The story of how Ritsuka summoned Saber – Artoria Pendragon [Alter] – was quite peculiar.
Some time ago, back in Chaldea, Ritsuka was aimlessly wandering the corridors, trying to dispel his boredom. Suddenly, a person in Chaldea staff uniform appeared before him and thrust an envelope into his hands without a word.
"Fujimaru Ritsuka, right? A letter for you."
"Huh?" Ritsuka was taken aback.
A letter? From whom? The world is engulfed in the flames of anthropogenic burning – who could possibly send a message? Hundreds of guesses swirled in his head.
"Perhaps you have the wrong addressee?"
"No mistake. See? It's written in hieroglyphs: 'Fujimaru Ritsuka'. That's you."
The employee, whose face was hidden by the deep brim of his cap, pointed a finger at the clearly written name on the envelope. Ritsuka, still in doubt, accepted the message.
"But still, who are you..."
Turning the envelope in his hands and wondering what was inside, Ritsuka looked up to examine the mysterious messenger, but he was nowhere to be found. The corridor was empty.
"What was that?"
A chill ran down his spine – could it be the work of one of the ghosts rumored to roam Chaldea? But curiosity got the better of him. Looking around, Ritsuka carefully opened the envelope.
"A summoning ticket?"
A card, resembling a lottery ticket or a special summoning voucher, fell out of the envelope. On the back it read:
"Fate/Grand Order: 4-Star Servant Choice Ticket."
Ritsuka's eyes widened.
Four stars was a rank second only to the legendary fifth. And now he held in his hands something that allowed him not just to summon, but to *choose* such a powerful Servant.
"This... this is definitely mine. There can be no mistake."
Swallowing, Ritsuka felt his palms grow damp.
Deep down, he understood that this was most likely a misdelivery and the ticket was not meant for him. But looking at his name on the envelope, he began to frantically search for justifications.
"What if it's a gift from myself from another reality?"
a wild thought flashed, and he rushed to the Fate system.
"Saber isn't here, so I'll choose Saber."
Just then, his team was lacking a Servant of that class, and this stroke of luck couldn't have come at a better time. Ritsuka decisively activated the ticket, picturing the warrior he needed. The Fate system hummed, a blinding golden light flashed, and Saber stepped out of the radiance.
"That's how it all happened,"
Ritsuka finished his story, clutching the remote control.
Deadpool, having listened to the explanation, unceremoniously snatched the remote.
"Listen here, kid. If any types calling themselves 'admins' ever show up, go into full denial. Put on a poker face and say you know nothing."
"Why would I do that?"
"Just do as I say. Don't ask questions. Your life is on the line. Under no circumstances admit that you used this ticket. Otherwise, your 'account' will be wiped to hell..."
Surprisingly, Deadpool didn't throw a tantrum about the injustice of the universe or how Ritsuka got such a freebie. On the contrary, he was unusually calm. In his gaze, fixed on the young man, there was even something akin to pity. Ritsuka felt a bad premonition.
"Saber, you say. Obviously, for me, a Lancer, she's the worst opponent."
The atmosphere on the battlefield grew tense again. Karna, spotting Artoria Alter, smiled almost imperceptibly. Finally, a worthy opponent. He adjusted his grip on his spear.
"Lancer? We have a class advantage. But... a Divine Spirit? His mana reserve is off the charts."
The usually arrogant Saber Alter immediately cast aside any disdain. The majesty emanating from Karna told her: this opponent was deadly.
"Master, listen carefully,"
Geronimo said quietly.
"We're not going to defeat him here and now. We just need to buy time. As soon as Saber unleashes her Noble Phantasm – run for your lives. Even Karna, the Divine Spirit, will slow down if he takes a direct hit from a superior class Phantasm."
Ritsuka, heeding the advice, commanded Saber to use her Phantasm. However, she indifferently began to pick at her ear, then blew away an imaginary speck of dust from her finger without changing her stance.
"What's wrong?"
Ritsuka was confused.
Of course, Saber had a bad temper – prickly, sharp, always dissatisfied with everything – but she rarely ignored direct combat orders. However, the reason turned out to be prosaic.
"Where have you ever seen Phantasms fired at the very beginning of a fight?"
Deadpool interjected.
"You didn't put 'Kaleidoscope' in her slot, did you? That means her NP gauge is at zero. And how do you expect her to unleash it? Kid, you're trying to start a car with an empty tank!"
Realizing his mistake, Ritsuka hastily extended his hand with the remaining two Command Spells. He didn't want to waste them, but the situation was critical.
"By the authority of the Command Spell, I command! Artoria Pendragon Alter! Activate your Noble Phantasm!"
One tattoo disappeared, and a colossal stream of magical energy surged into Saber's body. Her eyes flashed with anger, she raised her black sword, unleashing primordial power.
"Wail. Your hour of downfall has come."
A furious magical vortex swirled around Saber Alter. The energy concentrated in the black blade pulsed and throbbed, seeking to destroy all life within its range. Karna, seeing the power of the impending blow, went into a defensive posture.
The Sword of Promised Victory...
"Excalibur Morgan!"
She brought the blade down, and a torrent of black light, like a furious typhoon, swept everything in its path. The dark radiation engulfed Karna and pierced through the forest, literally plowing up the earth.
"Now! Run!"
"After me, Saber!"
At Geronimo's signal, Ritsuka bolted, calling out to his Servant as he ran. Karna, who had barely managed to dodge a direct hit from the beam, silently watched the escaping prisoners. It seemed the loss of hostages didn't concern him too much.
"We will meet again. And then... I will fight you with all my might."
The thrill of the battle with the mighty Saber Alter outweighed his duty as a pursuer.
Having successfully escaped Karna, the group left the vicinity of the White Castle and reached the resistance camp Geronimo had mentioned.
The rebels, dressed in uniforms from the War of Independence, greeted their leader with undisguised joy.
"We heard you were captured by the Mechanized Legion! How did you manage to get out?"
"Thanks to these people,"
Geronimo indicated Ritsuka and the others.
"Without them, I'd still be rotting in a cell."
The soldiers immediately surrounded Ritsuka and Mash, showering them with thanks.
"Enough talk. We're breaking camp,"
Geronimo commanded.
"Now that we're free, the pursuit won't be far behind. We're moving to the rendezvous point 'Green Code'."
The joy of reunion was short-lived. The President-King surely already knew about the escape and had dispatched a punitive squad. Understanding this, Geronimo acted quickly.
"I'm sorry to rush you again. We've confused Karna, but the trackers might pick up our trail... If you have nowhere to go, I suggest you join us."
"We agree,"
Mash replied, exchanging glances with Ritsuka.
"We also have something important to discuss with you."
Accepting the offer, the group followed the rebels to the meeting place.
"So, what important matter did you want to discuss?"
"Do you know why we are here?"
To Ritsuka's polite question, Geronimo replied that although their acquaintance in prison was short, he immediately felt that a great mission lay on the shoulders of these young people.
"Actually, we are looking for the Holy Grail – the reason for the appearance of this singularity and this war."
Ritsuka explained that the conflict between the armies of America and the Celts was born from the Grail. And the only way to restore history to its normal course was to find and retrieve this artifact.
"So, if we get the Grail, the war ends?"
"Yes. But..."
Mash faltered, and Geronimo understood from her face that it wouldn't be so simple.
He was a native American. In true history, the lands of North America were taken from indigenous peoples by Puritan settlers. A tragic fate where the rightful owners lose their lands and are confined to reservations.
"My people and I are doomed to tragedy. I know this."
Geronimo smiled carelessly, trying to reassure Mash.
"Geronimo, don't you and your people harbor any resentment towards America?"
Nightingale asked, carrying Deadpool on her back, noticing his bitter expression.
"If the Holy Grail fell into your hands, you could fulfill your wish and erase the history of your conquest."
"History is like a great river. You can swim against the current, but it's not enough to change the order of things. Even if I go against it, the river itself won't flow backward. As a warrior, I will simply humbly accept the blood shed by my kin."
Nightingale smiled with satisfaction, seeing his unwavering conviction.
"We've arrived. This is the rendezvous point."
The place Geronimo indicated turned out to be an abandoned village. Due to the war, refugees had massed to the east, leaving their homes. The village itself was still clean – the flames of battle had not yet touched these places. It seemed they could rest here.
"Geronimo! Are you alright?"
Another Resistance fighter, waiting at the location, came to meet them.
"Where is Code Green? Hasn't he arrived yet?"
"Ah, here he is."
As soon as Geronimo asked, one of the rebels pointed into the distance. A man in a green cloak was running towards them. His face was impossible to discern from under the deep hood – only a cigarette clenched between his teeth was visible.
"Geronimo! You're alive! I mean, that's not what I meant... Anyway, sorry!"
Breathing heavily, Code Green ran up to them. When he threw back his hood, a young man with red hair was revealed.
"Code Green. Or rather, Robin Hood. What's the intel on the Celtic side?"
"Well... that's exactly what I wanted to talk about."
Robin Hood scratched the back of his head in confusion, and at that moment, a detachment of Celtic soldiers appeared from the direction he had come.
"Sorry. I was spotted after all."
Fortunately, there were no Servants among them. The detachment looked formidable, but the Resistance also had Servants, so dealing with them wouldn't be difficult.
"Green... green again... I hate that color. Green is the color of curses!"
"Shut up, you lunatic! I'm about to start treating these Celts. You'll be shaking, so clench this between your teeth so you don't bite off your tongue."
While the others prepared for battle, Nightingale stuffed a clean rag into the mouth of the incoherently muttering Deadpool, silencing him.
"Master. So, we just need to slaughter this stupid herd?"
"Huh? Yes... exactly."
Saber Alter raised her sword with a smirk, looking at the mindless sheep that were walking into a tiger's maw.
◇
The skirmish with the Celts ended instantly. However, the fact that so many soldiers were pursuing them meant one thing: the Celtic forces were still immense.
"We'll have to return to headquarters. We need to end this war between America and the Celts somehow, but one side simply won't listen to us, and the other is stubbornly digging in. It's a complete headache."
Spreading out a map of North America, Geronimo discussed further action plans with Robin Hood.
Meanwhile, Ritsuka and the others, standing guard in case of a surprise attack, wondered where the Grail might be.
"Maybe it's with Edison?"
"No,"
Mash replied.
"If the Grail were with him, he would have long ago reshaped it to his needs and created his ideal American world."
Ritsuka's first thought was Edison, but knowing his fanatical determination, he wouldn't have hesitated. Therefore, Edison didn't have the Grail.
"Then that leaves the Celts. Who's in command there?"
"Probably that Tyrant King Cú Chulainn that Pool-san fought?"
At Mash's words, Deadpool shuddered, recalling that terrifying gaze and the cursed spear that had torn his body to shreds. He vowed to himself: no matter the cost, he would definitely shove something up that guy's backside.
"But when I fought him, I didn't get the feeling he had the Grail with him..."
"Then with the Resistance?"
Deadpool looked at Ritsuka as if he were an idiot.
"Listen, kid. If these poor souls had the Grail, would they be suffering so much?"
"But who has it then? If none of the three do."
The conversation returned to a dead end.
The Servants from Edison's camp certainly didn't possess the artifact – that became clear after meeting each of them in the White Castle of Denver.
"So, most likely, with the Celts. Tyrant King Cú Chulainn, Fiona's knights... Or one of the Servants we haven't met yet."
"At this point, Cú Chulainn is the most likely candidate."
While they were deep in thought, Saber Alter, who had been standing aside indifferently, appeared next to Ritsuka and unceremoniously patted his shoulder.
"Oh, my goodness!"
Ritsuka jumped as if scalded when Saber Alter, who had approached silently, stared at him with her cat-like golden eyes.
"Master. I'm hungry. Bring me food. Preferably some fast food."
As soon as she said this, Ritsuka's and Mash's stomachs rumbled traitorously. Come to think of it, they hadn't eaten anything since their arrival. Without access to spiritual veins and normal supplies, it was difficult to expect lunch.
"Oh, this is bad. This is Saber Alter. We can endure, but if we make her endure..."
Deadpool whispered in Ritsuka's ear,
"...she'll send us to the 'Taiga Dojo' in an instant!"
Pausing for a second, Deadpool announced he had an idea and ran off to the rebels. After talking with them, he returned, dragging several sacks.
"Got the provisions. Wait a moment, I'll show you a master class."
With these words, he disappeared into the kitchen.
"Oh no... not this..."
Ritsuka instinctively clutched his stomach. His stomach seemed to sense danger. The nightmare from the Orleans incident flashed in his memory...
"Hey! Lunch is ready-mucho, amigos!"
Soon, Deadpool called everyone, donning a poncho, cactus hat, and fake Mexican mustache that appeared from nowhere. Wielding a mariachi guitar and inserting broken Spanish words, he presented the menu:
"Today's special... nothing special! Chimichanga-la-muerte! La cucaracha~ And for the kid, I've prepared a special chimichanga with a secret sauce that will instantly boost your magical energy!"
Ritsuka expected to see something incredibly spicy, like those jalapeños in Orleans, but the chimichangas looked quite normal. Cautiously, he pointed to his portion:
"Wade... what did you put in it?"
As if reading his fear, Deadpool broke into a smile that, in its malice, surpassed even Saber Alter's.
"We're in America! That's why I Spe. Ci. Al. Ly added 'Carolina Reaper' peppers!"
Looking at that sinister grin, only one thought beat in Ritsuka's head:
"Run."