Seth and Cu Chulainn were on the lookout for enemies while the trio from Chaldea just rested after fighting more monsters. The duo decided to give them some rest since they were not that used to continuous fights yet.
"Hey." Cu started, gaining the attention of his companion.
"Hm?" Seth looked at him, waiting for him to continue.
Caster scratched the back of his head awkwardly. "Well, how to say it? There's something that's been on my mind ever since you told me your identity."
By the tone of nervousness in his voice, Seth could guess the question on Cu Chulainn's mind was going to be a bit intrusive, but since the blue-haired Servant had been nothing but helpful so far, he didn't really mind it, so he motioned him to continue with a wave of his hand. "Go on."
After he received the green light, he finally decided to ask the question he wanted to ask. "Do you...regret killing your brother?"
The Egyptian God didn't stop walking, but his face did become a bit more pensive. It was really hard to give an answer to that without providing the full context of the incident, but there was no time for him to go into detail. That aside, Seth guessed that the question — regardless if the man himself was aware of it or not — was a bit personal considering that he killed his own son.
"Don't take it the wrong way, but I don't really see you being a crazy bastard that would go around killing his kin." The Sage of the Forest was sure that if he found another guy who did the same thing Seth did, he would kill him out of repulsiveness. Mainly because it would be like looking into a mirror and being made to witness the same mistake he committed. For some reason, though, he didn't feel that when it came to the black-haired man.
Seth looked at him for a second before facing forward. He didn't respond for a while. The awkward silence lasted for two minutes that were agonizing for Caster, before he finally answered, "No." A dull, straightforward answer that left no room for more chat.
"Is that so? I apologize—" He felt a little sorry inside for asking, so he was going to apologize, but Seth cut him before he could.
"But..." Seth gazed at the sky, even if his face didn't show anything, his eyes were reminiscing.
Stopping for a moment, he returned his gaze to Cu Chulainn. Looking at him dead in the eyes.
"I do regret my reign. Or should I say, I regret the way I treated people when I reigned?" His tone conveyed his regret. "At that time, I was blinded by anger. I hated the Gods that thought I could be a weapon to be ordered around. That anger transferred to the humans under me, and in turn, I was feared. If you show violence to an animal, that animal won't show love for you."
Heaving a sigh, he continued. "I'm someone who is at the border between Good and Evil. It is the reason why my personality was headstrong and rude before I killed my brother. Even so, I was fundamentally a Hero-type of God, working as a protector of sorts. However, that soon changed. After certain events, I lost myself, becoming something akin to a bloodthirsty, lustful, and brutal beast. You could say my predispositions changed."
Feeling tired all of a sudden, the black-haired man decided to sit down with his back facing the wall. "You asked me if I regret killing my brother? No, of course not. He tried to defend the indefensible."
He then turned to Caster with a knowing look. "We all make decisions. Some we regret, some we don't. For those that we do regret, we have to ask ourselves a question. Did we have the means to change the outcome? In my case, I didn't. Because it was his decision to stand before me and try to stop me. I would like to think that he also had to make his decisions and that he was willing to face the consequences."
'Willing to face the consequences, huh...' He had always wondered. At that moment, when that brat purposely missed his spear strike against him, was he willing to face what came next, even if that meant that he wouldn't get to grow and become one of the best warriors alive?
"That's enough. I think I already have the answer I was looking for." Caster smirked a bit to himself. Who knew that a question out of curiosity could have developed into the solution to a puzzle he carried on from his life?
The Egyptian God didn't consider himself wise, but if his experiences could be of help to him, then that was a welcoming outcome. Of course, most of his experiences were on the negative side, so people should probably do the opposite of what he did in almost every case. To be honest with himself, he would dislike someone following his example, unless the situation was such that there was no choice in the matter.
"Then I am glad my words gave you clarity." After saying so, the black-haired man got up, ready to go back with the others. Both shared a certain understanding through their eyes—one that couldn't be explained in a few words, at least not with the time they had.
"Thanks, by the way. It meant a lot." Cu Chulainn gave him a thumbs-up before turning around and starting to walk in the direction they came from. "You are not that bad of a friend."
'Friend, huh?' They have only met for a day at most and they were already that? Strangely, though, the cursed word didn't leave a bad taste anymore. The Kingslayer watched Caster disappear through the darkness, as a wry smile manifested on his face. 'However, for your own good, it's best if you don't consider me a friend. They never had good ends.'
Unaware to Seth, inside his soul, in its deepest confines, there was a rusty, red metal door with an ancient look to it. Numerous chains were placed around it, seemingly trying to keep something from getting out. At Caster's last words, the gate shook as if going through an earthquake. Eventually, one of the chains keeping the door closed broke, and an animalistic howl was heard.
Then there was silence.
Present time
Seth felt disdain at Saber's words. The meaning of them was clear as water to him. From one ruthless tyrant to another, you have my respect and admiration.
While she was being sarcastic in nature, and she didn't have an ounce of respect for him, the fact she made light not only of his problems but also of hers gave him not a single ounce of joy. Of course, he didn't have the right to give an opinion on her situation and how she handled it but speaking without knowing had its consequences. He didn't know how she uncovered his identity, but that could wait until she was on the ground with his spear piercing her heart.
"You know she is playing the psychological game; you better just ignore her." The Desert God knew that without Caster telling him, yet he still nodded nonetheless. They were a link now, all of them, so if one got distracted, it could disrupt the whole network. Besides, he had to remain clear-head whether he liked it or not, lest his more violent temper took over him.
Looking to the side, he saw the forms of the three kids he was supposed to guard. 'Yeah... They should not have to suffer the collateral damage of my actions. It's better if I finish this as soon as possible so I can adjust later with ease so as to not endanger them.'
"Let's begin, then!" The blue-haired man's shout of excitement brought their morale up, even if only a little.
After that, each one of them took their position. Mash in front, Caster in the middle, and Seth in the back. The reason why he, as a melee combatant, was not fighting face-to-face with Saber, was actually simple. His new ability, Kingslayer. It only worked in the presence of a King, that's why he couldn't practice the instant activation of the skill. As he was fairly new to how abilities in this world worked, he needed some time to know how to activate them.
"Five minutes will do, Cu Chulainn, Mash. Do the best you can till then!" Seth spoke while closing his eyes to prepare the activation of Kingslayer EX, wasting no time.
"Yes! Leave it to me!" "You got it!" Both replied.
"Hmph...I care not about what you are planning." Saber said coldly as ever. Her gaze shifted to Mash before speaking again, "Be ready, strange girl. This sword shall test the truth of your shield".
Speaking till there, Saber dashed forward with her sword clad in dark purple light. She hit her shield time and time again; each hit being heavier than the last.
"Now, little girl!" At Caster's shout, Mash used the force of the hit from Saber's sword to move to the side. As Mash was blocking her vision with her big shield, Saber couldn't see the fireballs behind the little girl until it was too late. However, putting more energy into her sword he blocked the incoming attack.
Unfortunately, the only thing they managed to do was make Saber slide backward a little. Beyond that, no damage was done.
"I admit, you improved since your fight against Archer. However, no matter what you do, it's pointless." Saber stated while slowly walking forward.
"Hoh? You were watching our fight with Archer and you didn't help him? He will be sad if he finds out." Caster asked in a fake voice of surprise.
"He was just doing his duty, if he serves no purpose then I don't need him," Saber said, completely unaffected by the mage's words.
Cu Chulainn smiled, Saber halted in her tracks. "Now, kid!" He shouted, Fujimaru, who was waiting for his signal, raised his right hand. Showing his Command Spells, he did a mental image and then, with his gaze set on Mash, called out to her. "Mash, return to me!"
Shielder, who was getting up after being thrown by Saber, turned into light and reappeared next to Olga, Fujimaru, and Seth.
Saber's instincts screamed at her to get out of there, something he tried but couldn't do.
With everything ready, Caster slammed his right hand on the ground.
« I'll use my ace up my sleeve. Burn them completely, giant of all trees. "Wicker Man"! »
First, a giant hand made out of wood shot from the ground, clutching Saber in its hand. It didn't end there, however. More parts of the giant kept appearing, eventually revealing its whole form. A fifteen meters wooden giant covered in flames with a cage for a stomach. Squeezing Saber in its hand as much as he could for a moment, the giant proceeded to throw her towards the cage in its stomach.
After that was done, the flaming giant burned himself even more. Damaging Saber in the process. However, She never once screamed, gritting her teeth, she endured all the pain. A Ruler couldn't show weakness in front of the enemy.
After Wicker Man, the giant made to burn the offerings presented to the ancient Gods in Celtic mythology, burned itself out, Caster fell to his knees.
Panting, he looked at where Saber was at. Burnings of varied degrees covered her pale skin but even so, she was standing.
Her cold face was now reflecting fury. "I will give it to you all. That was a well-thought strategy." Though her words sang praises, the tone of her voice meant another thing.
"What kind of monster are you, bastard? Can you even be killed?" Caster was as frustrated as he could be.
Mash quickly approached Caster. Now that he exhausted his mana, defending against Saber attacks was going to be difficult.
Raising her shield, she stubbornly met Saber's gaze. She was going to protect everyone, she was going to protect Caster who was behind her, she was going to protect the Director, she was going to protect Apophis -Even though he was a bit cold- but above all else, she was going to protect her Master!
Seeing this, Saber squeezed her sword tighter. Raising it into a slashing motion she spoke. "I will answer your gaze, your desire to protect your Master..." Saber's aura rose with each passing second, ready to attack she chanted.
« Cry out. It is time to fall to the ground. Hammer of the Vile King. Overturn the aurora. Swallow the light! "Excalibur Morgan"! »
With that, she slammed her sword to the ground, sending an energy beam to Shielder and Caster's place. Mash prepared her shield to meet the incoming attack.
Once the attack and the shield collided, Mash found herself hard-pressed to keep up. Seeing this Caster spoke, "Hang in there, young lady! If that attack hits us, the best scenario is us burning to a crisp. Otherwise, our top halves will get blown off!" She had to admit those words weren't very encouraging but she would have to do with them.
As the attack from Saber was fading, so was Mash's resistance. She needed to keep blocking for a little longer and they would have successfully repelled the attack.
Sadly, before Excalibur Morgan faded completely, the girl's shield gave in. With no protection, they were sent flying backward.
The only good thing about this was that Shielder blocked most of Saber's blow so they didn't receive much damage but they wouldn't be able to fight for a while.
"Mash!" Fujimaru shouted worriedly, he wanted to go to her but was stopped by Olga. "Stop it, you are her Master, have trust in her." To tell the truth, even she herself didn't believe in her own words but she had to keep him alive at all costs. Fujimaru just clenched his fist, feeling powerless in this situation.
Saber looked at the Master for a second before resuming his walk towards Shielder and Caster.
"I commend you, you fought well. I shall give you an honorable death." When she was in front of Mash and Cu, she raised her sword, ready to end their lives.
"What do you think you are doing?" Just then, a cold voice sounded behind her. The voice sent shivers down her spine, it was the same voice, the same tone. But...something was different, something that produced an innate fear in her.