Sneaking into the alley, Ilyasviel Von Einzbern and Tohsaka Rin walked side-by-side, albeit with begrudging expressions. Rin, huffing in anger, kicked a small can of red bean soda aside, pissed off at the current situation. "What's with this shitty situation!? First, the rules of the Holy Grail War got changed from the regular 7 to 14, and now, making the great me join forces with my enemy!? This must be some sick joke the Root is playing with me..."
Quivering to the side, Ilya hunched her back inwards, praying that Rin did not turn her attention towards her. Even back when Kiritsugu was here, Rin always bullied her, pinching her cheeks, hiding her underwear, and even revealing to her big brother Shirou her private collection of 'Shirou memorabilia'. Sure, Shirou dismissed the whole thing as a joke, but for the next 7 months, he was always on the edge whenever she was near his bin (oohhh, that damn thieving cat!).
Sighing, Ilya was about to turn to the next alley, when she felt her surroundings distort in the air. "Careful, we seem to have entered a bounded field..."
Gone was the all-familiar wind and bustle of the city, all being left was the unnatural silence of the street. Muscles tensing, Rin held a hand in front of her, shielding a young Ilya from their enemies (or at least, trying to...).
Standing in front of them were Caules Forvedge and Grey, both students of Waver Velvet, the pseudo-El Melloi II. Both were studying in the Tower of London, having been there for more years than Rin herself (she was never invited there, much to her chagrin...). "Miss Tohsaka, it must be with the utmost pity to have you removed from the war, but for our sakes, please, ask your Servants to commit suicide..."
Gritting her teeth, Rin defiantly replied, "Never!"
Sighing, Caules tilted his glasses up. "Grey, Lancer, attack!"
As both sides began their attacks, the peanut gallery on top of the 3 storey building could be seen cheering for their respective teams...
"Yeah, go Arty! Beat the shit out of Herky! I bet 3 packs of Jolly sticks with Osakabehime, and momma doesn't wanna lose her sticks!"
"Senpai, we're supposed to learn our enemies, not freaking bet on them! And where did you get them from!? You didn't steal them from me again, did you!?"
"Woo! Woo! Go, Mommy Kafka! Beat them all up!"
"Why am I babysitting these degens again..."
Head in hands, Shinji turned to the livestream, where new members were watching the fight (alongside some very rude comments about the ladies - damn these flame wars!)
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A couple of hours earlier...
After dealing with the mess that was the transmogrification of little Hook, the group was alerted to their group chat once again.
[Ding! Ding! Thanks to my awesome performance review in the Association of Systems, I was allotted more energy, which means... *drum roll*, MORE NEW MEMBERS FOR US!!! Please welcome...]
As the group watched earnestly, the names of the new members joined in, their tags flashing on the screen:
[Ding! Welcome 'Doom That Stank']
[Ding! Welcome 'Unrequited Dog Who Lost']
[Doom That Stank: Oi, where's this!? Jarvis, scan for any foreign neural invasions!]
[Unrequited Dog Who Lost: Um, hello, who are you all? What Maken is this?]