“Both of you stop! And as for you Berserker, just what has gotten into you? We’ve only known each other for a short time but I’ve never seen you so pissed off at anything before. This is my best friend Shinji Matou, I’ve known him for nearly as long as I can remember. As I’ve said before I will trust him with my life even if the Servant he has summoned is known for Master killing and betrayal.”
Shirou’s loud voice echoed on the empty rooftop, his interruption had caused everyone to halt in their tracks including Berserker whose hand still held onto his large two handed sword.
Turning to face Shinji now, Shirou gave off the biggest grin he could. A smile that showed the two had shared quite a few adventures together, not all of it good. “And besides, we’ve got too much riding on our past to just start attacking each other like that. I’m sorry Berserker, but I’m not going to allow you to be openly hostile towards my best friend, if you don’t like it then you are free to leave.”
Berserker was shocked upon hearing words he had not expected from his Master, the shock was enough to calm his raging exterior as he allowed his body to fall back into a calmer stance.
“Master… It seems I misjudged your history with this man… I… I… think I am going to go on patrol for a while, it is one of the core elements of being a Servant… Please… Get some rest… You seem tired Master…”
Before anyone could reply he dematerialized and just a quickly vanished into the night air Shirou feeling his presence fade away as he quickly left the apartment rooftop.
“Well that just happened… Anyway, Nosuke!...”
*************************************************************
“Damnit, damnit damnit! Damnit it all! Why must the gods forsake me yet again!? Set upon this earth for the chance to recover what is lost only to be thrown into such a worthless situation! Oh heaven’s cursed I can only begin to describe my anger at those on high!”
The instant he was out of view of the apartment he materialized yet again, Berserker had managed to hold his anger but that was only temporary. He was still very angry, angry at this new obstacle, angry at his gullible master, and perhaps most of all angry that his master had dared to refute him when he had done nothing but help all this time.
“I’d give my entire fortune in order to calm the raging beast of madness that has befallen my poor master’s soul… No, I’d give that and more if only it could fill the hole in my heart that has gathered all this time! Why, why must I be fated to such lunacy!? Why!!!?”
He couldn’t stand it, the words were being spit from his agape mouth but he didn’t care, with his gloved pauldron he threw his hand towards a nearby brick wall causing an explosion of dust as the brick and mortar wall easily gave way to Berserker’s strength.
“Ahhhhhh! Why!? Idiotic, foolish, peasant, who dares to stand in my way. I will show thou the strength forged by mine own hands! I, Berserker, am the wisest, the strongest, the most wise! With my silver hand I take victory quickly and decisively and those who dare to stand in my path! Those most foolish mortals, who dare to defy my greatness!? They will be slaughtered their bodies sent to the pigs as a sign to anyone else who might dare to defy me! The great and powerful, the wise, the handsome, the beautiful, the clever, the most holy, the savior, the humble, I, Gilles de Rais, greatest leader of the french army, will be the strongest! No one can match my artistic values! No one! Not those blasted church buffoons, not my blasted Master, not even God himself! I am the greatest legend this world has ever had the honor of setting foot on!”
His fury was getting worse, he was having trouble thinking, the rage was becoming too much, using his iron grip he tore his oily black hair from his head throwing enormous patches into the night sky but he didn’t care about his appearance, he had barely even registered the fact that he had just shouted his identity to anyone who might be listening, all he could do was hate, curse, spit at the gods, and hate even further when it wasn’t enough.
It was a never ending cycle of destruction. And he was already caught in the loop.
A normal businessman who had the misfortune of wandering towards Berserker when he heard the knight’s screams froze in terror at the sight of the rampaging beast, cursing himself for deciding to stay late in order to get more work down. He began to panic the instant Berserker turned to face him.
Berserker’s eyes were completely bloodshot, his teeth were so tightly clenched they began to crack from the pure force, and the chain that covered his palms ripped from the force of his tightened fists.
In an instant, before he had even realized what was going on, the businessman was thrown to the ground from the force of Berserker’s mad charge towards him. His palms were sweaty, his throat dry, his body was completely trembling.
“W-what do you w-want? I-is it m-money? t-t-take it, just d-don’t hurt me okay?”
Slowly removing the great broadsword attached his belt Berserker held it to the panicked man’s throat as a small trickle of red blood began to seep from his shaking neck.
“My greatness! You, a foolish peasant whose greatest honor is tending the field of mine own glorious castle, dares to look at the face of his lord!? Dares to defy one so great as I!? No amount of begging, whining, sacrificing, tempting, snarling, pleading, or living, is worth the payment of such an atrocity! The blood you spill here, is not even worth a morsel of the dirt that holds the foundation of my very own fortress!”
the two men lay motionless on the empty sidewalk, the businessman who had now closed his eyes in order to prepare for the worst, and Berserker who continued to spout nonsense held his weapon ready for the kill.
“Well done Berserker! Well done!” A hoarse crackling voice echoed throughout the seemingly empty street. It was a voice Berserker recognized very well. After all, how could he not recognize his own speech?
“Your steps towards the road of salvation is nearly complete! You are completely correct, God has abandoned us! Left us to rot in the confines of hell. But you have realized this… Haven’t you?”
Taking his eyes off the frightened business man, Berserker turned towards the approaching voice where he came face to face with a new figure. This new man also wore plate armor of the exact same style as Berserker’s own. However, the condition it was in was terrible, the silver sheen had long been replaced by a muddy purple rust, with huge red splotches of red dashed across resembling large blood splatters as they ran all throughout the tainted metal.
Perhaps the most intimidating factor was the man’s bulging eyes and hideous face complete with a crooked nose and cracked pale lips, a sign of great neglect and inability to care for his own body.
“Yes! Yes! Just one swift painless motion of your hand and the transformation is complete! Just think of what we can accomplish, together! After all, your wish is already accomplished is it not? You saw her fighting against that paled Assassin did you not? The Holy Virgin? Jea-”
“Shut up! Shut up shut up shut up shut up shut up shut up! Don’t you dare speak her name! Blasphemy, nothing but blasphemy, you think I will allow you to come forth and bring madness? That is a path of pure destruction, and I refuse! Absolutely, may God strike me down, I will not fall for your petty tactics!”
“I-I’m sorry?”
Sending the businessman rolling across the street with a swift motion from his hand Berserker stood up once more and charged the pale knight who quickly retrieved his own identical broadsword in order to counter Berserker’s mad charge.
The loud screeching clash of metal rung throughout the street as the two swords locked themselves against one another.
“Are you so blind as to not see it!? Her mannerisms may be similar but that was clearly not the Holy Maiden hold above all else!”
Throwing strategy to the wind Berserker struck with pure unaltered force. With each powerful swing the very winds howled and nearby glass windows shattered from the sheer pressure of his maddened attacks.
“It seems you are as mad as your name implies! Ha! Don’t try to spout such hypocrisy at me! Open your eyes to what is true, not what you wish to believe! To believe in such convenient lies is the failure of any man great or not!”
Despite his weak appearance the opposing knight was able to match Berserker in every single way, with great strength he deflect the powerful sword strikes aimed for his head, with swift agility he moved away from incoming kicks, his crazed mocking smile and bulging eyes only serving to enrage Berserker even further.
“Lies!? Hypocrisy!? Do not make me laugh! You have already fallen so far that you really have begun to believe in such things… I pity you, whose demeanor is foolish enough be kicked from even the worst of kingdoms. And you hope to convince me!? Don’t make me laugh, I would sooner spit on the grave of great Charles than fall into your little web of lies!”
“Hahahahahahahaha! Look at this fool, oh great and mighty God! He actually believes himself to be nothing but a servant towards your will, and yet what will you do? I say it for you! Curse him to an early grave, that is what awaits the followers of this so called almighty God.”
Berserker had had enough, using all of his energy he charged the pale knight and in one mighty attack shattered the rusted broadsword the hideous man had held cleanly in two. Stunned by the sudden destruction of his weapon the pale knight failed to react as his chest was pierced by the blade of Berserker’s own sword.
“I will never become such a pitiful monster, never…”
Spitting towards the ground Berserker remained defiant towards his nemesis. His will was still strong and he would not give in that easily.
As blood poured from his mouth and his body began to fade away the pale knight laughed and laughed. “Hahahaha! You cannot turn from the inevitable, I will always be with you… Through life, through death, through suffering, through victory, my truth’s whisper to you, calling, and cleansing the cloud that has fallen over your mind. After all, I am you, and you are me, and that will never change, so long as we live… Hahahahahaha!”
And with that final comment the knight disappeared and Berserker’s insanity truly began to fade.
His rage subsided he began to have trouble remembering all that had just happened as he glanced around the destroyed street. Bricks and concrete was thrown all about from a great battle and the businessman had long run away.
Did that really just happen?
Slowly sheathing his sword yet again Berserker calmy dematerialized and vanished into the night air.
***************************************************************************
“So what do you make of this Archer?”
“Clearly a case of a dog gone mad. If he can barely stand on his own before attacking the very air itself, it will not be entertaining to take him out with my strength.”
“So you don’t want to pursue?”
“Nonsense, it would be more fun to have him run wild some more. Let the others waste their efforts first, I do not wish to waste even a single blade on the likes of him.”
“Well so long as he doesn’t actually kill anyone…”
*************************************************************************
Sitting on his leather sofa Shinji Matou was taking a sip from his soda and watching the local news when he spit out his drink in surprise at the sudden appearance of a fully armored man appearing directly in front of him.
“Hey man! What’s your problem?”
‘In other news, the grand reopening of the Hyatt is continuing on schedule and accounting for good weather will open in five day’s time.’
“Why do you appear so startled Master of Assassin? Surely you sensed my arrival, after all, I made no intentions to hide myself.”
‘The grand hotel’s turbulent past is well known around the Fuyuki area...’
“Yeah well not everyone likes to be on alert 24/7 dude. Seriously though, where have you been? Shirou’s been going off nonstop about you ever since you disappeared.”
‘...mostly due to it’s sudden collapse nearly fifteen years ago due to a terrorist attack.’
Ignoring the question of Berserker’s whereabouts, the armored knight went to the top of his Master.
“Speaking of Master, where is he now? I would like to speak with him but he appears to be in his room right now.”
“He’s obviously following your advice, he seemed really tired so he went to bed soon after your left.”
‘At first hopes were dim that a reconstruction of the hotel was ever going to happen.’
“I see… And you? You barely seem tired at all. Surely recently summoning your own Servant has left you tired. Unless… That is not truly your Servant.”
Rolling his eyes in annoyance Shinji dramatically flung his arms open as if to mock Berserker’s harsh comment.
“Here we go again... Just what is it that’s making you so pissed off dude? We’ve barely spoken with each other and yet you keep hounding me like some rabid dog. Are you really that insecure Servant Berserker?”
‘However, thanks to a gracious donation from an anonymous donor who went by the name of Arc-’
Berserker’s hand slammed into the remote that lay next to Shinji shutting the TV off in the process, he couldn’t take the noise any longer.
“Will you please shut that infernal contraption off? I’m trying to think here. How is it humans of this day and age get anything done when a box is constantly filling their heads with useless thoughts!”
“Hey man it’s just a TV, no need to get so riled up over something so simple. And besides, I was trying to plan out next weekend.”
Ignoring the comment of preparation Berserker returned to the topic in front of them.
“Yes yes, anyways as my Master has said before perhaps I was too hasty in my actions. If I offended you then I must apologize but before that I must ask… Do you intend to harm him in any way?”
A tinge of disgust flashed across Shinji’s face at the comment, he clearly did not want to talk about Shirou’s summoning but his annoyance got the better of him as he began to rant.
“Of course not! Shirou’s my friend, why would I go after the guy who actually managed to get a Servant before I could… It’s not like he’s been better than me at doing his job, I mean… Look ok I’m not going to harm the guy, he’s me friend and we stick to together.”
“Very well then, if you are so wide awake perhaps you can help me with a little project of my own.”
Retrieving the small leather bound book, Shinji almost remarked at how similar it looked to his own, but quieted down when Berserker began to quickly flip through the pages muttering various comments as he skimmed.
“Bounded fields, bounded fields, oh here we are.”
Walking towards the center of the living room, Berserker held his hand to the floor and muttered a few vague words as he concentrated on the outstretched hand that held his book.
“De furto deprehendatu. De furto deprehendatur. De furto deprehendatur…”
“Bounded field? What are you trying to do?”
Berserker froze in his actions as a tinge of annoyance sketched across his face.
“A bounded field of detection, created in order to keep anyone who stays here safe. If you can talk then perhaps you can help. Come on, hand me that book of yours.”
“H-hey what are you talking about?”
Snapping his fingers in impatience Berserker reached for the small leather book Shinji had retrieved moments ago.
“Seriously dude what the fuck.”
“Oh relax, if I was going to take it from you, I would have already done so long ago.”
Flipping through the pages he stopped at a referenced point very similar to the one in his own book, before handing it back to the boy.
“You know how to cast from this do you not?”
“O-of course I do!”
“Very well, then follow my lead, this will not take long if we cooperate.”
Berserker then set to work preparing various sigils across the walls of the house and on the outside of the apartments with Shinji helping him along as he went, still questioning why this Berserker was suddenly being so friendly towards him.
************************************************************
His was so tired, his body was having trouble moving. He wanted more sleep but his head would not allow it. And with a start he awoke.
“Ah Master, I’m so glad to see you’ve awoken! Come come, we have much to discuss today!”
“Berserker? Berserker! You’re back!” The fatigue had momentarily disappeared as Shirou jumped to his feet.
“Of course I am! I must say Master, I am so sorry for disappearing like that. My mind was not as it should have been. Perhaps it was due to the curse of my class but regardless I am indeed back. And with great news no less!”
“News? What kind of news?”
Berserker explained the intricacies of the bounded the field he and Shinji had created during the night. It was a very simple bounded field in design but the effect was of great use. A field meant to detect any and all sorts of danger. The instant one made their killing intent clear a large bell would strike signalling the approach of a foe. By doing this they would have time to prepare and react to any and all attacks. And because it was such a simple concept, only the greatest of killers could hide from it.
“Well almost everyone, except perhaps Assassin.”
“Assassin? You mean like the one we saw fighting earlier, or the one that Shinji summoned?”
“Exactly! But have no fear, I will not allow any of them to lay a finger on you so long as I live on this blessed earth. Such is so natural that it is the very core of my existence, just as the sun rises in the sky I will be there to protect you. You have my word!”
“Oh alright then… Wait sun rises… Oh no, work! I’m going to be late!” Glancing at the clock he still had just enough time to make it if he ran. He couldn’t just afford to miss a day of work especially when he was still fairly new to the nursing job.
But his body still felt tired, it screamed at him to rest. And if anything counted as an emergency, Shirou figured that the past few days might allow for him to take it off.
Should he go to work? Or stay at home and rest?
Go to work
Stay and rest
Ask for Berserker's advice
Check on Shinji first
Write in...
Also from this point forward Bad Ends are now allowed!
