Einzbern Castle,
Black walked through the snowstorm, eying the majestic building, a dull gray notification flashing in his eyes.
…
[
Congratulations Contestant Kai D. Stormborn
You have achieved a Milestone
…
Milestone: Defeat a Heroic Spirit in a Holy Grail War
Milestone Rewards:
— Attribute Points: +5
— -10% Damage against the same Heroic Spirit in other Fate timelines
]
…
Black put the notification away and looked over his shoulder.
"I don't like cold," Venom complained, towering like a black hulk behind him. "It's like a cat rubbing itself on me…"
"You don't like cats, either, then?" Black returned the humor now that his Humor-settings had returned, along with Calm.
After careful consideration, Kai and Black had decided to keep Kai's original identity a secret.
That was the norm of the Holy Grail War, anyway — to keep Heroic Spirits' identities unknown as long as one could.
Mages and Servants in the Fate timeline would easily recognize Black as a Homunculus.
If they could also see Kai as he was, then it wouldn't take them long to guess who was the blueprint behind the Homunculus' creation.
Biokinesis and Facelessness won't help against Mages in this world, either.
So, the best way to keep true to the nature of Berserker was to let a true Berserker cover Kai, becoming a Heroic Spirit.
That's where Venom came into the picture.
…
[
Magical Beast: Venom
Grade: C+ (growth)
Type: Symbiote
Note: The Symbiotes are a species of inorganic, amorphous, symbiotic extraterrestrials created from the living abyss at the beginning of the universe by the primordial deity Knull
Specification: Despite coming under the broad category of Magical Creatures, as a Symbiote, Venom's Stats are unquantifiable.
Venom has two Modes: Inactive and Active
All abilities granted by Venom to its host in Inactive Mode are also valid for Active Mode, while vice versa is not true.
Venom possesses and grants its host all abilities as per the Earth-616 main storyline.
It is also subjected to the same weaknesses as the storyline Symbiote.
Inactive Mode:
— HP Regeneration +30%
— Dopamine level +50%
— Constituent-Matter Generation
— Empathetic Empowerment
— Emotions Manipulation
— Webbing Generation
— Divine Corruption
— Biokinesis
— Telepathy
Active Mode:
— Strength +30% of Host's Base Stat
— Agility +20% of Host's Base Stat
— Stamina +40% of Host's Base Stat
— Perception +50% of Host's Base Stat
— Camouflage
Growth:
— Symbiote Assimilation - Devour Symbiotes to upgrade itself
— Current Requirement - 0/1 Symbiote (B- Grade)
WARNING:
— Venom feeds on the host's adrenaline and the chemical Phenethylamine
— Venom can interfere with the genomes to imprint the Host's abilities
— Venom can take over the Host's mind, corroding it over time
— Venom is subjected to the Symbiote Hive-Mind's influence
— Venom is subjected to Knull's influence
]
…
With Venom in Active Mode and Kai passively controlling the Magical Creature, the new Servant could truly act as a Berserker, filling Heracles' shoes.
"I want to crush someone's head," Venom spat, his long tongue slithering out as his massive feet plunged deep into the snow. "This power is making me crazy…"
"Welcome to the family," Black japed. "Also…"
Suddenly, Black paused, his body shaking as if a million-volt current had shocked him.
Frowning, Black opened up his shirt and stared at the right part of his chest that housed the Grail Heart.
Tiny black tendrils were snaking off it, trying to take over his entire body.
Black closed his eyes and looked deep into his mind, and his frown instantaneously deepened.
After rising to Advance Proficiency, the Ad Infinitum had taken the shape of a massive Black Hole, with yellow stars strewn around it.
However, these yellow stars were only a projection of the true crystals housing Kai's core memories that were within the Black Hole.
Now, massive black tendrils were flailing out of the Black Hole like living trails of black light, trying to resist the Black Hole's pull.
They were pulsating rhythmically, lashing out. And, with every lashing, they were becoming longer, larger, blacker, and… stronger.
Angra Mainyu… Black thought, opening his eyes and covering his chest. It's… much more terrifying than I'd thought.
"Change of plans…" Black said. "Don't kill them."
"WHAT?!" Venom roared. "You promised me heads. Two heads! ARghhhhhhhhhhh!!!"
Black ignored Venom's mad rants and blurred out of existence. The next moment he appeared, he was standing in the Castle's courtyard, surrounded by beds of flowers.
"You are slow!" Venom roared, sounding pissed. He was already towering above a castle's tower. "And… I don't like you anymore!"
Black's eyes narrowed. That 20% boost in Agility on top of Deoxys' Agility Forme is no joke, I guess…
Suddenly, two figures came rushing out of the mansion.
Black hadn't tried to hide his arrival, letting the spiritual defensive walls around the castle activate.
He eyed the two new arrivals — Sella and Leysritt.
Both were Illya's maids and Homunculi, and were also the lone two members remaining in the castle.
At first, Black had planned to just kill them off and then claim the castle for himself.
Sella was in no way special to him, anyway.
Leysritt, on the other hand, could sacrifice herself to materialize the Dress of Heaven — a Mystic Code that could help the wearer become a Miracle and achieve the Third Magic.
However, Black knew it would be nigh impossible to go after the Third Magic in this timeline while carrying out other important tasks that he was here for.
So, he had planned to kill off Leysritt as well.
Between the two, Leysritt's body was strong enough to rival many Heroic Spirits.
If he let her go wild, who knew what kind of unknown variable would arise to haunt the Ad Infinitum later?
Hmm… Black thought as the two maids looked at his chest, horrified. Let's see if she presents herself if I spare these two…
"Illyasviel-sama!" Sella cried.
"Illya!" Leysritt took out a halberd, her red pupils misting.
Both were excellent mages, to begin with. On top of it, all Homunculi shared a connection among themselves because of their method of creation.
It didn't come as a surprise that they guessed what happened to Illya instantly.
"You rascal!" Leysritt fumed, blurring across the courtyard. "I will kill you!"
The magnificent halberd that could injure even a Heroic Spirit traced a beautiful path as it came for Black's neck.
In the next moment, a massive black hand grabbed the blade, making the two Homunculi's eyes pop out.
"Hello…" the Berserker said, licking Leysritt's face. "We are Venom!"
********************
AN: Original Image of New Berserker (Venom and Kai) facing off Leysritt is available
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