They Call me Vox

Singularity F: Act 6

When the party of Olga, Mash, Ushiwakamaru, and Vox stopped running, they had returned to the side of the river, the bridge nearby.

"Well, we're back to square one," Vox mutters to herself.

Sionnach, who had been in spirit form for the last two hours, nods her head and nuzzles Vox from her perch on the Master's shoulder. Vox reaches up to scratch her familiar's chin as the Director finishes catching her breath.

"For God's sake, what is happening?" Olga asks, "Why are Servants here?"

"My theory is that they participated in the Grail War," Vox explains, "And there's enough mana in the air for then to survive without their Masters."

"A sound theory, but that doesn't explain their aggression," Olga points out.

Vox shrugs, "Yeah, I got nothing for that."

From the shadows, a knife comes flying towards Mash. Vox's eyes widen and she quickly swipes Solas Dawn downwards, one of the runes glowing ᛉ, "Algiz! We've got company!"

A semi-transparent barrier appears between the projectile and Mash. The knife shatters against the barrier, as Ushiwakamaru takes a protective stance in front of her Master. Mash turns and holds up her shield. From where the throwing knife came from, a shadowy figure steps out.

"Shadow Servant!" Vox calls out.

"Shadow Servant?" Olga gives Vox an unimpressed look.

"What? They're like a Servant, but not. More like a shadow. Thus, Shadow Servant," Vox reasons defensively.

"I found it," the Shadow Servant's voice is masculine and distorted, "New prey. The Grail shall be mine!"

Mash knocks away a throwing knife with her shield, "Master! Now is not the time!"

"Servant signal confirmed," Roman says in Vox's ear, "Assassin class."

"Right, right. Ushi, engage! Mash cover her!" Vox orders, "This thing's an Assassin class, so it'll have more than a few tricks."

"Understood, Master," the Servants chorus.

Both Servants charge the Shadow Servant. The Assassin, in response, flings multiple throwing knives. Mash raises her shield in front of herself and Ushiwakamaru, blocking the knives. Once they are close enough, Ushiwakamaru darts out from behind Mash and strikes the Shadow Assassin multiple times.

The Shadow Servant, after the first few strikes, growls and dashes around Ushiwakamaru, only to run straight into Mash's shield bash.

"Yes!" Mash exclaims at her success, while the Shadow Servant leaps backward.

"This is a waste of time. I could have handled this on my own," the Shadow Assassin growls.

Vox tenses as she feels a second presence approaching, similar to Shadow Assassin's.

"Both of you get back!" Vox orders, "Another Servant is coming!"

"What-ah!" Mash exclaims as something strikes her, sending her flying. The Shielder crashes to the pavement near her Master's feet.

Ushiwakamaru leaps backward to stand before Mash as a new Shadow Servant joins Shadow Assassin. Vox rushes to help Mash up, pressing a hand to her shoulder as a rune glows on her palm ᛒ, "Berkana!"

Mash sighs as she feels a soothing feeling overwhelm her. A few seconds later, Vox removes her hand and pulls Mash to her feet. Mash stumbles and leans on her shield, clearly still tired.

"No way, another one!?" Olga shouts, "We're doomed!"

"Will you shut up!?" Vox shouts, looking the slightest bit tired, "Do you really have such little faith in us!?"