---End Music---

Glancing across the rooftop, Hacon glances at his Servant. "Suppose we should see what those two want?"

Caster nods. "That girl in front certainly was acting...energetically." He glances thoughtfully over at his Master, considering for a second. "You could have killed him, and had your revenge."

Hacon chuckles lightly, a touch of his earlier demeanor before the battle seeping back in. "My teacher is my teacher, after all. I was, er, at least partially deserving of that title...even for all that I had to go through because of that, killing him wouldn't have changed anything. Still, I wonder what Moriko is planning..."

Caster tilts his head. "You knew her?"

"No, no." Hacon shakes his head. "Only by reputation. I'm a bit beyond her generation...I've been studying Alchemy independently for over a decade, now. Anyway, let's see what they want...they at least didn't look like they were ready to start a fight..."

http://www.youtuberepeat.com/watch?v=V8Bda1WfDfk

As the groups approach each other, the woman in the light blue dress makes her way around some rubble, waving again. Finally in view from behind her back, her Servant has long white hair, and peculiar pointy ears sticking out of the top of his head. "Hi! How are you guys? I'm Karin, this is Saber. If it's all the same to you, we'd rather avoid an unnecessary fight here."

Sighing inwardly with relief, Hacon nods firmly. "Indeed, I would be alright with that as well. I've certainly seen my share of battle for the time being..."

Behind him, his Servant mutters under his breath, "You weren't the one who got chopped into several pieces with a greatsword..."

Hacon clears his throat, in an attempt to cover up the last comment. "Er, anyway, this is Caster. And I'm, ah, Hacon. Right."

Karin and Saber exchange a skeptical glance, but she smiles brightly and responds, "Wonderful! Listen...we could make a pretty effective team, working together. Saber would be more than willing to take the brunt of the assault-"

"Hey!" Saber protests, but she continues talking without the slightest hint of hearing him.

"-while you can crush our opponents from the back. Sound fair?" She smiles gently, holding her hands in front of her entreatingly...is it possible she could look any more defenseless and innocent?

Hacon smiles in return, offering a hand. "Sounds alright to me."

Caster covers his face with one hand, groaning. "Is this really okay? I prefer to work alone, you know..."

Saber acts similarly, crossing his arms and turning away. "It's not like I need any help."

"Sit boy." Karin snickers slightly to herself, as Saber crashes into the roof the skyscraper, before reaching out to grasp Hacon's hand, her grip firm despite her frail and helpless appearance. "You have yourself an alliance, then. Now, it looks like quite a bit happened here...perhaps you would be willing to fill me in a bit on what we've missed?"

Looking up, Caster announces, "It's about to rain. Perhaps we could discuss the details inside?"

Saber gets up and dusts himself off, and the four of them head back inside the skyscraper, leaving the battlefield on the roof quiet and deserted as a light rain begins to come down...
Edited by Avvil, Feb 6 2010, 02:53 AM.
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Night 7: Hacon

http://www.listenonrepeat.com/watch/?v=PQK2QbMW-Qk

The lobby on thirty-fourth floor of the skyscraper is a well-lit room, furnished with elaborate and expensive pieces. Hacon sits on a chair in the corner, while Saber and Karin sit on a couch nearby. Caster is absent, having been sent into spirit form by his Master, after complaining of a great fatigue following the earlier battle.

"So...you're the heiress of the Estenson line?" Hacon leans forward slightly, his attention immediately grabbed by her announcement.

Karin sits up straight, looking oddly serious compared to the carefree and energetic girl she appeared to be on the roof. "Indeed. I am Karin Annelise Estenson, named heir of the Estenson family, as well as all it's wealth, renown, and techniques. As such, it is both my honor and my responsibility to bring glory to the family name, and achieve success in the world. My involvement in this Holy Grail War marks entrance into the world at large as the representative of the noble Estenson name..."

Hacon stares, blinking at the sudden change in the young woman's demeanor, and even her Servant looks at her oddly, taken aback by the change. Finally, she breaks the silence herself, slumping back into a more relaxed position. "At least, that's what I've been raised to become. Ever since I was ten, and my brother's name was stricken from the family tree, I've been the sole heir to the main family, and with that, borne the responsibility to succeed, no matter what challenges I face. In reality, though, no one ever made a secret of the fact that I was far from an ideal successor. Despite possessing an incredible gift for the Sight, my body has been frail since birth, and no matter how well I performed, there were always doubts about whether or not I could become truly suitable as the next master of the family."

Karin sighs, looking away, before continuing. "It was eventually decided that I would be made to compete in the War, as a test of my capacity as the next leader. If I die, after all, I was simply a failure from the beginning." She snaps off the last bit resentfully, completely failing to cover up her complete disdain for the situation she's been placed into.

Hacon looks at her in a slightly different light, as if seeing her again for the first time. The person before him is completely different from the strange girl he encountered only hours before on the roof. "Hrmph...the Estenson name...certainly, it's well-known, that even someone of my standing could recognize it. The greatest family of Seers the world over, they say...it's something completely alien to me. I can't even begin to imagine a childhood in which expectations were placed on me...I did a fairly good job removing any hope of that by the time I was your age..."

Karin gives Hacon a somewhat sympathetic, perhaps even slightly amused look. Taking it as a sign that he's on the right track, he continues. "Initially, I was thought to be a complete failure at magecraft. Sure, I was capable of it, but things always had a tendency to go wrong. For whatever reason, an elementalist of great renown took me in as his apprentice, when I was only slightly younger than you. He'd curse that as the biggest mistake of his life repeatedly, in the following ten years. Actually, now that I think of it, he'll probably curse my name for the rest of his life after what I've done to him here. I swear I tried. Certainly, even for someone like me, I did occasionally meet his expectations...but it was never enough. Whatever spark of talent he originally took me on for never blossomed, at least not to his eyes. I was twenty-eight, when he cast me out as the greatest failure he'd ever wasted his time attempting to teach. I returned to Romania, and immersed myself in Alchemy, the only field in which I ever produced any success worth noting. My family, my friends, even my mentor...everyone had given up any expectations that I would ever amount to anything. But even in spite of all that, for some reason, I never gave up on my own expectations for myself."

Sighing, Hacon thinks back over his history, and gives a strange laugh. "I suppose that really wasn't so much help, after all...even after all I've been through, I can't even begin to imagine myself in a position like yours. I was able to overcome the obstacles set before me, in spite of everyone else's expecations. For you, though, it's not enough to become what you will yourself to. Even if you wanted a different life-"

"-my path has already been chosen for me, out of my own control since the beginning. That's how it's always been." Karin smiles gently, her expression at odds with her words. "Thank you, though, for listening, and sharing your story with me. Even though my fate has never truly been in my own hands...I've had to find the strength within myself to go on. I want to face the destiny I've been thrust into head-on, to live the life I've been given to the fullest. And in order to do that...first, I need to make it through this trial. So it's not so different from your story, after all. Everyone has bet on my failure except for me."

She continues to smile serenely after finishing, as Hacon and Saber look on in awe as they wrap their minds around the determination and resolve of the girl before them. Sitting there, in her pale blue dress, her long black hair falling gracefully down her back in gentle waves, is the woman who possesses the strength to become the successor to the Estenson line, not only in name, but in truth.

Hacon finally sighs, realizing what must ultimately come to pass. "Bear in mind...even if we fight side by side, we will eventually reach a point where we must fight against each other. It's simply in the nature of the War..."

Grinning fiercely, she locks her eyes with his. "An ally one moment, a foe the next...the heir to the Estenson name is someone more than capable of dealing with something of that level. I'll be looking forward to our battle."

Taken aback by both the intensity of her gaze and her words, Hacon laughs loudly in spite of himself, as she stands, and motions to her Servant. "We have preparations to take care of, tonight. I'll let you know what we discover after I've recovered. Come along, Saber."

As she leaves the room, followed by Saber, Hacon glances up at the ghostly form of his Servant, watching nearby. "A fascinating girl, wouldn't you say?"

Caster smirks. "Indeed. You've certainly chosen an interesting ally for us...was her demeanor earlier on the roof merely a ruse?"

Hacon considers it for a second, before replying. "Maybe...I think it's closer to myself, really...she has two sides to her, that girl, much the same way that I do. Even if she acts that way to people...deep down, when it comes time to fight, I get the feeling she won't hold anything back."

"Huh. I suppose you turned out to be an interesting person, too...maybe. I'm still not entirely convinced." Caster eyes his Master, still managing to look vaguely condescending, while Hacon merely rolls his eyes...

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Night 8: Hacon

http://www.youtuberepeat.com/watch/?v=Xkun-83JvF8

"Resting up well?"

Caster shrugs, still concealed in Spirit form. "My wounds still need quite awhile to heal...I'm not sure we'll get the luxury to wait the entire time I need. I've got a decent amount of mana back, though."

"Hrmph. Better than nothing, I suppose. Maybe I should go check up on-"

Before he can finish speculating on whether or not he should see how Karin and Saber are doing, a series of loud ricocheting noises resounds from the room they're using down the hall.

"Damn! What the hell was that!?"

Rushing to the door, Hacon knocks loudly twice, about an inch from rotting it into sawdust so he can get inside. "Are both of you alright!? It sounded like something was going on in there."

In a few seconds, though, the sound of the door being unlocked comes from the other side, and Karin gives what could be a slight smile. At ease, Hacon lets his shoulders fall slightly.

"We're fine, mostly...we were visited by the servants of the witch, who exacted the price for not fighting from us. We'll live, anyway."

Hacon frowns slightly. "You had me scared out of my wits."

Karin nods and gives an apologetic shrug, before continuing. "We're sorry. Also...I'm going to attempt scrying one more time..."

Both Hacon and Saber frown at the news. Hacon responds first.

"Again, already? You looked like you barely survived last night, then claimed that was normal!"

Saber looks to Hacon, then meets Karin's eyes. "It's fine. This is something she can do. I'll make sure she doesn't push herself too hard, so don't worry about her. She knows her own limits, and she isn't someone who would throw her life away."

Hacon's frown deepens, but finally, he nods. "Alright. I understand. I'll leave the two of you to your business, then."

As he walks down the hall, the door is quickly closed as Karin and Saber resume their work. Hacon makes his way back to the common room, and flops back into his preferred chair. Propping up his head in his hands, he passes the time slowly, running over any other possibilities of action in his head, but producing little. For now, they need to wait, and recover.
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Night 9: Hacon

http://www.youtuberepeat.com/watch/?v=lGs0mrmDEDo&feature=related

Hacon opens an eye thinly, having fallen asleep on the couch. The light sound of rain can be heard against the nearby window.

"Huh. Raining again."

The transparent form of Caster nods. "Seems to be consistently dreary in this city. Nothing special to report while you've been out. It's like the entire city is silent right now."

"Indeed. It's a bit unnerving, knowing that everyone else is acting, but we can't figure out what they're up to...but at the same time, it gives you a chance to heal. It works out one way or another, I suppose." Hacon rubs his eyes, pulling himself into a sitting position. "Karin and Saber?"

"Scrying again. Didn't mention where she'd hit tonight."

"Mm. Well, nothing to do but wait for now, then...still, I wonder if this lapse will end up being better or worse for us in the long run..."
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Night 10: Hacon

Hacon turns over slightly, lost in some dream. Outside, the rain has stopped falling, but a dull grey tone covers the city, as the skies remain overcast. Caster watches over his Master's fitful slumber, wondering at what dreams the old man walks through...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jv7f2vPCSwI&feature=related

Ten years ago:
Hacon's study in Romania:

"Confound it all! Why does nothing I do turn out right!"

Hacon sighs heavily, throwing himself ungracefully into the chair he keeps in the corner of the room. Looking across the room, he shoots his apparatus and transmutation circles a murderous glare.

"Perhaps that old geezer was right...three years on my own, and nothing to show for it. Maybe I should have just cut my losses and gone into business like Mom and Dad suggested..."

Despite saying that to himself, the idea resonates as poorly with Hacon as it did when he started his apprenticeship to the renowned mage Zhijian. For some reason, magecraft holds an inexplicable sway over him that he simply can't shake. Still, without making any advances or producing worthwhile research, a useless profession remains a useless profession. Hacon scours the study for something, anything, that might serve useful as an inspiration of some kind.

The house was originally owned by another Alchemist who had recently passed away. Grateful of the fortunate timing, Hacon used the money he'd saved during his time in China to make a down payment on the house, in the hope that there might be some leftover resources or materials in the study or workshop that could be put to use. In fact, his hunch had been correct, but his own incompetence was a much harder problem to deal with. Furthermore, despite finding numerous projects underway and half-finished, he'd been unable to find any notes or journals to logically connect them and explain their purpose. Generally speaking, it was considered extremely foolish to mess with partially complete Alchemy projects, and he'd regretably left them as-is.

Standing up in exasperation at his recent failure, Hacon hurls the tome he was using as reference for his most recent project at the wall, in search of a suitable way to vent his frustration. Astonishingly, upon hitting striking the wall, the book leaves a depression where it hits. There is a clicking noise, and a section of the wall slides back, revealing a spiral staircase leading lower.

His mouth turning upward as he grabs a nearby flashlight and begins a descent into the darkness, Hacon risks the possibility of hoping that maybe, just maybe, this will be a turning point in his fortunes.
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Night 11: Hacon

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kqjm6QZOeUs (resurrectedreplayer)

Hacon stands facing the window, looking out across the city below, as the door to Karin's room opens behind him. Turning around to see her turn the corner, she suddenly spins and shouts, "Saber!" Reacting instantly to her shout, Saber twists his body slightly as a hole appears out of nowhere on his chest. Leaping back into a corner as spatters of blood fall onto the carpet, Saber faces in the direction of whatever hit him.

Reacting quickly, Hacon shouts, "Caster, enter physical form immediately!!!

With an enormous surge of mana, Caster manifests himself in front of his Master, standing ready to guard against any attacks.

On the other side of the room, Saber begins acting oddly, almost as though with an incomprehensible instinct, as he appears to be reacting to the movements of a completely undetectable opponent. Finally, he brings up an arm in a guarding motion as a slash bites into it, followed by another hole in his chest as he twists his torso to avoid getting pierced at a vital point. Starting to leap back again, a third hole appears in his stomach, though it doesn't appear to be as deep as the first two. Finally, the form of Rider slowly fades into existence near where the attacks were coming from.

Saber glares at her, reaching for the tiny blade at his hip as he dashes back toward his Master. With a flash of light, he draws a massive curved sword far too large to fit in the sheath. Leaping across the room with his weapon balanced across his back, he stands firm in front of Karin, finally getting a chance to recover from the surprise attack. However, his new confidence doesn't last long, as a frown creases his brow. "Dammit, Karin! We're about to have more company!"

She looks concerned, but stands firm. "Ah. It'll be the ones from last night."

Saber spares a quick glance back at her. "We don't exactly have time to plan a welcoming party. Good or bad?"

She bites her lip, but responds swiftly. "As much as I'm hoping otherwise, let's assume the worst."

"Works for me. This place is too cramped to fight an opponent like this anyway." Swinging his blade in the direction of the ceiling, Saber smashes a hole clear through to the roof two floors above. Grabbing Karin, he leaps the the distance easily.

Taking advantage of an excellent opportunity, Hacon runs forward toward the hole with Caster. "Excuse us, would you? We can't keep our friends waiting, after all."

A gust of wind flies through the room, scattering leaves from decorative plants and overturning furniture, as Hacon and his Servant soar off through the same hole just used by Saber and Karin. Rider follows shortly after, Landing on top of the building. Nearby, the elevator nearby sounds a tone, and four figures step out. In front, one of them is a young man with medium length black hair wearing a black trenchcoat, the other, a middle-aged man with long brown hair and dressed in a blue uniform. Behind them shamble two figures, one reeking of rotting and decaying flesh, the other looking much like an ordinary man, save for his movement.

Glancing condescendingly at the younger man, the one in the uniform simply states, "Exactly as I predicted, my Master."

Taking in the situation, the man in the coat glances upward at the airborne figures of Hacon and Caster, then over to the team of Karin and Saber. Stepping forward, a cold and disturbing smile spreads across his face. Shouting out to Saber and Karin, he calls out, "Well, well, well...if it isn't my dear sister. Imagine meeting you here."

Her face paling severely, Karin takes a step back. Saber looks at her sharply. "Sister! What the hell is this!? Is this what you meant, last night?"

She ignores her Servant, and stares straight ahead at the man before her. "So. It really is you, Kai, after all these years. You know, I'd imagined meeting you again. I'd hoped against hope that I might be able to see you again. So why-"

"Silence! I don't want to listen to any of your bullshit, I want revenge! I was cast out of the family, and you let it happen! My name was removed from the family tree, all honor and dignity as the heir was taken from me, and I was forced to fend for myself, while you enjoyed everything that should have been mine. Ten years have passed...and I've neither forgiven you nor forgotten. You'll pay for this with your life and blood!"

She looks forward, unflinching against his words, but even though the tone of her voice doesn't betray her, there's a pleading look in her eyes, as she attempts to reason with him. "Kai, what's wrong with you?! You know I didn't want that to happen. Don't you remember what happened that day, and why? I was never interested in taking what was yours, this fate was never meant to be mine. You were the last person in the world I wanted to hurt. Don't do this, we-"

"-are through here!" Cutting her off, Kai suddenly clutches at his head, as though in some kind of pain, but quickly shakes it off and continues. "I'll make this place your grave, Karin! The Estenson line ends with you, and all of its pointless cruelty! Lancer, kill her! Kill her, and her Servant, and her friends!! Kill them aaaaaaaaallll!!!!!"

Stepping forward, Lancer snaps his fingers, a surprisingly large amount of mana suddenly gathered about him, rippling into the form of a Bounded Field...before coming into contact with the framework Caster had set up long ago. Blinking, Lancer looks about himself in confusion. "W-What is this...?"

Grinning, Caster shouts down from above. "Something wrong, Lancer? Things not working right? You're playing on my field now! You'd better learn the rules if you're going to last!"

Scowling, Lancer holds out his arm, a spear materializing in his hand as he dashes forward, his speed outmatching all comprehension, and prepares to direct an attack at Saber. Yet again, though, Saber's dodge is already started before Lancer even begins his attack, and succeeds in making only two light scratches across Saber's arm and torso, before leaping back to stand by his Master.

He blinks, momentarily put-off by his opponent's incredible reactions, but his expression quickly shifts into a self-assured smirk. "Fascinating. It looks like I won't be bored, at least."

Pointing forward, Kai yells out to the strange figures behind him, "Attack!!!"

Shambling forward at a surprisingly fast pace, they manage to get within range of Saber and claw at him before he can leap away holding Karin.

Another tone rings from the elevator, and Judith steps out, rapidly taking in the battlefield. Holding up her arms, mana gathers around her, spreading across the roof of the skyscraper as the beginning of her Bounded Field starts to form, before it again collides with Caster's mana framework, preventing it from manifesting itself properly, and fizzles away harmlessly.

"What the bloody hell is this?!"

Lancer glances over at the new arrival, most likely sensing the movement of mana. "Inconvenient, isn't it? It seems to be caused by the flying one in the black jacket. Shall we take them out together?"

She snarls at Hacon and Caster, flying far above the battlefield. "So this is the thanks I get for agreeing to fight alongside you?! You're both bloody useless!"

Hacon, cackles wildly in response, and Caster floats, smirking, as the fighters on the ground ready themselves for combat to resume...

Edited by Avvil, Feb 11 2010, 03:06 AM.
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Night 12: Hacon

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvTCklQ-isI (JUSTICE)

Hacon holds out his hands, a glowing transmutation circle forming beneath him in the air. His face shining in a brilliant smile, almost as though he's having the time of his life, matching circles appear beneath Lancer and Assassin, as he reconfigures their fundamental composition slightly. Satisfied with with his work, he shouts to Caster, "It's time; there's no point holding back now! Open the Contract!!!!"

Caster, floating nearby, closes his eyes briefly as he passes the seal in his mind in an instant, using an enormous flare of power to tap into his full potential at such an alarming rate. Opening his eyes, now a deep azure as they were six nights ago on this same skyscraper, he holds a hand forward, as an incomprehensibly large wave of mana is unleashed, the surrounding weather transformed in an instant. The sky darkens, an incredible gale stirs up, and a massive downpour begins. Intensifying in power, the winds practically wreathe themselves about the building, preventing any hope of escape.

Unable to withstand the massive force of the winds surrounding the area, Karin is hurled against the rooftop, barely able to keep from being blown away, while Hacon seems to be struggling to breathe amidst the torrential air tearing through the area. Kai and Judith glance at each other, beginning preparations for some kind of spell, but Kazuma simply glances in their direction, sending a renewed blast of wind to slam them against outer wall of the roof, putting a swift end to whatever they were planning. Looking up, Kai manages to shout across distance to his Servant, before he collapses into a crouch, "Don't let up! Keep fighting until she's dead! Make sure she pays for the crimes of the past!"

Lancer seems to barely be affected by the sudden change in weather as he sprints across the distance between himself and Saber, closing it in an instant. Again, Saber appears capable of reacting before his opponent can even reach him, catching the first blow from Lancer's spear against the edge of his blade, lightly stepping to the side of a blindingly fast thrust. Snarling, Lancer steps out of reach as Saber appears ready to counter, before lunging in low, managing to pull off two quick stabs as Saber tries to leap back. Pressing his advantage, he makes a second dash forward, impaling Saber cleanly through faster than his reactions can allow him to dodge.

Ripping out his weapon before his opponent can respond, Lancer takes a gliding step backwards, and begins to spin his spear above his head, a spiral of winds rapidly forming, writhing under the surrounding conditions with a heightened intensity. Recognizing the oncoming attack, Saber attempts to leap backward, but it's already too late, as Lancer slams the tip of his weapon into the roof, unleashing the gathered winds at the target before him. As Saber goes flying backward into the ground, numerous cuts and and tears appear on his robes, his entire body being sliced by the gale summoned from Lancer's attack.

Flipping to his feet, sword in hand, Saber grins violently and holds his blade before him, full of energy despite the serious toll his body has already taken. Much like Lancer's most recent attack, winds gather about his weapon, but in greater magnitude, as the air entwines itself around the sword. Kicking off the ground, he makes a flying leap forward, crossing most of the skyscraper in a single bound. Following Saber's eyes, Lancer recognizes the target as his own Master. Dashing into the middle of Saber's path with blinding speed, he's just in time as Saber brings the blade smashing into the ground, shouting, "Try and protect your Master from this! Wind Scar!!!"

As the blade connects with the ground, three trails of blazing energy streak out, ripping up the roof as they go. The front trail striking Lancer, one to its side easily slides past him as he's thrown out of the way, colliding with the immobile Kai crouched near the wall and throwing him back into it. The final blade ripples outward slightly, aimed at the unsuspecting Assassin, catching her squarely on the chest as she's thrown back across the building.

Taking the confusion to make his move, Caster floats high above the battlefield gathering mana about him. With a bird's-eye view, every target is in his sights, as he flings an arm to his side, blades of wind striking from every direction as Lancer, Assassin, and the two peculiar zombies are assaulted by the violent storm surrounding them. The attack makes quick work of the undead as limbs and body parts are tossed about the building, soaring through the air, though the others fare somewhat better. Lancer climbs to his feet, his uniform in shreds as a result of the combined aerial assaults, while Assassin begins a dash forward, stepping back into the conflict at last as her Master shouts, "Kill the one in red!"

Turning to face her as she steps into range, Saber sidesteps an initial thrust as her right arm shifts into a weapon resembling something between a spike and a blade, leaping cleanly away as she slashes out again. Leering at her arrogantly, he shouts through the downpour, "Not so tough when you're visible, are you?"

Ignoring his comment, Assassin runs at Saber, moving into a series of acrobatics as she approaches, finally coming out of a back handspring and catapulting herself into the air before entering a dive at her target. Finally surprised by the agile assault, Saber is unable to completely avoid the attack as the spike that is her right arm pierces his left shoulder. Stumbling away, he's unable to bring his sword up in time to block the follow-up from her right fist, resounding against his chest with a painful crunch that echoes across the skyscraper, and sends him flying across the building much farther than an attack from a figure of such a small stature should be capable.

For a time, rain cascades down, as all attention turns to the still form of Saber. Karin manages to pull herself into a kneeling position, despite the intense winds, to look at her Servant, now motionless. Whatever emotions fill her mind, nothing shows on her face as she manages to give off a truly noble aura, despite the drenched condition of her dress, and the cruel circumstances before her. Dragging herself to her feet, her frail form somehow standing firmly against the astonishing winds, she runs at Saber, screaming, "Saber!!! You can't die! I won't let you die! Get up, get up and fight!"

Reaching his body, she throws forward, finally giving up all semblance of dignity, but before she can collapse against his form...a steady hand reaches out and catches her. Saber stirs, leaning forward and whispering something to her. Whatever he said, she glares at him in response, as he slowly climbs to his feet, picking up his sword once again as he stands shakily before his Master. Despite his pitiful condition, the look in his eyes is fierce, a clear warning for anyone foolish enough to even consider trying to harm Karin of the price they must certainly pay. "I'll take you all on! This is nothing for me! Nothing!"

Karin looks almost taken aback at the raw determination in her Servant as he holds to his resolution, waiting to see who will take the first move. On the other side of the building, Judith frowns, deciding she doesn't much like this turn of events. "Hmph...looks like things didn't go quite as planned. Assassin, we've spent enough time here! Get us out here immediately!!!!"

At her Master's side in a flash, Assassin easily picks up Judith, completely at odds with her frail form. Hacon looks down from the sky, sneering. "Hah! Big words, but this area is completely sealed off! Even with that, where do you intend to-"

Cut off in his gloating, Hacon stares blankly as Assassin dashes over to the northern edge of the roof, and without slowing her pace at all, jumps over the edge into the middle of the storm.

"Whaaaaaaaaaaaaattt???? T-That's insane! This building is thirty-four stories high! There's no way anyone could survive that!"

Judith's melodic laughter floats back on the wind, the only response he receives, while Lancer and Kai exchange an uncertain glance in the face of the still-standing Saber, deserted by their seeming ally...
Edited by Avvil, Feb 12 2010, 03:03 AM.
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Night 13: Hacon

http://www.youtuberepeat.com/watch/?v=TRBH7LYqV6o (Checkmate)

Hacon looks from the figure of Saber, struggling to stand below, to Caster, giving his all to support the storm. He makes his decision in an instant, knowing what must be done. "Caster, that's enough! Let the hurricane dissipate!" Caster nods, cutting off the supply of mana as the winds fade, and the skies rapidly clear, before he slumps forward in absolute exhaustion, the energy used to sustain his skills clearly taking a toll, while azure color fades from his eyes.

Looking back down at his allies, Hacon shouts, "Now, Karin!" but she's already taking the chance given to her.

Holding her hands close against her chest, a strange and delicate aura of mana wreathes itself about her slender form. Looking down, she softly begins the chant of the most powerful art passed down through the Estenson line, forbidden to be used save in the most dire circumstances.

"The unbreakable destiny of all mortals. The cruel shackles that hold us bound."

Snapping her head up, she stares straight ahead, staring her brother directly in the eye, as he points his at her and begins to shout to his Servant, but is drowned out as his sister's voice crescendoes.

"I, wielder of the Sight and heir to the Estenson line call upon thee to come undone! Altered Fate!!!"

"Stop her now!" Kai's voice is barely audible as Karin reaches the conclusion of her chant, but Lancer nod in understanding and sprints forward as the world darkens and twists, a sphere enclosing the battlefield on the top of the skyscraper, and creating its own world, with its own rules.

Karin puts a hand to her mouth as she coughs up blood, pulling it away stained with red as Lancer draws in close. Saber moves to block his attack, but Karin simply looks ahead and snaps her fingers. Lancer vanishes without a trace.

Kai looks about for his Servant, panicked. "What the hell was that!?"

"I'm right here, you imbecile. But that ability...I've never seen anything like it..." Lancer looks at Karin penetratingly, but she ignores him, holding her right arm out to her side as a the world inside the reality marble shifts again.

Lancer and Kai look confused for a second, suddenly on the opposite side of the building as Saber comes hurtling from the sky, blade before him. Seeing his opponent too late, Lancer, is unable to dodge the attack, and brings up his spear in an attempt to block it, but is knocked backward by the force of the blow, as Saber quickly makes a second slash, cutting across him heavily.

The world reforms itself again. Lancer and Kai are at approximately the same position, but Saber stands at the opposite side of the building. Clutching at his chest, he lets the blood from his multitude of wounds soak onto his hand. Running forward, he shouts, "Blades of Blood!!!" as he swings his arm forward, the blood on his hand flying forward and forming five blades that arc through the air, all aimed at Lancer. Again faced without time to dodge, he leaps to his side as all five arcs catch him squarely, his body getting close to its breaking point. Looking up at Kai, Lancer blinks away confusion. "Wait, I think I under-"

Karin smirks, shifting the world yet again and cutting off any chance of a possible explanation. Karin and Saber reappear together on the north side of the building, while Lancer and Kai stand at the far end. Lifting up her hand, the Command Seals shining in the darkness, she shouts with all her strength, "Saber, get us out of here!!!"

One seal flickers out of existence as the reality marble begins to come apart, arcs of energy flying across the outer edges as Saber picks her up and sprints at the edge, looking much like Assassin did only a short while ago. Kai, however, refuses to be defeated by such a trick. Looking up at Hacon and Caster, he offhandedly announces, "Sorry, but I'm afraid I have business elsewhere...now if you'll excuse me... Lancer, we're leaving immediately!!! Don't let them get away!"

Grabbing Kai by the arm, Lancer sprints off across the rooftop, his Master in tow, while Hacon and the exhausted Caster watch helplessly from the above, unable to help but wonder if there was something else they could have done...
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Night 14: Hacon

Hacon sighs, looking about the now-empty skyscraper, Karin and Kai gone, along with their Servants. "You may as well let us down...it isn't going to serve much purpose keeping up the field, either."

Caster nods reluctantly. "I suppose so..."

Gently floating down to the ground, Hacon dismisses the Entropic Field with a wave of his arm. "Nothing's going on here. Rest, for now..."

Caster looks about himself suspiciously, feeling as though something is slightly off, but fades and vanishes from physical sight after a brief moment. Walking back toward the elevator to go inside, Hacon isn't more than twenty feet away when a tone sounds, announcing a new arrival. Time seems to slow down as the doors peel back, revealing...

"Ah! Moriko, Archer! You scared me for a second, I'd thought-"

http://www.youtuberepeat.com/watch/?v=IDma4A6A3Bc (Nighteyes)

Hacon's momentary relief turns to panic, as he sees the cold look on Moriko's face. Giving him no more attention than a person would to any irritating obstacle in their path, she smiles icily. "It seems we've caught you at a fortunate time. Archer, Use Paperstorm Now!!!!"

As Archer and Moriko step out of the elevator calmly, the world flashes, and turns to pure white. No...not white, but...paper? Thousands...hundreds of thousands...millions of sheets of paper fly through the air above the skyscraper, obscuring almost everything from sight. Stumbling backward, Hacon attempts to flee, but stray papers cling to his body, brush over him, and drag him back in his frantic attempt to run.

Moriko watches his pointless struggle with only the barest hint of sympathy in her eyes. "It's unfortunate that it's come to this, but as you weren't kind enough to present your Servant, I'll settle for eliminating you instead. Archer, kill him."

"Wait, wait! We can talk through this, I'm sure! Come to an understanding...right?!"

Archer's eyes are equally cold as she dashes forward. Leaping into the air as she approaches the stumbling form of Hacon, she executes a combination of attacks from the air, sending countless bunches of paper spinning with disturbing speed and accuracy at the helpless Master. Unable to dodge, the sheets rip his already torn coat shreds, and slice his skin to pieces, his blood pouring out onto the ground at his feet, staining the paper there red.

Landing on the opposite side of him, Archer spins around, facing her opponent, as Moriko shouts, "Again! Keep attacking until he's bled dry!"

Directing the papers nearby at Hacon again in a rapid series of punches and kicks, each one coming into contact with a clump of sheets and driving them at Hacon, Yomiko ruthlessly carries out her Master's orders. Hacon trips and stumbles as he still continues to run through the storm of papers toward the elevator, but it's hopeless as the razor-sharp edges again scythe through his body.

Collapsing in a pool of his own blood, Hacon tilts his head up in time to the jewels on Moriko's wrist bracelets and necklace all flash in unison as she raises her arms. Muttering quickly to herself, five points of mana appear around her, quickly forming into spheres about one foot in diameter, two in front of her composed of flames, the three at her sides and back formed of packed earth and shards of metal sticking out.

Returning her attention to the pitiful form of Hacon, her tone is almost expressionless, but there is perhaps a small hint of pain mixed in with her cruel attack. "I don't find any joy in slaughtering you like this, but it seems that Sensei really was right about you being his worst student. Were you really this unprepared for an attack? Pathetic. You lack the drive to fight in this War. Hold still, and I will deliver you from this foolishness..."

Moriko draws her right hand back, while Archer tenses for another attack, as Hacon struggles to crawl to his feet despite his tremendous loss of blood...
Edited by Avvil, Feb 15 2010, 01:57 AM.
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Night 15: Hacon

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ksK1dudxDw&feature=related (Dance of the Moon Rabbits)

Hacon struggles to his feet, his bleeding as Caster flickers into existence before him, likely too late to save his dying Master. Archer and Moriko watch from opposite sides amidst the blinding storm of paper, standing by to finish him off, the blood loss from the earlier attacks so severe, it's difficult to believe he's still breathing.

Reaching a standing position, Hacon leans heavily on Caster, holding up his right hand, the lone Command Seal visible in the night despite the constant flurry of papers. "Caster, I don't care how you do it, but get us out of here now!!!!"

As the final seal vanishes, a flare of wind erupts from Caster, knocking Moriko and Archer back, and dispersing the papers around them. As he grabs his Master to flee off of the building, a transmutation circle appears under Archer briefly, bestowing a parting change, before Hacon and Caster both leap over the edge of the building, soaring through the air with the aid of Caster's power.

---End Music---

Alighting at the gates to the university just east of the skyscraper, Hacon glances uneasily at Caster. "Close one there...eh?"

Caster sighs, shaking his head. "I must admit, I didn't expect this to turn out quite as badly as it did for you, but that was still a risky move, dismissing me like that without decent knowledge of the surrounding area."

Hacon shrugs indifferently. "What's done is done."

"And what of your dream? You never did tell anyone, not even me, why you were fighting. Not that I'm asking you to...especially after this..."

"Hmph. Perhaps it was just the folly of a failed student like myself. But...I'd prefer to keep that to myself, for now. I'm not finished just yet, you see..." Hacon holds his arms forward, re-establsihing a connection between his supply of prana and his Servant. It's tenuous at best, and not nearly as efficient as the contract created by the Command Seals, but at least good enough to support his Servant's presence in the world.

"I see. Still, you can't win the War without a Command Seal, even if you can keep me around..."

"Let me be the one to worry about that." Hacon attempts to stride forward, but stumbles unexpectedly. "Ugh...I think I may be...cut up kind of badly..."

Caster eyes his Master wearily. "You think?"

"Fine, fine. There should be something we can use here to stop some of the bleeding, at least for the time being. Let's get going before I die of blood loss..."
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Night 16: Hacon

Caster stands atop the outstretched limb of a tree, his head cocked as though listening to the breeze. Leaping down, he glances over at Hacon, who is in the process of steadying himself against the tree and looking about warily. Though the bleeding from two nights ago has decreased considerably, he's still in critical condition.

Watching his Master for a second, a peculiar smile plays briefly across his face. "Not sleeping this time, huh?"

Hacon laughs slightly, before clutching at his chest in pain from the wounds. "Hah. Perhaps I was rather foolish, acting that way at the start of the War. Certainly...I didn't expect to end up like this. I guess this is the natural outcome for people who always run away, never facing things directly. I couldn't face my own failings, and this is where I ended up. I'd been crazy enough to hope that by succeeding in this War, I could make up for all my past errors. I'd been desperate enough to be willing to try even putting my life on the line if it meant a chance to actually make something of myself."

Looking at the ground, he goes on. "Everyone here has something they fight for with such raw determination. From the very beginning, I wonder if I ever had any chance of matching them..."

"Hacon." Caster looks directly at his Master. Looking up, Hacon catches the full weight of his Servant's stare. "You said it yourself. There is definitely a side to you that is a complete idiot. But you also possess that determination you mention. You were willing to fight against your teacher, and you prevailed. You fought alongside Karin at the skyscraper without disgracing yourself. This War isn't over yet. If you stop thinking, though, it's already finished for you."

"Right." Hacon's response couldn't exactly be called enthusiastic, though that could be due in part to the fact that any sudden motions risked opening his countless wounds again. "In that case...what did you hear from the hospital?"

"Nothing out of the ordinary. I'd say it's clear for now."

"Good, we're heading out. If it's clear, I may as well rest while I can."
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Night 17: Hacon

"Caster, start getting ready to use the Contract. They're more than likely onto us, by now. We're going to be ready for them."

"Heh. A last stand, eh?"

Hacon smiles brilliantly. "Not if I can help it. This time, I'm going to time this right."

Holding out his hands, Hacon again unleashes a flood of mana into the surrounding area, creating a field designed to disperse mana, and prevent it from being concentrated, his signature Entropic Field.

Satisfied with the construction of the field, he nods at Caster. "We'll wait for them on the roof. I don't want any patients here getting injured on account of our fighting."

Stepping out onto the roof with Hacon, Caster closes his eyes and begins focusing, readying himself yet again for the use of his full potential in combat. The wait for the enemy, unfortunately, is not long. Still with his head bowed and eyes closed, Caster mutters under his breath, "Incoming."

In an eerie repetition of the events at the skyscraper, the elevator lets out a tone, and its doors slowly slide apart, revealing...nothing? Nearly in disbelief, Hacon steps forward, trying to figure out what's going on, as the jarring sound of shattering glass resounds from a window on a lower floor. Spinning around, Hacon is just in time to catch the scene unfold before his eyes.

http://www.youtuberepeat.com/watch/?v=qEMLNCTkzdM (Mortal Stampede)

Archer leaps far above the building, her body framed in the moon as she rapidly draws two decks of index cards from within her coat, sending volley after volley of them raining down at the seemingly defenseless Caster. Unexpectedly, though, despite his apparent inattention, a strong gust of wind flares up from out of nowhere, sending almost half of the cards spiraling away from him.

Landing atop the building, Archer frowns slightly at Caster, assessing the efficacy of her attack. Dashing forward, she draws two sets of bookmarks into her from within the folds of her sleeves, throwing each set with pinpoint accuracy, but again, Caster tosses them away with two quick thrusts of wind. Leaping high above him, she sends down two more rounds directly over his head. Unable to knock them away entirely with a third blast of wind, the narrow blades of paper slash across his arms and torso, drawing more blood.

Turning around to face Caster again as she lands lightly on the opposite end of the building, she shouts to someone on the other side of Caster. "I'm all set, get him now!"

Turning to face whatever is behind Caster, both he and Hacon end up staring down...nothing. Suddenly, though, a ghostly form appears where there was nothing a moment ago. The form of Rider, though no longer wearing her white veil, long tube-like strands of pink hair are clearly visible. Holding out her right hand, her black flute materializes in a soft purple glow. As she brings it to her lips, preparing to play, she utters a single word.

"Disappear."

As she once did to Berserker on the skyscraper, a sonic attack flies out across the roof of the hospital, cutting past Caster's defenses and bringing him to his knees as the strange melody relentlessly continues to assault him. Just as the sound of the flute begins to die down, another tone rings out from the elevator, this time, heralding the arrival of Moriko.

Stepping out onto the battlefield, five orbs of condensed mana still hover behind her. Glancing over at Hacon, her smile is almost genuine for a second. Almost. "So...even in spite of all that, you still managed not to bleed to death? At least you have the sense to have your Servant around this time. Unfortunately, it's time to show you why I became know as Sensei's greatest student. Certainly, I couldn't match his ability to wield raw power, but given enough time to gather and control my mana...I can far surpass what he was capable of. Observe."

Raising her hands toward the sky, the five orbs surrounding her being to rotate, rapidly accelerating to form the illusion of a ring about her body. Mana gathers in the center of her palms, as the rotation reaches its peak. Looking directly at Caster, she shouts, "Elemental Assault!"

Slamming her right palm forward from out of the air, one of the spheres of flames goes hurtling directly at Caster. Within a split second, though, her left hand shoves forward, sending a second sphere of metal directly behind the first. In rapid succession, of alternating blows, each of the five orbs arcs directly at Hacon's Servant. Holding up a hand to create one last feeble barrier of wind, it fails to even noticeably slow the first of the orbs as it smashes into him, setting his body aflame. Behind it, the three globes of earth and metal shatter into shrapnel, all aimed directly at Caster as they pierce every inch of his body, the final sphere another orb of flames, worsening the burns along his arms and legs, and melting some of the metal buried in his chest.

Even against such a cruel assault, Caster still holds his ground, opening his eyes at last. Looking about his foes with renewed energy and a brilliant azure gaze, he glances from Archer and Moriko on one side, to the spectral form of Rider on the other. An interesting predicament, indeed...


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Night 18: Hacon

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PwscHXEeGys&feature=related (Tsubasa)

Hacon throws back his head and laughs wildly, facing the insanity of the situation he's caught in without a hint of fear.

"Caster, cut them to shreds!"

Nodding, Caster gathers mana about him, sending an array of scything waves directed at both groups across the roof. Acting quickly, Archer leaps in front of her Master, throwing up a wall of paper as blades of air strike. Though the paper is sliced and dispersed, only a fraction of the strength passes through. Rider, however, looks somewhat panicked as the blades strike at her, her form rippling as they pass through, gaping wounds appearing all over her body, though no blood falls from her immaterial form.

Not waiting for Caster to attack again, Archer leaps from behind the wall of papers, letting them collapse in heap, as she again draws two decks of index cards. Aiming directly at Caster, she prepares unleash the same attack as before, but the maniacal grin on Hacon's face spreads to Caster's.

"Caster, block the attack!"

Again, the barrage of index cards rains down from the sky, but this time, the blast of air doesn't simply knock them off course, it repels them. Archer lands, staring in shock at the miniscule damage dealt by her attack. Drawing still more index cards almost as though from a limitless supply, she hurls wave after wave, every round countered by a fierce gust of wind, barely letting a single card by.

Glancing over at her triumphantly, Caster smirks. "I suggest you find a new strategy."

No sooner does he finish speaking, than the same melody from last night rings out across the rooftop, sending him writhing to the ground. Despite the damage she received, Rider again holds her flute to her lips, sending wave after wave of sound tearing through Caster. As he melody fades, though, she falls forward, her form looking hazy for just a moment, as though her tie to the world was almost lost, but the damage is done.

Caster lies collapsed on the ground, his breathing heavy and irregular. Hacon frowns, blinking in disbelief. "What the hell is this!? I'm the only one who's allowed to quit early, here!"

Tilting his head slightly, Caster grins, despite the damage done to him. "Sorry, boss. Looks like you're gonna have to finish this one yourself."

"Hrmph. Fine. Heh. Haha. Ahahahahaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!" Hacon throws up his arms and leans back, laughing as insanely as he did earlier. "Perfect! This is just...PERFECT!!!"

Tilting his head far enough back to catch Moriko sideways in his vision, he flashes her a much too wide smile. Catching the gleam of insanity in his eyes, she takes a surprised step back. "What the hell's that!? Teacher's best student, ehhhhh??? Since you got to show off last time...I think it's my turn for show and tell."

Hacon takes a strange, lunging step forward, his arms extended before him. A massive transmutation circle forms on the ground across the rooftop, matching smaller circles appearing in a ring in the air around the building. Moriko glances at Archer in panic, while Rider takes several uncertain steps back, clearly not liking the look of this attack. Sneering, Hacon looks over to Moriko again.

"And to think teacher said I couldn't even burn my way out of a cardboard box...hah. Such a shame, that he never got the chance to finally see me learn...hahahaha! Kyahahahaaaaaaaa!!! Take this! Firestorm!!!"

Rider flickers out of existence barely in time avoid the sudden explosion that fills the air above the hospital, a surge of flames that sears through every inch of the air save for an uncomfortably small region exactly around Hacon and Caster, barely enough to avoid getting singed by the nearby flames. Throwing up a wall of paper around herself and Moriko, Archer attempts to cushion the blow, but Hacon continues to laugh maniacally as the paper burns away into nothing, not stopped in the least by their attempt at a shield.

As the air clears of flames, Moriko glances at Archer, both of them still lit aflame by the ferocity of the attack. Moriko glances regretfully at the heavily-wounded Caster, but her priority is absolute. "Archer, get us out of here now!!!!"

A whirlwhind of papers flies up around Archer and her Master, completley obscuring them from view for several precious seconds. When it clears, the roof of the hospital is empty, save for a nearly-dead Caster, and a utterly depleted Hacon. Collapsing on the ground next to his Servant, Hacon continues laughing wildly.

"We did it, dammit! We're still alive! Hah! Take that, logic! Take that, teacher!!!"
Edited by Avvil, Feb 19 2010, 02:47 AM.
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Night 19: Hacon

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tPIxN7byEEw&feature=related

The going is slow, as Hacon and Caster drag themselves throgh the strange forest in the outskirts of town. Caster bleeds heavily, the fact that he can even continue to breathe almost astonishing. The hospital no longer a safe shelter, it lies far behind them as they flee from a possible follow-up attack.

Still, things are not entirely hopeless. Hacon's wounds have greatly recovered from his fight against Archer at the skyscraper, and it seems that they've managed to get away from their opponents, at least for the time being.

An unearthly presence seems to fill the woods, bringing with it a quiet sensation of peace and tranquility, almost as though Caster and Hacon were completely cut off from the rest of the world...
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Night 20: Hacon

http://www.youtuberepeat.com/watch/?v=lGs0mrmDEDo (Stupefaction)

As Caster and Hacon make their way south through the forest, the skies overhead darken, a storm approaching. Still, they press on through the unearthly woods, unable to afford wasting time with delays, fearful of pursuit. No trails exist in this part of the forest, and the feeling of being completely separated from the rest of the world grows stronger.

Astonishingly, just as the first few drops of water begin to trickle down from the sky, the dense vegetation clears, revealing a series of steps leading up to a shrine at the top of a hill. The architecture seems ancient, but the entire area is eerily well-kept, as though carefully attended by someone, though it feels as if not another soul exists for miles around.

Stepping carefully into the clearing, Hacon and Caster exchange odd looks.

Peering at the first set of steps, Hacon folds his arms in front of his chest, looking profoundly uncertain. "Erm...I...ah...that's..."

"There's no way in hell that's natural." Caster fills in for Hacon's muttering decisively.

"That's...more or less what I had in mind." Hacon frowns at the structure on the top of the hill. "But the question remains...do we go in...or not...?

As if in answer to his question, a flash of lightning illuminates the shrine before them, followed very shortly by the loud rumble of thunder. The rainfall intensifies, threatening to soak both Hacon and his Servant standing outside.

Caster looks upset about something, but speaks rationally. "It would appear we don't have too much of an option."

Seeming less sure, Hacon looks at his Servant oddly. "It's just a storm. It isn't like-"

"No. It isn't just a storm. We've been beckoned here."

"Beckoned?" Hacon's brow creases, growing increasingly less fond of the situation.

"Yes. It's been happening since we started entering the forest, some time last night. I'll be the first to admit that it started rather subtly, but I'm somewhat shocked you hadn't noticed by now. Something this powerful isn't exactly easy to ignore. For whatever reason, it chose to bring us here."

"Erm...You don't think this is some kind of...trap...?"

"It seems to be benign, or at least not created with the intent of entrapping or causing harm. Either way, what we're dealing with here is well outside my range of ability to resist. This isn't some mere magecraft. I seriously doubt I would have been able to prevent our arrival here, even if I had attempted to. And we both know that I don't have the energy to waste."

"Fantastic. How reassuring."

"Don't complain. At least a good deal of the blame for being in this spot now rests on you. If you insist on going on, I can always remind you of some of your ingenious decision from earlier in the War. Personally, I would prefer to not stand out here any longer than we need to, under the assumption that we'll end up going in one way or another. Agreed?"

Hacon scowls, but grudgingly responds, "Agreed."

Sprinting up the steps, Caster and Hacon make a run through the rain for the shrine at the summit of the hill. Reaching the doors, Hacon pulls one aside, finding the mysterious building completely unlocked, as expected. No reason to turn away the intended guests...

Stepping inside, they find the main room completely devoid of furniture, probably intended for meditation of some sort on the bamboo floor. A number of rooms off to the side have humble accomodations, including mats on the floor for sleeping, and washing basins. Although the building appeared terraced from the outside, no steps exist as a means of reaching the higher floors, save for the possibility of being behind a lone door at the back of the main chamber, which remains locked, despite their best efforts to pry it apart.

"Empty. It's completely empty." Hacon's voice is hollow, as they finish their brief search of the building's interior."

"It would seem so...there weren't any other buildings nearby, either."

"What's your point?"

Caster looks at Hacon oddly. "When you first stepped into the clearing, didn't it have an air about it of being taken care of? This place would be overgrown and in shambles if someone wasn't watching over it. And yet...none of the rooms to the side show signs of use. This is the only building on the hill. If anyone is living here, it would need to be right in this building. And the only room we can't enter is through the door in back."

"So...you're saying that our host is hiding behind the locked door?"

"Not at all. What I'm saying is-"

The sound of thunder coming from very close by cuts off Caster, before he can finish elaborating his logic. As he opens his mouth to speak again, two sharp knocks come from the wooden door at the front of the shrine.

Hacon looks about himself in a mild panic, but Caster only grins. "It seems as though they've finally come to check on us."

"How can you be relaxed at a time like this?!"

"There isn't anything you can do about it, right? May as well deal with it as best we can. I admit...I'm rather interested in what kind of person our host is..."

As they discuss the situation, two more knocks come from the door outside.

Hacon blinks. "Wait. If they're the host...why are they knocking...?"

"No sense worrying about that now." Grabbing for the handle, Caster pulls open the door before Hacon can stop him.

Now, Caster stands in front of the open door, blinking oddly. Hacon's concern evident, a minor tremor emerges in his voice. "W-Well...?"

"Nothing."

"What do you mean, 'Nothing'?"

"There isn't a soul out here."

Pushing Caster out of the way, Hacon steps forward to look. Walking out beneath the overhang of the roof followed by Caster, they survey the surrounding landscape, but not a single figure can be seen moving in the clearing. Eventually satisfied that the noise never actually existed in the first place, Hacon turns around to head back into the shrine.

"Greetings, gentlemen. A pretty strange evening to find visitors way out here, isn't it?"

Spinning around in alarm, Hacon and Caster find themselves facing an old man clad in a traditional Shinto priest's robes. He stands not ten feet away from them. They walked around the entire building...there's nowhere he could possibly have been hiding.

Hacon appears ready to give the old man a piece of his mind, but Caster grips his shoulder firmly in warning, taking the opportunity to respond instead. "It is indeed a strange evening outside. You'll have to forgive the disposition of my acquaintence, here. I'm afraid he found it rather surprising when you came up on us like that."

The man gives a wheezing cackle, his voice rough, but somehow warm, almost as though warding off the chill of the weather. "Oh, yeh needn't be afraid of me, of all things...there's plenty of scary things in this world, but I don't consider myself one of them. Still...can't blame you for being surprised on a night like this...you know the stories the locals tell about this shrine, don't you...?"

"Stories...?" Hacon's voice catches in his throat for a second, but he can't help but lean forward, intrigued. Caster's expression remains blank, but he also leans in, interested in hearing the old man out.

"Oh, indeed..." The old man gives another strange, half-cackling laugh. "The locals tell all kinds of stories about this shrine. For example, one legend states that the shrine was not built, but was created one day, by a powerful spirit..."

"Spirits?" Hacon blinks, his mind suddenly alert. "Teacher often communicated with the spirits, or so he claimed."

The old man looks at him sharply. "Did he, now? Not exactly what you'd call a normal hobby, is it?"

"He wasn't exactly a normal person. Or anything even close to that. Anyway, I'm sorry for interrupting. If it's alright with you, I wouldn't mind hearing more..."

The old man smiles eerily, missing several teeth.

"They say...that this shrine was created as a means of sealing an ancient evil that once dwelled within this region. Every week, it would demand a sacrifice from the people. They would choose amongst themselves, forced to cruelly pick one of their number to give up. It is said that a great spirit took pity on them, and bestowed a powerful artifact that banished the demon's presence, and prevented it from manifesting itself and claiming its right to a sacrifice. Of course, with the source of the danger gone, it became nothing more than a tale to scare children in only a few generations, though the shrine remained, tended by no one, but never falling into disrepair."

This time, Caster looks thoughtful. "An artifact bestowedy by a spirit...and kept here...? What exactly is this thing...and what does it do...?"

"As to what it did...who can really say? Can a mortal really hope to comprehend the powers of a wandering spirit? It certainly possessed the ability to seal the power of a creature that drained the lifeforce from mortals, as the legend goes...what it is, though, that is easier to answer. It was a peculiar statue, and can still be seen in the back room of the shrine's first floor, forever keeping its vigil over the city..."

Hacon frowns slightly. "We looked all over the interior, though, and there wasn't any statue. Unless...don't tell me...it's in the back room? We tried to get the door open, but it was locked."

"Are you sure it was locked? Perhaps you should go check..."

Hacon and Caster turn to go, but as they cross through the doorway, a sudden thought strikes Caster, and he puts his hand on Hacon's shoulder, turning around to ask the old man one more question. Irritated at being delayed by his Servant, Hacon turns to demand to know what the problem is, when he freezes alongside his Servant.

There is no one standing outside. Only rain falls where the old man was just a second ago. He is nowhere to be seen in the surrounding area, vanishing as though he had never been there in the first place. A chill running up his spine, Hacon eventually returns to the door at the back of the main chamber, accompanied by Caster. Finding it unlocked as the old man predicted, he pulls it open, revealing a strange room, completely empty of everything but a tall stone statue at the center. Adorned in a priest's robes, with its hands resting atop a staff, it seems to be a statue of an old man, keeping a stern vigil. A very, very, familiar old man.

Hacon stares for a moment, while Caster puts a hand to the wall, steadying himself as he steps into the room. Looking over at Hacon, he speaks first. "Whatever this thing is, it's definitely got a lot power concentrated in it."

"I'm not surprised. You see...I recognize it."

Caster shakes his head, trying to make sense of what Hacon just said. "You what?"

"Well, it isn't identical...it's clearly of a different figure...but these runes engraved on the staff...are identical. You're more attuned to it than I am, it seems, but it has a distinctive aura of mana about it, the same as the one I saw. My teacher had a statue like this, in his shrine in the mountains. He would meditate there, whenever he said he went to commune with the spirits...I didn't see it until almost the end of my time studying under him. He only takes his most senior students with him on that trip..."

Closing the door behind them, Caster and Hacon step back into the main room, lost in quiet contemplation for some time...
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Night 21: Hacon

http://www.youtuberepeat.com/watch?v=Xkun-83JvF8 (Voiceless)

Most of the day passes in silence, as the rain outside continues. Caster and Hacon each take one of the rooms off the side of the main chamber, contemplating the meaning of last night's events as they rest. The old man, the statue, the connection between it and Hacon's teacher...

Eventually, Caster leaves his room, going over to check on Hacon, but finding him missing. Stepping outside, he finds his Master leaned back against the building, watching the rain fall rhythmically from the cloudy skies before them as light slowly begins to fade from the sky.

"Hey. Surprised to see you out of your room. Looked you were just going to spend the entire day there, for awhile."

Hacon grunts an indiscernible reply. Turning his head to look at Caster, he replies more audibly, "Something like that."

"You've kept almost completely to yourself since we saw the statue. Is there something you wanted to say?"

Returning his attention to the rain, Hacon waits some time before making a response. "Not...just yet. I need some more time to think about this. Actually, what I need most is a chance to speak with Zhijian. I found it surprising that he would have put his life on the line for something like this, as old as he is. He had a tendency to lose his temper over small things, but it was mostly just his way of coping with things like...incompetent students. The way he acted at the skyscraper...was completely different. I'd never seen him like that before."

"So...you think this statue is connected to the one you saw before? As well as his reason for deciding to accept the opportunity to fight?"

"No, I'm all but certain of that. The questions are how and why." Hacon sighs. "I feel like a moron for not thinking about it earlier."

"I don't think anyone would hold it against you, for not making that your first priority at the time. On the other hand...I think that's something you should work on putting some thought into, in the future. From my perspective...it's like doing everything backwards. I went looking for power, so I could protect people when it really mattered. Because I hadn't been strong enough. For you, though, as far as I can tell, you've always been out looking for power. At some point, you seem to have found it, but never had a reason to actually use it."

A faintly amused look shows in Hacon's eyes, as he finally looks back at Caster again. "Heh. Do you think so? It's true, that I've been searching for a power for much of my life. But that power isn't something like what you can do. It's actually something very different..."

"Not like what I can do? You don't learn to pull off things like that bit of pyrotechnics on the roof without serious talent and effort."

"Oh. That." Hacon looks down, sheepish suddenly. "Well, erm...actually, there's a funny story behind that...I'd, erm, rather we didn't delve too deeply into the sudden improvement in my expertise at combat magecraft following my studies with Zhijian."

Touching a hand to his temple, Kazuma shakes his head slightly, concerned as ever about the qualifications of his Master. A silence falls between them as the rain continues, though this one is quiet and restful, unlike earlier in the day.

Twilight fades, and night begins, as they rest peacefully in the shelter of the shrine for a second night.
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Night 23: Hacon

http://www.youtuberepeat.com/watch?v=Ap8uODRkXEs (F Style)

Caster steadies himself with a hand against a tombstone, listening intently in the direction of the commercial district. Strange voices come to him, carried on the wind...

"Water that flows through rivers. Water that waits patiently in lakes. Water that is the might of the oceans. I bid thee to come forth, Undine. Arise, and answer the calling."

"Water that is the soothing blessing of the rains. Water that is burning pressure of steam. Water that is the cutting frost of winter. I bid thee to come forth, Undine. Arise, and know your form."


The sound of flowing water can be heard, before the speaker finishes her chant.

"Water that nourishes all life. Water that floods cities. Water that drowns the unwary. I bid thee to come forth, Undine. Arise, and answer the summons."

The sound of more flowing water follows, accompanied by a single line of clear, melodic speech.

"I am the embodiment of the spirit of the water, which you call Undine. I acknowledge your summoning, and will serve as you wish."

A sigh of relief can be heard, followed by a slightly more detailed conversation that is too difficult to catch, as the voices fade into the distance. Turning back to Hacon, Caster gives a brief nod. "It looks like it's clear. Seems like they've been sitting there awhile, and had time to prepare for some kind of summoning ritual. They left the general vicinity just now, at least. Should we get going?"

"Hrm...yes, I believe we will. We've spent enough time retreating, but I'd prefer not to stay too far away from everything that's going on."

As they step into a central plaza of the city's shopping district, Kazuma tilts his head oddly. Catching the motion, Hacon shoots him a questioning look.

"There's a Bounded Field east of here, at the hospital. It seems...to enhance the effects of gravity. I'm not positive, but I don't think it would be a good idea to attempt flying in it."

"Odd. We'll stop here for now, then..."
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Night 24: Hacon

http://www.youtuberepeat.com/watch?v=Hm6BKgnuW_s (Closed My Heart)

"Distant voices. They were already fading when I started listening. I'd say they're outside the immediate vicinity of the hospital by now."

Hacon nods thoughtfully. "I see. Alright. If we're going to keep going, I want to be ready. I have a feeling that things...are going to start coming to a head, soon. Caster, open the Contract."

Kazuma lowers his head, concentrating for several minutes as he taps into the full extent of his power. As he raises his head after several minutes, his eyes shine with the deep azure glow that is the symbol of the Contract. "Alright, I'm ready. Where are we headed?"

"They're already gone from the hospital. We'll head to the park, for now."

Arriving at the park, Hacon and Caster make a quick search of the area, but turn up nothing. Scratching at his arm, Hacon looks about himself thoughtfully.

"Nothing. Not a damn thing..."

"It's just as well. I wouldn't have been ready to attack, so soon after opening the Contract."

"Very well...there's nothing left to do but continue searching..."
Edited by Avvil, Mar 3 2010, 01:56 AM.
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Night 25: Hacon

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tPIxN7byEEw (Rose)

"It feels a bit strange."

Hacon shifts his weight somewhat, leaning back against the elevator after pressing the button for the roof. Caster gives a quizzical glance, raising an eyebrow.

"Oh?"

"Yeah...finally returning here...going back up on the elevator...it's been a bit over three weeks since we first decided to use this as our base. It's just...strange, realizing so much time has passed. Even then, it feels like it hasn't been much at all. Three weeks? I could swear we've been fighting for the better part of a year. A lot's happened..."

Caster looks at Hacon appraisingly. "You barely even sound like the same person as you did then. Only a short time after arriving here...you bested your mentor in combat. Then, we met Karin and Saber...fought Lancer and Assassin...fled from Archer, after your idiocy..."

Hacon looks at the ground, uncomfortable at the mention of the last, but Caster goes on as though he didn't even notice.

"The fight with Rider and Archer at the hospital...you really couldn't catch a break, could you? And then...we were pulled into that peculiar shrine, deep in the woods...for some reason. That you think has something to do with Zhijian. Really...I'd say you've been through a hell of a lot. Especially to be holding up like you are. You turned out not to be all talk, after all."

Hacon looks up, meeting Caster's azure gaze for several seconds, in search of a mocking look, or a subtle hint of irony, but finding none.

"You think so, eh?"

"Yeah, I really do."

As Caster finishes speaking, the elevator lets out a tone, announcing its arrival on the roof. As the doors slide back, they reveal a scene of rampant destruction. Certainly, the rooftop of this skyscraper has seen better days, with its three craters, three trails of destruction carved into it, assorted bloodstains in odd patterns, and even a few stray blood-spattered papers still fluttering about.

---End Music---

The sight is staggering, but largely unobserved by Caster and Hacon, whose attention is on the man in the suit standing near the edge of the building, gazing out across the city.

"Vincent. Imagine meeting you here."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aonwECESgkE (The Candles Dance)

Hacon's voice is flat, any trace of the emotion he expressed in the elevator completely gone. Though it couldn't be described as definitely hateful, it has an edged, hostile tone.

"Ah, Hacon. It certainly has been some time since we parted ways! Always a pleasure, I-"

"Shut up, Vincent. I notice you're alone right now, without Rider. Off attempting to kill other people you've lead into believing you were assisting?" Taking on his bitter feelings at the earlier betrayal, Hacon's voice becomes sharper, as he cuts off Vincent.

"I'm afraid I haven't the slightest idea what you're-"

"Listen...I'm not really interested in hearing what you have to say right now, if you take my meaning. I don't want to hear your lies or your excuses. I would deal with your Servant, but seeing as how you don't seem to be able to present her for me...you'll have to suffice instead.

Vincent pales visibly, even at the distance they stand apart from each other. "Please, you're making a terrible mistake here! Listen to me, Hacon, you don't want-"

"I'm more than capable of deciding what I do and don't want. It's one of the few things I've definitely managed without any difficulty over the years. I believe you've said more than enough. This is the end for you, Vincent. The end of this War; the end of your life. I'd have rather settled this another way, but I don't allow people to cross paths with me like that, and live. I'm here to achieve my own ends, and you have chosen to very definitely interefere with them. Caster...kill him."

Vincent takes a step back, mana gathering about him as he begins the preparations for some kind of technique. Whatever he was planning, though, is never to be known. At Hacon's command, Caster kicks off the ground, practically soaring through the intervening air as he closes the distance between himself and Vincent with astonishing speed. Mana gathered in the the palm of his hand, he delivers a single slashing blow precisely as he enters range, creating a vacuum of air to cut deeply into Vincent's torso.

Springing back to Hacon's side, Caster stands calmly as the once-proud man before him crumples limply into the ground. Though only a thin trickle of blood emerges from the slash, the wound is incredibly deep, nearly enough to tear his body cleanly in two. No human could possibly live through damage that severe. And yet, he clings to a hint of life, clawing his way to his feet...

http://www.youtuberepeat.com/watch?v=w_o6Tpk8M1E (Requiem)

"What...the hell...is this...?"

Vincent stumbles forward, one arm pressed somewhat against the wound, perhaps in an effort to try and suppress some of the damage, perhaps from the pain. Despite the depth of the cut, barely any blood flows out. The true damage is all deep within his body, already beyond repair with the time he has left.

"This is your end, Vincent. Exactly as I stated it would be. Isn't life strange, that one can be cut down so easily?"

"Hah...hahaha...die? I'm going to...die?"

Vincent's lips twist upward, in a disturbing imitation of a smile, as an airy noise that could barely be interpreted as laughter escapes his lips.

"You truly are a fool, Hacon! Ahahahahahaaaaaaa! Imagine...this act of the play coming to a close in this way...how little you all know. And that it should be at your hand! You idiot! You, who knows next to nothing! The only one more in the dark is possibly that fool of a girl who believes I'll actually help her...ahahaha. It will be fascinating...to see you all come undone. It is...unfortunate that I no longer seem to be capable of watching in person...but rest assured...you will all die, now. It will be magnificent. The trap is set. The spring is wound. And you have supplied the final component, that initial action to set this infernal machine into motion..."

Vincent's words are almost incoherent as he continues to drag himself forward toward Hacon and Caster. Glancing at his Master uncertainly, Caster makes a gesture as though to deliver a second blow, preventing anything suspicious Vincent may try at the last second, or even to simply put him out of his misery, but Hacon moves his hand slightly, denying the possibility as he watches Vincent.

The strange scene unfolding atop the skyscraper between Vincent and Hacon is interrupted slightly, as a young man wearing a black trenchcoat steps forward calmly, accompanied by a Servant in a blue uniform. Kai and Lancer. They must have arrived quietly in the time Vincent was struggling forward. Looking up, he finally notices their presence, and breaks into more of his hissing laughter.

"Heh...heheheh...ahahahaaaaa! Such splendid timing, Kai! And still ignorant of the role you must play, too. I believe that misconception should fade very swiftly, following...the end of my life."

Kai sighs, shaking his head. "Vincent, I've no idea what you're talking about, as you say, and I couldn't care less. My only regret is that it appears I was unable to strike you down myself, in repayment for what you've done to me, the suffering both I and Karin have gone through because of your actions. I should have guessed that your death would be a commonly desired thing. Really, it's remarkable that a creature as putrid as yourself managed to survive for so long."

Looking almost amused with himself, Kai smiles slightly. "Actually, perhaps it's better this way. I'm sure my sister would prefer that I didn't stain my hands with any more blood. Even yours."

With a surprising burst of energy, Vincent takes several more steps forward, walking directly toward Kai, before he collapses on the ground at his feet, coughing. Tilting his neck, he barely manages to meet Kai's face, a truly frightening look in his eyes, even as a dying man.

"It appears that I've run out of the time I had remaining, Kai. Your performance is about to begin. The stage is set. Of course, I expect you to do magnificently. You may not know the script, but you needn't worry. He does. In fact, I imagine that he'll be handling almost everything from this point out. My life is over, Kai Estenson, but so too is yours. Know hopelessness! Know despair! Watch helplessly, as everything is wrenched from you again! The fact that you broke the seal on your memories almost makes it more-"

Vincent's demented ramblings are cut off, as Kai's boot collides solidly with the side of his head. He twitches for a moment, then remains still.

---End Music---

"Damn bastard. Even at the very end, you're nothing but a-aaaaaauuuugh!!!!!"

Doubling over, Kai clutches at his head as he screams in pain. Hacon runs forward accompanied by Caster, though both with a wary sense of Lancer's presence.

"Hey, are you alright?!"

Caster calls out to Kai, but he doesn't even take notice of it, falling to his knees.

"What...the fuck...is this? Why?! There shouldn't have been anything else there! Who the fuck are you?! I don't care, it doesn't make any sense! I won't allow you to do as you wiiiiiiiiish!!!!"

Collapsing, Kai begins to writhe on the ground, still clutching at his head in unbearable pain. Uncertain of what to do, Hacon and Caster both wait at a reasonable distance, and slowly the motions come to an end, everything still. Putting one hand on the ground for support, Kai finally stands back up, shaking for a second, then calm. He slowly turns, facing those remaining on the skyscraper. His eyes glowing with an eerie golden luminescence of their own.

"Good evening. Since we haven't had the opportunity to meet before, I believe an introduction should be in order, no? The intricacies are rather elaborate...but I am the other half of Kai. You can call me whatever you wish. Kai, if it suits your interests. Because from this point on, there really be any point differentiating between me and this body..."

"What the hell is this?! Some final trick, Vincent?"

Hacon looks to Caster for some confirmation of his accusation, but Caster only shakes his head, equally unsure of what to make at this turn of events. Kai simply laughs.

"Vincent? Such an irritating insect. Thinking he could harness power of this magnitude...I truly am grateful to you for removing that nuisance. Unfortunately for you, I have no intentions of acting upon that debt. Rather, your deaths here would greatly benefit me. Lancer?"

Lancer inclines his head very slightly, his gaze steeled, clearly not liking the situation, but as uncertain as Hacon and Caster about how he should attempt to fix it. His lips barely move as he bites off a single word of response. "Yes?"

"Hmmm...we'll need to work on that tone. Time enough for that, later. Go. Kill Caster."

http://www.youtuberepeat.com/watch?v=KZ9D05ll2Rw (Fake Red Shoes)

Lancer glares at his Master, but the shaft of his spear forms in his hands. Rushing forward, he attempts to deliver two swift strikes to Caster, but Caster's reflexes are fast enough to meet even an attack by the Servant renowned for his speed. With but a thought, a wall of air intervenes between the two of them, both initial thrusts barely even breaking the skin of the other Servant.

"Caster, take to the skies!"

Catching Hacon's order, Caster rapidly rises into the air, knocking back Lancer with the resulting rush of air as he soars far above his opponent.

"Is that the best you can do? Don't stop now, Lancer! Follow up with Sovereign Gale!"

Growling at Kai's order, Lancer spins his weapon above his head, gathering in a vortex of winds. Slamming the point into the roof, he unleashes the bound air, slashing through Caster even from a distance. Though the blades of wind deal much more severe damage than the two minor pokes from the lance, Caster still appears to be holding firm. Kai, however is not finished.

Stepping forward, he wreathes himself in a golden aura, matching his eyes exactly. A similar pulsating halo forms about Caster, and a channel opens between them. Held in place and unable to act, there is little he could hope to do to prevent the attack from executing as Kai pulls away his life energy effortlessly. Rather than absorb the resulting energy directly into his body, though, he pools it about himself. Finally reaching the limit to the amount he can drain, he shifts the second aura from Caster to Lancer, this time directing the channel in the opposite direction, as he sends the absorbed lifeforce directly into his own Servant. A number of Lancer's lingering wounds seal themselves, the energy recharging his body. Kai, however, raises a hand to his head, frowning intently.

"Dammit! This body's capacity...is rather lacking. To think that I could not completely drain a being of this caliber...ah well. It is to be expected, with such a poorly chosen vessel. I wasn't in much of a position to argue, after all..."

Kai leers at the wounded Caster, but Hacon appeals to the man who stands before him.

"Listen to me, Kai! I don't care for much of what you've done, or how you treated your sister, but I'd take you in an instant over this moron! He said he's only half of you, so you must still exist!"

The man before him doesn't even show any signs of trouble, though.

"Is that all...?"
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Night 26: Hacon

http://www.listenonrepeat.com/watch/?v=MChYuSUDnhI (At the Time of Farewell)

Kai's golden eyes shine brightly in the darkness, as he glances mockingly at Hacon. "Did you seriously think such a thing as that was going to work? Were you expecting mercy from one such as myself? There will be no alliance between us. There will be no mercy. Only death awaits you."

Hacon takes a nervous step back, while Caster readies himself to fight. Kai snaps his fingers, directing an order at his Servant.

"Lancer. Overlimit."

A wave of built-up energy blasts out of Lancer's body, knocking both Hacon and Caster to the ground. A dark aura forms about him, made up of a pure density of energy. Kai's lips turn up in a grim smile, as his opponents crawl to their feet.

"Lancer. Begin preparations."

A supernatural incandescence flares up around Lancer, as a magic circle forms beneath his feet. The light from below illuminates his face, his expression dark as he gathers in mana. Whether or not this is what he actually desires, this is still the Grail War, and Kai is still his Master, regardless of what changes have occurred within him. The light from below and the dark shadow of power that surround him create a contrast that suits his present expression perfectly.

Sensing a raw power capable of matching Caster's, Hacon opts not to waste any more time, quickly yelling orders to his Servant.

"Caster! Strike him down! We can't afford to see what they're planning!"

Caster nods, raising his right arm as he gathers in power, strengthened immensely by the Contract. Unleashing several blades of wind, he attempts to tear through Lancer as he did on the same rooftop two weeks ago. Lancer, however, smirks as the attack flies at his unguarded body. The dark aura about him flares, as each blade attempts to slice through him, absorbing the damage and cushioning the blow. Only a few shallow cuts appear across his body at all.

"Such tricks are pointless against me in this state, I'm afraid. I will not be beaten like that."

As the preparation for Lancer's spell continues, clouds gather high above the building, blotting out the moon. Lightning begins to flash between them, as the power about Lancer continues building in strength, a devastating force capable of obliterating anything in its path. Hacon, however, refuses to let it end here.

"Don't stop now, Caster! Just keep attacking! You can cut through those defenses!"

Holding both arms to his side, Caster responds by pulling in more power. One after another, he directs arcs of wind to strike at Lancer. Every angle, every possibility...all at once, an array of attacks that defies one's ability to predict or dodge all converge on their target in unison. A few thin trickles of blood fly through the air as the attacks collide with Lancer, but as the distortions in the air cease, he stands firmly, a confident smirk across his face.

"If that's the best you can manage, I'm afraid it's all over for you..."

"Dammit!" Hacon's eyes burn with a rare insanity, as he recognizes how little damage Lancer has taken from the force of the assault. "Ha! Ahahahaaaa!!! Not enough for you? Then deal. With. This."

Holding his arms out to his sides, palms facing out, Hacon begins preparations for an attack of incredible magnitude, as a massive transmutation circle forms beneath him, and expands to encompass the entire roof of the skyscraper. Raising his arms over his head, Hacon's focus is directed upward, as a ring of matching transmutation circles forms in the air above, each tilted at a forty-five degree angle toward the circle on the ground, forming a dome of sorts.

Lancer blinks, taken aback by the elaborate form of the attack, as even Kai looks on in amazement.

"T-This attack! This Alchemy! Where did you learn of this attack?! Who taught it to you?!"

In response to Kai's query, Hacon merely laughs wildly, as each transmutation circle flares into life. Clenching his hands above his head, he shouts only a single word.

"Firestorm!!!"

A blaze of destruction sears itself into existence, rushing throughout the space encompassed by the transmutation circles; a dome of fire with no blind spots. At the heart of the attack, Hacon and Caster stay huddled, barely avoiding the scorching flames that twist and writhe throughout the roof, tearing apart all in their path. As the fires clear, though, both Lancer and Kai remain standing, albeit badly burned, though their zombie remains nothing but a charred pile of bones. Lancer looks somewhat surprised by the degree of the attack, though he himself seems largely uninjured. Kai, on the other hand, smiles maniacally, despite his still-burning trenchcoat.

"Heh...heheh...Ahahahahaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!! It's the same spell! There's no question about it! But to think that someone as pathetic as you would be capable of the control necessary...at your level of power, a technique like that isn't even worth using! Once I've adequately awakened, I'll be certain to show you how a true master wields the flames of Alchemy...though in all likelihood, you'll be quite dead by then, unless you have something truly remarkable you're holding back. Either way, this is the end of your participation in this War! Lancer, now!!!"

Holding one hand forward, palm facing out, Lancer turns his head up, finally having gathered sufficient mana to begin his attack. His red eyes shining, his voice is magnified to incredible proportions as it rings throughout the city, heralding his ultimate attack.

"I, who stand in the full light of the heavens, command thee, who opens the gates of hell: Come forth, divine lighting! This ends now! Indignation!!!"

Gathering into a single point in the clouds above, the lightning entwines itself into a single bolt. In the instant as it bridges the gap between the heavens and the earth, touching upon the form of Caster, the entire world is nothing but a glowing indigo brilliance; all silhouettes and shadows framed in the magnificence and deadly beauty of that piercing bolt.

The blast of thunder that follows is truly deafening, a torture to the ears, jarring enough to wake the dead. Knocked away from the mere sound of the blast, Hacon can only stare as nothing but a charred mark remains on the skyscraper, where Caster was standing only seconds before. Unable to even process his Servant's demise, blinks for several seconds, before his face finally contorts with rage as he realizes the truth of what happened.

"This...I...I'll..."

Kai smiles condescendingly at the helpless and ragged form of the middle-aged man before him, while Hacon gathers his strength, still not even sure himself how he will respond, his mind in a haze at the loss of his Servant, and his hope in the War...
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