[Altair Brando]
Even from a distance, the bronze-skinned man curved his lips into a sarcastic smile the moment his eyes met mine.
With a fluid gesture, he materialized a sword in his hand and set it against the bowstring as if it were an arrow. Then, he drew the string to its limit before releasing it with a dry snap.
The blade cut through the air like a streak of silver lightning, whistling at high speed in my direction and leaving only a luminous trail streaking across the sky.
Still holding Olga firmly against my chest with my left arm, I stomped hard on the ground using my right foot, while my right hand rose, and at the same time, my eyes traced the projectile's trajectory.
With a swift motion, I caught the blade mid-flight. The cold metal vibrated against my palm, sending shock waves through my arm.
Without wasting a second, I used the blade's own impact to my advantage. Spinning my body, the muscles in my back and shoulders contracted in an explosion of force.
"Just returning the favor!" In a whip-like motion, I hurled the weapon back with all my strength.
The silver trail now traced its way back through the air, tracing its way back to its point of origin and exploding in a cascade of gleaming shards that demolished the building.
Did I hit him?
[Probably, but not directly, since I can still sense his magical energy.]
"Tsk!" I clicked my tongue, closing my eyes for an instant, letting the crimson-and-amber glow fade.
I guess there's no use crying over spilled milk.
Releasing a sigh, I turned my attention to Nahida.
So, now you can track magical energy?
[Yes, since the concept was established, I've already started analyzing it. Interestingly, there's a type of energy that fuels the magic of this world... almost like offering a succulent carrot to a horse pulling a cart.]
Wouldn't it be better to use "gasoline" and "car" as an analogy?
[Hmm... you're right. I'll update the term.]
I gave a faint smile to the little goddess of wisdom in my mind. But, like it or not, my attention returned to our mysterious attacker.
Archer...
That was one of the seven main classes in the Fate universe, specialized in projectile weapons.
I furrowed my brow, already having an idea of who used blades far more often than his bow.
"I'm... dizzy..." Olga murmured, still in my arms, interrupting my thoughts. One of her hands was at her mouth while she gripped my armor.
"Hahaha! My bad, ma chère." I moved my hand, setting her down on the ground beside me.
She steadied her feet, leaning on my shoulder to balance, while Mash and Ritsuka approached with wide eyes.
"What was that?!" Ritsuka looked from side to side, afraid another surprise attack would happen.
She looked almost paranoid.
"A servant." Olga moved her hand, fixing her hair. "Probably an Archer."
Not just any Archer, to be more exact: one with bronze skin who liked to play hero.
Despite the absence of the red overcoat, it was definitely the heroic spirit EMIYA, a future version of the protagonist of Fate/Stay Night.
I raised my hand, massaging my neck, thinking that if EMIYA was in this timeline, it increased the chance that the female version of King Arthur was also in this singularity, right?
"So... he can attack us at any moment." Ritsuka blinked her golden eyes, while her servant seemed to be alert to any movement.
Nahida?
[Don't worry. I've already managed to track his magical energy, and even if he can fire from a considerable distance, I can still perceive the magical energy of his attack... at least in time to warn you.]
Thank you.
Thanking her, I moved my hand toward the redhead. "Calm down." Giving a light flick to her forehead, I sketched a smile. "Thanks to my partner, I can detect his attacks, so you don't need to worry." Maintaining my smile, I tapped the tip of my index finger on my head.
"Partner?!" Ritsuka tilted her head, rubbing the forehead where I had flicked her.
Looking at her, the image of my little sister couldn't help but overlap with hers a bit...
I shook my head, dissipating some not-so-pleasant memories.
While I pushed certain memories away, Mash took a step forward, staring at me with concern.
"Altair-senpai, your hand." She raised her hand, pointing toward my arm.
"Hmm..." I murmured, feeling a burning in my hand, which was almost raw.
Seeing the red liquid dripping on the ground, I took a deep breath.
Although a sharp pain coursed through my body, I couldn't react.
Blood...
My hand began to tremble, and at the same time, my breathing became a bit heavier.
Now is not the time...
I breathed deeply, calming myself, while I wiped the blood.
[Are you okay?]
Wiping my hand almost frantically, I forced a smile.
Perfectly fine.
The secret to deceiving someone is to deceive yourself first.
At least, that's what I thought.
[Are you sure? Your epinephrine and norepinephrine levels have increased considerably.]
I'm fine! It's just a scratch.
[I see...]
I wore a dry smile. It seems it's not very easy to deceive Nahida. While I thought about this, the girl's eyes were on me.
"Hey! Hey! Why are you standing there with your mouth open?" I exclaimed, finishing cleaning the red liquid. "This is just a scratch. In a few seconds, I'll be fine."
In this case, I wasn't lying. My ⟨Pseudo-Perfect Immortality⟩ guaranteed almost perfect regeneration.
If it weren't for the diadem on my head that downgraded several abilities, my regeneration would be even more powerful.
"Brando?!" Olga stared at me with concern. For an instant, she seemed to have forgotten the Archer's welcome gift.
"Don't worry. I think at the moment we have bigger problems, right?"
"True." The instant that word left Olga's mouth, the silver bracelet on Ritsuka's wrist emitted a shrill sound, lighting up in blue.
A holographic screen formed, projecting the image of a slender man with pink hair, dressed in shades of green and white.
"Hello? Hello? Connection reestablished!" exclaimed the hologram, seeming quite relieved.
This level of technology was already witchcraft.
I crossed my arms over my chest, looking at the hologram.
"Doctor Roman!" Ritsuka smiled, her eyes shining.
"Fujimaru-chan, Mash! Can you hear me?" Roman shouted, worried, until his gaze fell on me. "And you, who are you?"
"Just an ally." I raised two fingers in a peace sign.
He furrowed his brow, but his attention soon returned to Olga. "D-Director! You're alive?!" he exclaimed, astonished.
"As much as possible. We just got attacked by a servant, but leaving that aside, Romani..." Olga took a step forward, narrowed her eyes at the man with strange hair. "Why are you in command? Where's Lev?"
Lev?! It was the second time that name came out of her mouth.
I didn't even need to use my first-rank deductive ability to perceive that, at minimum, he seemed to be someone important to her.
With Olga's question, Roman's shoulders fell. "Professor Lev... was at the epicenter of the explosion... I doubt there's anything left of him." His voice was heavy, indicating that a tragedy had occurred. "There's no hope he survived, Director."
Olga recoiled, her lips trembling. "No..." she whispered, her voice failing.
Roman continued, serious. "I'm the only one with seniority who's alive, Director. That's why I'm in command."
She raised her face, hope faltering. "And the forty-seven Master candidates who were in the Rayshift coffins?"
Roman closed his eyes, shaking his head. "All in critical condition. Chaldea has lost 80% of its functions. We're—"
"No!" Olga cut him off, furious. "Transfer them to cryopreservation now! The candidates' lives are the priority. They are humanity's hope!"
Hmm... she's holding it together well.
Probably, in my place, I'd be completely lost.
"Understood!" Roman stood up, running somewhere. The holographic call ended.
Olga seemed on the verge of collapse, her shoulders trembling. "Olga?" I called her softly.
She didn't respond, hiding her face in her hands. "If they don't die, all of this will have been worth it." Her voice was almost choked with tears. "I can't carry the weight of forty-seven lives on my shoulders."
"Director..." Mash murmured, worried.
I let out a sigh.
Carrying a burden was never easy.
With that thought, I looked at my hand, which was almost regenerated.
Even if I, obsessively, cleaned it, there would still be blood on it... both from people who deserved it... and from people who didn't.
"Everything will be all right." I closed my fist tightly, taking a step forward. "Tragedy is a temporary genre. We're going to solve this singularity together, so recover, ma chère." I moved my hand, resting it on her hair.
She froze, then raised her eyes, tears shining. "Brando..." She wiped her face, determination returning. "You're right. I'm letting myself get carried away." In an almost inaudible tone, she murmured: "Thank you."
Smiling, I pulled my hand from her hair. She was a naturally strong girl who just needed a little push.
My dear theatrical arts are the greatest catalyst for personal transformation.
"We need reinforcements." Olga composed herself, murmuring: "Ritsuka, you're a novice Master and can't handle another Servant. So..." Her eyes fell on the back of my hand, which displayed the command seal. "Brando, you're going to summon a Servant."
"At your orders, Miss Director." I couldn't help but make a dramatic bow.
"First, a base camp. We need a Leyline Terminal." She crossed her arms, thoughtful.
"Director," Mash said, pointing down. "There's a Ley point right here."
"What? Yes, of course, I knew that!" Olga let out a cough, her face blushing a bit.
I contained my smile, placing the back of my hand over my mouth.
"Mash, place your shield on the ground. I'm going to create a summoning circle for Brando, using your Noble Phantasm as a catalyst," Olga instructed. Before continuing, Mash looked at Ritsuka.
"Is that okay, Senpai?"
Ritsuka shrugged. "Go ahead."
Mash nodded and positioned her shield on the ground.
While they worked, I approached Ritsuka, who was kicking pebbles absentmindedly.
"Are you okay?"
"Well..." she gave me an ironic smile. "I'm a bit paranoid about the possibility of being attacked at any moment, but I'm alive. For now, that's a start." She shrugged.
"Good answer, Petite Rousse."
"Petite Rousse?!" She tilted her head to the side.
My years in a certain country that likes revolution should serve for something.
"It means little redhead." I smiled at her.
"Hmm... not a bad nickname, Al-kun." She interlaced her arms behind her back, giving me a broad smile.
"A nickname for a nickname, huh?" I scratched my chin, looking at her with amusement.
"That's how we roll around here, partner." Ritsuka raised her arm, stretching.
"You're quite a spirited person, huh?"
"It's what's left for an ordinary person." She held her chin, staring at my arm. "And your hand?"
I raised my palm, already healed. "Good as new."
"You're like the Incredible Hulk." She crossed her arms, giving me an amused look.
"Weird comparison."
"I'm a bit of a nerd." She scratched her cheek, a shy smile forming on her lips.
Before I could respond, the ground beneath us vibrated. Rings of magical energy appeared over Mash's shield, spinning slowly, then accelerating. A white light, speckled with golden dust, illuminated the circle.
"This is... like Chaldea's summoning chamber," Mash murmured, impressed.
"Not on the same level, but it works," said Olga, confidently. "Brando, do you know the chant?"
"I think so," I replied, advancing toward the shield.
Nahida, can you transcribe the summoning ritual from Fate/Stay Night from my memory?
[Certainly, I'll just modify some parts.]
In an instant, a version of the ritual seemed to be downloaded into my brain. I hope this works, I thought, raising my hand.
"Let silver and steel be the essence. Let stone and the Archduke of Contracts be the foundation. Let the will to fight be my tribute. Let a wall rise against the wind that shall fall. Let the four cardinal gates close..."
The marks on my hand began to burn like fire.
"Let the three-forked road leading to the kingdom turn. Let it be filled. Again and again and again and again..."
The rings spun wildly, making the circle shine even brighter, while the burning increased.
"Let it be filled five times for each turn, shattering each time it is filled."
The light exploded in purple thunder, consuming everything before my eyes. Amid the crackling lightning, a figure emerged.
An elegant woman with long hair tied in a ponytail emerged between the thunderbolts, which dissipated revealing purple eyes that met mine.
"Good day, dear Magus-san." A beautiful voice that overflowed with maternal love echoed through the space. "I am Minamoto-no-Raikou." A smile formed on her lips.
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A/N: A mother among mothers who wears purple latex was summoned.
Don't forget to throw power stones and leave a review or drop a comment to motivate me.
(Minamoto-no-Raikou - Character Image)