"Two of them?!"
Jack, the Assassin, was visibly startled by Mordred's appearance.
She'd sensed only one Servant's presence, that golden-haired man, but now another stood before her, unmistakably a Servant!
"Tricked me, huh? Damn it!" Jack hissed, using her high agility to dodge Mordred's initial slash, then activating her Noble Phantasm, The Mist.
White fog instantly shrouded her, obscuring her form and clouding Mordred's vision.
"Hey, you don't think this'll stop me, do you, kid?" Mordred roared, unleashing her Mana Burst.
"Crimson Lightning!"
Red lightning-like mana erupted, dispersing the fog in a single burst. Jack's mist was conjured by mana, so Mordred's stronger mana surge obliterated it.
"Wanna scream? Do it now, 'cause soon your head's coming off!" Mordred taunted, pointing Clarent at the flustered Jack, her grin pure villainy.
"After that, you won't even get a squeak out!"
"Get ready to die!"
Mordred's face twisted into a theatrical snarl, one eye comically larger than the other, every bit the cartoonish antagonist.
"Haha, no way!" Jack snapped, her initial shock giving way to fury at Mordred's taunts.
"I'm still hungry!"
Drawing two vicious cleavers from behind her back, Jack's face lit up with a manic smile.
"I'll kill you!"
"That's my line! Die!" Mordred retorted.
Greatsword met cleavers in a fierce clash. The cleavers shattered, and Jack's right arm took a gash. She leapt back, clutching her wound, teeth gritted in frustration.
"That's too much! You cut my hand!"
"Hah! Just the start, worse is coming!" Mordred cackled, embracing her villain role. She hefted Clarent and charged, fully committed to Altair's order: take Jack out.
No mercy, no survivors.
"Mana Burst!"
Kairi, as a magus, was exceptional and pragmatic. In this Holy Grail War, he rarely used magecraft, conserving mana for Altair and Mordred. Instead, he relied on his double-barreled shotgun and grenades, magical armaments, unlike those of a certain magus-killer.
His mana reserves were more than enough for Mordred to burn through, especially since Altair, not a true Servant, needed none.
Mordred, fueled by Mana Burst, barreled toward Jack with unstoppable force, swinging Clarent at her head. The strike cratered the ground.
As Mordred battled Jack, Kairi hunted Jack's Master. Servant duels were one thing, but Master fights could decide the outcome. A Servant without a Master lost their mana supply, leading to swift defeat and disappearance.
No matter how strong a Servant, they needed a Master. Without one, they'd vanish unless they quickly contracted a new one, a rare feat requiring Independent Action or extreme luck, like a certain Saber-obsessed ancient magus.
Altair, too, sought Jack's Master, knowing it wasn't the original magus who summoned her but a prostitute, Reika Rikudou. Only Altair knew her identity, and he aimed to find and eliminate her swiftly.
As Altair and Jack's fight erupted, both factions geared up for war.
"We've confirmed Saber's engaged the Black Faction's Assassin. Reports say Saber has the upper hand." Amakusa Shirou announced, rallying his Servants for a frontal assault.
"No surprise there. That guy's King Arthur, and he summoned a knight to back him up. In a straight fight, it's a natural two-on-one. Victory's just a matter of time." Achilles said, sprawled on the floor, his usual swagger dimmed since Atalanta's death. He'd gone rogue without her guidance.
"Pity we sent only Saber. I'd love to jump in and help." He added.
"Don't be ridiculous, Rider. You're our main force. While Saber deals with their Assassin, we'll launch our offensive. The Black Faction's thinking the same, today's the decisive battle." Semiramis snapped from her throne, visibly annoyed.
"Alright, alright, Your Majesty." Achilles drawled.
Semiramis, the Red Faction's Assassin and Assyrian Empress, had completed her Noble Phantasm, the Hanging Gardens of Vanity, a colossal floating city, thanks to Amakusa's aid. It was now fully operational.
With Saber hunting the Black Faction's Assassin, neutralizing their stealth killer, it was time to mobilize.
"Archer's gone. Everyone we can muster is here." Amakusa said, standing beside Semiramis, surveying the Servants below.
Achilles lounged on the floor, Karna stood silently, Semiramis sat regally, and Caster was en route.
This was Amakusa's full force, plus the uncontrollable Saber outside. More than enough to win the war.
Today, with Saber distracted, Amakusa planned to seize the Greater Grail, sidelining Saber. They weren't allies, and Saber's ability to summon allies made him wary.
"While Saber eliminates their Assassin, we'll deploy fully and engage the Black Faction head-on!" Amakusa declared.
Caster arrived, completing the lineup. Amakusa stepped forward, smiling at his forces.
"My comrades, our war begins now!"
***
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