FATE\Deus Decipit

Chapter 31: Flying Too High

11:55pm, Lykavittos Hill

Berserker swung up, tearing the stone and earth of Lykavittos Hill to shreds. The diner and chapel both collapsed from the force of thunder and rubble as the height of the hill was reduced by nearly two meters with a single attack.

Time slowed as Berserker flew in a cloud of rubble and dust towards the shadowed Archer, axe held high and ready to smite the pest that had threatened his Master. Archer, for his part, had no intention of being smote.

He jumped across the flying rubble using other pieces as cover, and as the colossus brought his axe down on nothing but dust, Archer flipped up and behind him, readying an arrow upside-down and letting loose only a few feet from Berserker's back. The exploding arrow cloaked Archer in smoke and flame and sent him flying back as Berserker continued forward in his unstoppable momentum.

In the back of Archer's mind, a voice, 'Archer! Watch Rider!'

It took only a moment to see what his Master meant.

Rider soared past and below Archer, moving towards the body of his unconscious Master on the hill below them.

Another roar of thunder.

A flash of white ivory cloaked in blue lightning shot towards him in the air, faster than any bullet.

Archer, still upside-down, focused on the blur in front of him and exploded in a burst of utter blackness, a sphere of impenetrable ink floating in air that Berserker, in his blind rage, charged through without hesitation, emerging on the other side without err except that the lightning around his body seemed somehow less than it had been before...

Archer emerged from the cloud as Berserker fell behind him and, as if running on air, leaped towards the other side of the hill, his supernatural sight peeled for Rider.

It didn't take long.

Off past the hill was a longboat that flew through the air, a shining green vessel with golden veins, and atop it was Rider, clearly marked by his beacon of glowing locks.

Sprinting across non-existent ground, he charged towards the vessel. It was moving fast, but not nearly fast enough to escape, especially since it had just cast off.

In his mind, 'What are you doing, Archer? What's going on? I can't see!'

'All under control, Master.'

Archer landed on the vessel opposite Rider.

In a flash, Rider's fist planted itself in Archer's face, without enough time for him, even with his heightened senses, to predict. He was sent back with a 'thunk' against the back of the long-ship, but Rider wouldn't let up. In a flurry faster than falling rain, each blow struck true. Hooks led into uppercuts, and back again, each fist flowing with golden radiance, until-

He missed.

Archer's head moved just out of the way of the next blow, and Rider's fist struck into the stern. Sensing his first- and so far only- opportunity, Archer pivoted and raised his crow's foot to strike into Rider's gut.

As if on skates, Rider leaned back into a spin, spiraling like a falling leaf back into his initial stance, fists raised.

Archer stood up, wind rushing by as the boat continued on its course, "Well that seemed awfully uncalled for. Am I not good enough for your alliance?"

"For as far as I am concerned, the greatest tragedy of this day is that you've no teeth for me to break."

"Harsh."

"Worry not. I shall settle for thine head."

Rider charged forward again, but Archer was prepared now. Each blow was met, if only barely. He blocked the incoming attacks, his forearms taking the brunt of Rider's armored fists. Though aching with pain, he remained standing nonetheless, but lacked the speed to counter. All his focus was taken by watching the incoming attacks, his senses watching the attacks before they happened, but his body failing to keep up. It was only a matter of time before Rider's lead became too much to compensate for, and he pivoted to send his ankle into Archer's side. As Archer's block faltered, Rider grabbed his arm and pulled him into a hold, forcing his forearms into the small of his back.