Alessandro thought about running away. He sincerely thought about turning around and leaving the arena. When he learned from Vergil that the only way to lower the magic barrier was to kill the opposing Master, his body went through cold shivers of terror and he felt his head heavy; for a moment he thought he was in a nightmare.
Vergil drew sadistic pleasure from Alessandro's reaction. It was what he wanted. It was what he craved and now he wanted to watch the boy at work. What was he going to do? What would he decide?
Alessandro raised his head and looked at those two evil eyes of Vergil. At that precise moment he remembered the psychopathic look that was worn by Yukiko Kumahira in the previous war; they were identical. The boy imagined approaching that creature to take off the mask and discover that in reality it was Yukiko his enemy.
"You never change, do you?" Alessandro asked Vergil. "What are you really? You Imitations... what are you really? Have you ever been human to begin with? This is all absurd! What kind of monster would plan such a war?!"
"Don't you think you're being unfair to me? If you think about it... we're not that different, you and I. We're more similar than you think. You and I, Alessandro, share the same contempt for the world."
"You're crazy!" he yelled. "Don't you dare compare me to you!"
"You think you're better than me, don't you? But how would you define these last months? I know what you have done. You lived as a hermit. Why on earth do such a thing? Why isolate yourself from the world like this? For the love of humanity? I don't think so. You, like me, have understood that all humanity is corrupt and for this reason you've decided to remain alone."
"You're wrong. You don't know me at all. I traveled, yes... I lived these months as a hermit, yes... But I have never turned my back on humanity. Never."
"It's not smart to lie to someone who can read your thoughts. Do you think I don't know the reason that led you to reject Ina's love?"
Alessandro was stunned for a moment by that unexpected blow. "I did it for her—"
"This is what you tell yourself, sure, but is it the truth? Did you 'do it for her'? No, you did it to preserve yourself... to keep yourself pure. You know perfectly well that she, like any human creature, is imperfect... impure... Humans make people suffer and you don't want to suffer, don't you? You want to be happy, Alessandro."
"Shut up... Get out of my head..." he muttered ready to explode with anger.
"Anger will not save you from the truth, Alessandro. Anger is only the opium of the moment. But when it stops blurring your vision, then you will have to face the fact that you're no better than me... you are just less brave."
"Shut up..."
"You want me to go? I'll do it. I'll leave you to your battle, Alessandro, but know that I will observe you. I want to see the True Alessandro in action. Do not let me down."
Vergil disappeared.
Alessandro's anger turned to sadness. He knew in his heart that Vergil was wrong, yet part of him doubted and was already accepting that monster's point of view. It was impossible to ignore such penetrating words; Vergil's voice was able to mingle with Alessandro's thoughts and contaminated them like oil poisoning the ocean.
Caesar immediately noticed that her Master was not lucid and immediately grabbed his shoulder; she pulled him out of the poisonous sea that was in his head and then, looking him straight in the eye, she said:
"You must be strong, Comrade. Go ahead with your head held high, don't let doubts cloud your mind."
Alessandro calmed down. He needed those words. The courage and determination of Caesar pervaded the boy's soul.
"You're right..." he murmured, heaving a sigh. "Now is not the time."
"This is the time to act, Comrade."
Alessandro turned to look at Ina, that girl was trembling like a leaf and her eyes were already getting wet. The boy sighed, clenched his fists and turned to his opponents. He wasn't going to kill them, but he didn't know what to do; he didn't even have a shred of a plan. Only one thing was certain: Ina didn't have to fight.
"One thing at a time..." he muttered to himself.
He looked at Anna and then at Alisa, he studied them carefully. Anna had fifty-two Magic Circuits, Alisa had seventy-seven, but he understood that she was a homunculus. Alessandro could've used a Magecraft to prevent Anna from channeling mana—Adstringor Sacris—but that would've meant fighting Alisa, who was immune to such a Magecraft. From the way Anna stood in front of Alisa, one could understand that their relationship was similar to the one Alessandro had with Ina. Anna, probably, would've sacrificed herself to protect Alisa, albeit under the effect of a powerful magic like Adstringor Sacris.
Vergil drew sadistic pleasure from Alessandro's reaction. It was what he wanted. It was what he craved and now he wanted to watch the boy at work. What was he going to do? What would he decide?
Alessandro raised his head and looked at those two evil eyes of Vergil. At that precise moment he remembered the psychopathic look that was worn by Yukiko Kumahira in the previous war; they were identical. The boy imagined approaching that creature to take off the mask and discover that in reality it was Yukiko his enemy.
"You never change, do you?" Alessandro asked Vergil. "What are you really? You Imitations... what are you really? Have you ever been human to begin with? This is all absurd! What kind of monster would plan such a war?!"
"Don't you think you're being unfair to me? If you think about it... we're not that different, you and I. We're more similar than you think. You and I, Alessandro, share the same contempt for the world."
"You're crazy!" he yelled. "Don't you dare compare me to you!"
"You think you're better than me, don't you? But how would you define these last months? I know what you have done. You lived as a hermit. Why on earth do such a thing? Why isolate yourself from the world like this? For the love of humanity? I don't think so. You, like me, have understood that all humanity is corrupt and for this reason you've decided to remain alone."
"You're wrong. You don't know me at all. I traveled, yes... I lived these months as a hermit, yes... But I have never turned my back on humanity. Never."
"It's not smart to lie to someone who can read your thoughts. Do you think I don't know the reason that led you to reject Ina's love?"
Alessandro was stunned for a moment by that unexpected blow. "I did it for her—"
"This is what you tell yourself, sure, but is it the truth? Did you 'do it for her'? No, you did it to preserve yourself... to keep yourself pure. You know perfectly well that she, like any human creature, is imperfect... impure... Humans make people suffer and you don't want to suffer, don't you? You want to be happy, Alessandro."
"Shut up... Get out of my head..." he muttered ready to explode with anger.
"Anger will not save you from the truth, Alessandro. Anger is only the opium of the moment. But when it stops blurring your vision, then you will have to face the fact that you're no better than me... you are just less brave."
"Shut up..."
"You want me to go? I'll do it. I'll leave you to your battle, Alessandro, but know that I will observe you. I want to see the True Alessandro in action. Do not let me down."
Vergil disappeared.
Alessandro's anger turned to sadness. He knew in his heart that Vergil was wrong, yet part of him doubted and was already accepting that monster's point of view. It was impossible to ignore such penetrating words; Vergil's voice was able to mingle with Alessandro's thoughts and contaminated them like oil poisoning the ocean.
Caesar immediately noticed that her Master was not lucid and immediately grabbed his shoulder; she pulled him out of the poisonous sea that was in his head and then, looking him straight in the eye, she said:
"You must be strong, Comrade. Go ahead with your head held high, don't let doubts cloud your mind."
Alessandro calmed down. He needed those words. The courage and determination of Caesar pervaded the boy's soul.
"You're right..." he murmured, heaving a sigh. "Now is not the time."
"This is the time to act, Comrade."
Alessandro turned to look at Ina, that girl was trembling like a leaf and her eyes were already getting wet. The boy sighed, clenched his fists and turned to his opponents. He wasn't going to kill them, but he didn't know what to do; he didn't even have a shred of a plan. Only one thing was certain: Ina didn't have to fight.
"One thing at a time..." he muttered to himself.
He looked at Anna and then at Alisa, he studied them carefully. Anna had fifty-two Magic Circuits, Alisa had seventy-seven, but he understood that she was a homunculus. Alessandro could've used a Magecraft to prevent Anna from channeling mana—Adstringor Sacris—but that would've meant fighting Alisa, who was immune to such a Magecraft. From the way Anna stood in front of Alisa, one could understand that their relationship was similar to the one Alessandro had with Ina. Anna, probably, would've sacrificed herself to protect Alisa, albeit under the effect of a powerful magic like Adstringor Sacris.
With this first reasoning, Alessandro chose to face Anna; but then he looked at the Servants. He remembered that he also had to evaluate the Heroic Spirits by eye before deciding the opponent.
Both had a quiver, he quickly knew they were two Archer-class enemies. The man with the long beard, ω Archer, had the air of being a formidable opponent; even the cow-horned woman, α Archer, didn't seem like a weak Servant. Alessandro trusted in Caesar's abilities, but he wanted to be cautious. He wanted to carve a bespoke target for his arrows.
"Okay," Alessandro said, taking a few steps forward. "I want to offer you a deal." He had turned to Anna.
"A deal?" she asked puzzled. "What is it about?"
"It seems obvious to me that you and I both want to defend people we care about. I want to protect Ina and you want to protect your friend, so there is no point in involving them in this battle. I want a fair duel. Me against you. My Servant versus your Servant. No one else will be involved. I will not attack your friend and you will not attack mine."
Everyone was shocked.
Ina's Servant, α Rider, was ready to protest, but Caesar stopped him and, with a nod, ordered him to follow the boy's plan. Rider calmed down, but without giving up that strong feeling of annoyance.
Henry didn't pay too much attention to it. He immediately understood what his role would be and stood in front of Ina to prevent her from fighting.
"You're serious," Anna said to Alessandro. "I don't understand you. Don't you realize that sooner or later your friend will have to fight? You won't be able to protect her forever."
"I know I'm putting off the inevitable, but I don't care. As long as I'm here... as long as I'm by her side... I won't let her fight. Whatever it costs, I'll protect her until the end."
"I see..." she said as if reassured by his goodness. "I don't know you, but if you're serious, then I don't see why I should back down. Will you promise me you won't attack Alisa?"
"I promise. Do you promise not to hurt Ina?"
"I promise." She paused briefly. "Let's begin—"
Alisa intervened and stood in front of her friend. "I can't let you do that, the magus you're going to face isn't like everyone else!" Her voice was frightened. "Think about it, Anna! Let me go, I can fight him—!"
"You don't have to worry, I can do it—"
"No, you're wrong!" she cried out loud. "You can't do it against such an enemy! He's Alessandro Serpi, he belongs to the Serpi family, one of the oldest magi families in the world, he is not an average magus! Listen to me, Anna, do what I tell you and—"
"No, I won't," she said gravely. "You've suffered enough already, Alisa, I will not let you fight him."
"Anna..." Alisa had tears in her eyes. "It's not needed. You don't have to do this for me, it's not worth it... I... I don't deserve this kindness..."
"Stop this nonsense," she scolded with a reassuring smile. "I helped you, I welcomed you into my house and I stayed by your side. Why should I stop now? You are the only good thing I have left, Alisa, and I can't let you fight."
The girl understood that she could no longer do anything else to persuade her friend. Her feelings of guilt commanded her to remain motionless and not to let her pass, but her affection and gratitude convinced her to accept Anna's noble gesture without adding a word.
Alessandro's heart squeezed at the sight of that scene, but he gathered all the courage he had in his body to advance towards the center of the arena. He had no intention of killing Anna, his purpose was to defeat her and force her to surrender; he would plan the rest later.
Anna advanced towards the enemy.
The two stopped about three meters from each other.
"I'm sorry to have met such a good person at a time like this," Anna murmured with a hint of regret.
"Me too," he replied, forcing a smile.
The duel began.
Both had a quiver, he quickly knew they were two Archer-class enemies. The man with the long beard, ω Archer, had the air of being a formidable opponent; even the cow-horned woman, α Archer, didn't seem like a weak Servant. Alessandro trusted in Caesar's abilities, but he wanted to be cautious. He wanted to carve a bespoke target for his arrows.
"Okay," Alessandro said, taking a few steps forward. "I want to offer you a deal." He had turned to Anna.
"A deal?" she asked puzzled. "What is it about?"
"It seems obvious to me that you and I both want to defend people we care about. I want to protect Ina and you want to protect your friend, so there is no point in involving them in this battle. I want a fair duel. Me against you. My Servant versus your Servant. No one else will be involved. I will not attack your friend and you will not attack mine."
Everyone was shocked.
Ina's Servant, α Rider, was ready to protest, but Caesar stopped him and, with a nod, ordered him to follow the boy's plan. Rider calmed down, but without giving up that strong feeling of annoyance.
Henry didn't pay too much attention to it. He immediately understood what his role would be and stood in front of Ina to prevent her from fighting.
"You're serious," Anna said to Alessandro. "I don't understand you. Don't you realize that sooner or later your friend will have to fight? You won't be able to protect her forever."
"I know I'm putting off the inevitable, but I don't care. As long as I'm here... as long as I'm by her side... I won't let her fight. Whatever it costs, I'll protect her until the end."
"I see..." she said as if reassured by his goodness. "I don't know you, but if you're serious, then I don't see why I should back down. Will you promise me you won't attack Alisa?"
"I promise. Do you promise not to hurt Ina?"
"I promise." She paused briefly. "Let's begin—"
Alisa intervened and stood in front of her friend. "I can't let you do that, the magus you're going to face isn't like everyone else!" Her voice was frightened. "Think about it, Anna! Let me go, I can fight him—!"
"You don't have to worry, I can do it—"
"No, you're wrong!" she cried out loud. "You can't do it against such an enemy! He's Alessandro Serpi, he belongs to the Serpi family, one of the oldest magi families in the world, he is not an average magus! Listen to me, Anna, do what I tell you and—"
"No, I won't," she said gravely. "You've suffered enough already, Alisa, I will not let you fight him."
"Anna..." Alisa had tears in her eyes. "It's not needed. You don't have to do this for me, it's not worth it... I... I don't deserve this kindness..."
"Stop this nonsense," she scolded with a reassuring smile. "I helped you, I welcomed you into my house and I stayed by your side. Why should I stop now? You are the only good thing I have left, Alisa, and I can't let you fight."
The girl understood that she could no longer do anything else to persuade her friend. Her feelings of guilt commanded her to remain motionless and not to let her pass, but her affection and gratitude convinced her to accept Anna's noble gesture without adding a word.
Alessandro's heart squeezed at the sight of that scene, but he gathered all the courage he had in his body to advance towards the center of the arena. He had no intention of killing Anna, his purpose was to defeat her and force her to surrender; he would plan the rest later.
Anna advanced towards the enemy.
The two stopped about three meters from each other.
"I'm sorry to have met such a good person at a time like this," Anna murmured with a hint of regret.
"Me too," he replied, forcing a smile.
The duel began.
"Adversarium Ferio!" Alessandro exclaimed snapping his fingers.
The magical thrust overwhelmed Anna, who, once raised, conjured a magical bow and responded with speed. The magical arrows were deflected by the blade of Alessandro's Heroic Spirit.
The two Servants, α Saber and ω Archer, started a slow-paced battle characterized by simple, non-decisive moves, made on purpose to study the opponent. The two Heroic Spirits were, at least at the beginning of this duel, on par. The attacks from both sides were devoid of particular emotion, for both Servants that battle was just work.
During the duel, Saber realized that her ability — Historian and Warlord — was useless against that opponent; ω Archer didn't come from a region that she knew or where she had fought when she was alive. The girl masked her concern and tried not to expose herself too much so as not to show her disadvantage.
The tactic failed.
Archer, parrying Saber's blow with the use of his bow, counterattacked without firing any arrows. The man's weapon was equipped with a curved blade and it was this that wounded Saber in her arm. It was a superficial wound, of course, but no swordswoman would ever let herself be hit by such an attack.
"Interesting..." Archer murmured.
The battle changed tune and Saber was forced to remain on the defensive. The girl was constantly moving, deflecting arrows and dodging shots, but her movements were not precise and she often risked getting really hurt; ω Archer was realizing this and his offensive became more aggressive.
"What's going on, α Saber? Can't keep up?"
"Don't worry, it's just a small problem... I'll be able to kill you, ω Archer."
"Do you really think you are capable of it? You move like a three-legged sheep, you're not a threat to me at all."
"A 'three-legged sheep'... you're really cheeky, Archer."
Saber managed, as if by a miracle, to find an opening and, quickly, leapt towards the enemy. The girl's blade wounded Archer, but only superficially. The man gained a considerable distance from the opponent.
"One lucky shot..." he said.
"Maybe my luck can outweigh your bowing prowess, Archer. But I congratulate you, I see that you're a strong warrior. You remind me of Ariovistus' brave soldiers... the ones I killed, I mean."
"You've a contemptuous attitude, but you will never be able to defeat me," he exclaimed in a solemn voice. "The blood of the greatest heroes of the north runs in my veins. I'm not afraid of any enemy and no warrior can defeat me."
"You're not a king, are you?" she asked raising an eyebrow.
"You're right, but that doesn't mean anything—"
"I meant that it's easy to see that you're not a monarch. You have the look of one who has never tasted true power."
"And what look would that be...?"
"An honest one."
"I accept the compliment..." Archer immediately fired the arrow.
Saber moved her sword quickly and managed to stop the attack. "What a bastard! Take this!" The girl put her hand on the ground, Magic Circuits appeared on her body. "Scorpio!"
A piece of ancient Roman artillery was built by itself next to the girl. A large dart was fired automatically; Archer dodged perfectly and shot two arrows that blocked the mechanism of the weapon. Saber saw the man running towards her and prepared to attack.
"You're mine!" he yelled.
The man shot three arrows, one after the other, but Saber was able to deflect them with the use of the blade. The girl attacked, thinking she had the opponent in hand; a fourth arrow went off.
The difference between Alessandro Serpi and Anna Newton was evident. The girl hadn't been able to hurt him and she was already panting with exhaustion, but the boy, on the other hand, was at the height of his strength and didn't even show a sign of letting up. Anna's magic arrows, however dangerous they might be, were unable to pierce the opponent's magical shield.
"Adversarium Ferio."
The magical thrust overwhelmed Anna, who, once raised, conjured a magical bow and responded with speed. The magical arrows were deflected by the blade of Alessandro's Heroic Spirit.
The two Servants, α Saber and ω Archer, started a slow-paced battle characterized by simple, non-decisive moves, made on purpose to study the opponent. The two Heroic Spirits were, at least at the beginning of this duel, on par. The attacks from both sides were devoid of particular emotion, for both Servants that battle was just work.
During the duel, Saber realized that her ability — Historian and Warlord — was useless against that opponent; ω Archer didn't come from a region that she knew or where she had fought when she was alive. The girl masked her concern and tried not to expose herself too much so as not to show her disadvantage.
The tactic failed.
Archer, parrying Saber's blow with the use of his bow, counterattacked without firing any arrows. The man's weapon was equipped with a curved blade and it was this that wounded Saber in her arm. It was a superficial wound, of course, but no swordswoman would ever let herself be hit by such an attack.
"Interesting..." Archer murmured.
The battle changed tune and Saber was forced to remain on the defensive. The girl was constantly moving, deflecting arrows and dodging shots, but her movements were not precise and she often risked getting really hurt; ω Archer was realizing this and his offensive became more aggressive.
"What's going on, α Saber? Can't keep up?"
"Don't worry, it's just a small problem... I'll be able to kill you, ω Archer."
"Do you really think you are capable of it? You move like a three-legged sheep, you're not a threat to me at all."
"A 'three-legged sheep'... you're really cheeky, Archer."
Saber managed, as if by a miracle, to find an opening and, quickly, leapt towards the enemy. The girl's blade wounded Archer, but only superficially. The man gained a considerable distance from the opponent.
"One lucky shot..." he said.
"Maybe my luck can outweigh your bowing prowess, Archer. But I congratulate you, I see that you're a strong warrior. You remind me of Ariovistus' brave soldiers... the ones I killed, I mean."
"You've a contemptuous attitude, but you will never be able to defeat me," he exclaimed in a solemn voice. "The blood of the greatest heroes of the north runs in my veins. I'm not afraid of any enemy and no warrior can defeat me."
"You're not a king, are you?" she asked raising an eyebrow.
"You're right, but that doesn't mean anything—"
"I meant that it's easy to see that you're not a monarch. You have the look of one who has never tasted true power."
"And what look would that be...?"
"An honest one."
"I accept the compliment..." Archer immediately fired the arrow.
Saber moved her sword quickly and managed to stop the attack. "What a bastard! Take this!" The girl put her hand on the ground, Magic Circuits appeared on her body. "Scorpio!"
A piece of ancient Roman artillery was built by itself next to the girl. A large dart was fired automatically; Archer dodged perfectly and shot two arrows that blocked the mechanism of the weapon. Saber saw the man running towards her and prepared to attack.
"You're mine!" he yelled.
The man shot three arrows, one after the other, but Saber was able to deflect them with the use of the blade. The girl attacked, thinking she had the opponent in hand; a fourth arrow went off.
The difference between Alessandro Serpi and Anna Newton was evident. The girl hadn't been able to hurt him and she was already panting with exhaustion, but the boy, on the other hand, was at the height of his strength and didn't even show a sign of letting up. Anna's magic arrows, however dangerous they might be, were unable to pierce the opponent's magical shield.
"Adversarium Ferio."
Anna flew to the ground for the sixth time in that battle. The girl got up with difficulty and realized she was one step away from defeat.
"I won't kill you," he said. "I won't kill you because that's not what I'm here for. I'll defeat you and find a way out of this place."
"You're naive… didn't you hear what Vergil said? Only the blood of a Master can lower the magical barrier that surrounds us."
"And do you believe it? And what else do you believe? Maybe you hope there is a prize waiting for us at the end of all this? I tell you it's all a rip off! Vergil is playing with us, he wants to force us to kill each other. If we do it... if we behave like pawns on his fucking chessboard, then we will put the whole of humanity at risk. Believe me, I know what I'm saying—"
"I bet it's easy for you to take this position, after all you're a mighty magus. You talk as if we are all on the same level as you, but we cannot compete against Vergil and we cannot escape from here with a snap of our fingers... we've been forced to fight and fight. You... are just a privileged magus complaining about the choices of those less fortunate. We are not all sons and daughters of magi, you know?"
"If you think my life has been easy, you are wrong. You don't know me, you don't know anything about me—"
"It doesn't matter, it doesn't change that you have the luxury of opposing Vergil, we don't."
"Do you think I'm having fun? Do you really think it's easier for me just because I'm stronger than you? Yes, I have more Magic Circuits and I know Magecrafts superior to yours, but that doesn't mean anything!" Alessandro exclaimed.
"It means you can't understand people like me." The girl shot magic arrows.
"Defendere!" The magic barrier saved Alessandro. "I don't need to understand 'people like you' to be right. You know perfectly well that Vergil is planning something shady!"
"Don't you realize we have no other choice?" she asked upset. "Look at what situation we are in! Look at the barrier around us and ask yourself if we really have the power to decide! You are too powerful to understand what it feels like to have no power."
An arrow pierced his leg. It had been a lucky shot and the boy blamed himself for not being careful enough.
"Vulnera Sano." The wound regenerated. "Maybe you're right..." he said in a low voice with a sad tone. "I don't know what it means to have few Magic Circuits. I do not know. I have no idea. I'm privileged, I realize that. And so what? Do you think this justifies what you're doing? Do you think this justifies fighting to please a sadist?"
"I'm not fighting for him!"
"Yes you do!" Alessandro shouted. "You are doing it. You don't realize it, but you are doing it! I'm not asking you to fight Vergil, but to help me end this war!"
"End the war...?" Anna was silent for a while, she had two wide and amazed eyes. In a regretful voice she said, "End the war, huh? And how? How you want to do it? Will you snap your fingers and Vergil will disappear forever? Please... How many Masters are there in this war? Sixteen? If the four of us rebel we will have to face twelve! Do you think you can convince them all? Do you think you can convince twelve Masters to help you? You're naive..."
"Say what you want... I won't kill you anyway."
"Okay, it means I'll do it."
Alessandro prepared to use a Magecraft, but in that moment he felt his body weaken. He was losing a large amount of mana. He turned and saw Saber with a severe wound at her side, it almost looked like that part of her body had been eaten. The boy turned pale and saw Archer, standing, with a triumphant look.
"Saber!" Alessandro rescued the Servant immediately. "Saber, what happened?"
It was ω Archer who replied: "I hit her with my arrow. My skill is Regicide and it allows me to shoot arrows that are particularly lethal to rulers and men of power in general. Your Servant will die sooner than expected, it seems."
Anna Newton, hearing those words, decided to take advantage of it and used a Command Seal to strengthen the Servant.
"Kill α Saber!" Anna ordered.
"At your orders, Master!" Archer shot the arrow.
"I won't kill you," he said. "I won't kill you because that's not what I'm here for. I'll defeat you and find a way out of this place."
"You're naive… didn't you hear what Vergil said? Only the blood of a Master can lower the magical barrier that surrounds us."
"And do you believe it? And what else do you believe? Maybe you hope there is a prize waiting for us at the end of all this? I tell you it's all a rip off! Vergil is playing with us, he wants to force us to kill each other. If we do it... if we behave like pawns on his fucking chessboard, then we will put the whole of humanity at risk. Believe me, I know what I'm saying—"
"I bet it's easy for you to take this position, after all you're a mighty magus. You talk as if we are all on the same level as you, but we cannot compete against Vergil and we cannot escape from here with a snap of our fingers... we've been forced to fight and fight. You... are just a privileged magus complaining about the choices of those less fortunate. We are not all sons and daughters of magi, you know?"
"If you think my life has been easy, you are wrong. You don't know me, you don't know anything about me—"
"It doesn't matter, it doesn't change that you have the luxury of opposing Vergil, we don't."
"Do you think I'm having fun? Do you really think it's easier for me just because I'm stronger than you? Yes, I have more Magic Circuits and I know Magecrafts superior to yours, but that doesn't mean anything!" Alessandro exclaimed.
"It means you can't understand people like me." The girl shot magic arrows.
"Defendere!" The magic barrier saved Alessandro. "I don't need to understand 'people like you' to be right. You know perfectly well that Vergil is planning something shady!"
"Don't you realize we have no other choice?" she asked upset. "Look at what situation we are in! Look at the barrier around us and ask yourself if we really have the power to decide! You are too powerful to understand what it feels like to have no power."
An arrow pierced his leg. It had been a lucky shot and the boy blamed himself for not being careful enough.
"Vulnera Sano." The wound regenerated. "Maybe you're right..." he said in a low voice with a sad tone. "I don't know what it means to have few Magic Circuits. I do not know. I have no idea. I'm privileged, I realize that. And so what? Do you think this justifies what you're doing? Do you think this justifies fighting to please a sadist?"
"I'm not fighting for him!"
"Yes you do!" Alessandro shouted. "You are doing it. You don't realize it, but you are doing it! I'm not asking you to fight Vergil, but to help me end this war!"
"End the war...?" Anna was silent for a while, she had two wide and amazed eyes. In a regretful voice she said, "End the war, huh? And how? How you want to do it? Will you snap your fingers and Vergil will disappear forever? Please... How many Masters are there in this war? Sixteen? If the four of us rebel we will have to face twelve! Do you think you can convince them all? Do you think you can convince twelve Masters to help you? You're naive..."
"Say what you want... I won't kill you anyway."
"Okay, it means I'll do it."
Alessandro prepared to use a Magecraft, but in that moment he felt his body weaken. He was losing a large amount of mana. He turned and saw Saber with a severe wound at her side, it almost looked like that part of her body had been eaten. The boy turned pale and saw Archer, standing, with a triumphant look.
"Saber!" Alessandro rescued the Servant immediately. "Saber, what happened?"
It was ω Archer who replied: "I hit her with my arrow. My skill is Regicide and it allows me to shoot arrows that are particularly lethal to rulers and men of power in general. Your Servant will die sooner than expected, it seems."
Anna Newton, hearing those words, decided to take advantage of it and used a Command Seal to strengthen the Servant.
"Kill α Saber!" Anna ordered.
"At your orders, Master!" Archer shot the arrow.
"Defendere!" The magical barrier appeared between the two Servants and blocked the attack. "You still have time to give up, Anna! Do not do it!" he yelled in despair.
"I'm sorry, but I'm not going to lose," she said coldly. "Archer do your job and take out those two."
The Heroic Spirit shot two arrows that broke the barrier erected by Alessandro; one of them hit the boy on the shoulder.
"Comrade!" Saber yelled in shock.
"Don't worry..." he said in a sore voice. "I am fine..."
"I have to use my Noble Phantasm—!"
"Stop!" Alessandro shouted. "If you do it, you will be putting your life at risk. Save the mana, Saber... you have to wait for the wound to regenerate completely..."
Archer then jumped back and nocked a single arrow. The man, with a victorious look, uttered these words in an epic tone:
"Your Servant will never be able to save her life, her fate is now sealed. It will be the storm that will mark the end of this battle!"
The man shot an arrow towards the sky. The roar of thunder shook the earth, shortly after it began to rain. Long electric arms fell forcefully from the sky and opened large craters in the ground. In that wild storm, ω Archer jumped over a bolt and plunged his bow into electricity.
"Kings will fall! The rulers will cry! The great monarchs will perish at the hands of my storm!"
The weapon was embraced by the electric current. Archer nocked an arrow that was shaped like a lightning bolt and exclaimed:
"Hjörungavágr (The Eternal Storm of War)!"
The man shot the arrow.
"I'm sorry, but I'm not going to lose," she said coldly. "Archer do your job and take out those two."
The Heroic Spirit shot two arrows that broke the barrier erected by Alessandro; one of them hit the boy on the shoulder.
"Comrade!" Saber yelled in shock.
"Don't worry..." he said in a sore voice. "I am fine..."
"I have to use my Noble Phantasm—!"
"Stop!" Alessandro shouted. "If you do it, you will be putting your life at risk. Save the mana, Saber... you have to wait for the wound to regenerate completely..."
Archer then jumped back and nocked a single arrow. The man, with a victorious look, uttered these words in an epic tone:
"Your Servant will never be able to save her life, her fate is now sealed. It will be the storm that will mark the end of this battle!"
The man shot an arrow towards the sky. The roar of thunder shook the earth, shortly after it began to rain. Long electric arms fell forcefully from the sky and opened large craters in the ground. In that wild storm, ω Archer jumped over a bolt and plunged his bow into electricity.
"Kings will fall! The rulers will cry! The great monarchs will perish at the hands of my storm!"
The weapon was embraced by the electric current. Archer nocked an arrow that was shaped like a lightning bolt and exclaimed:
"Hjörungavágr (The Eternal Storm of War)!"
The man shot the arrow.
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| 'Hjörungavágr' by BikoWolf |
I told you I would be able to publish a chapter in early May (I pat myself on the back).😎 If you want to read the complete story of Fate/Yggdrasil you can click here to download the PDF for free.
