They Call me Vox

Singularity 1: Act 14

'What? Where... am I? What happened?'

"Why not just leave one of us with her as a guard while the rest storm the castle?" a voice asks.

'Amadeus?'

"I am one of our most capable fighters, and I will not leave Vox's side!" another voice declares, "So unless you wish to storm the castle without me, we will wait."

'Artoria?'

"We don't have the time to wait!" a voice shouts, though it cracks at the highest pitch, making it sound more like a screech, "Alter is likely summoning more Servants as we speak!"

'Elisabeth?'

"But without Senpai, who would lead us?" a quieter voice asks.

'Mash?'

Annoyed with being in the dark, literally, I manage a groan as I try to open my eyes. There's a rustling as multiple presences of high concentrations of mana, my Servants, approach me. One, a wild flame that is barely contained - Kiyohime - approaches me the fastest. Another presence, this one a more controlled but all the more powerful inferno - Artoria - stops Kiyohime and approaches me first. She is followed closely by a smaller presence, that is both regal and child-like at the same time - Gil.

"Vox, can you hear me?" Artoria asks.

I manage to open my eyes and look around. My Servants surround me, with Artoria kneeling beside me and Gil standing just behind her. We seem to have made camp in the forest, and the sun is lower in the sky.

"Yep," I get out, "How... how long was I out?"

"A few hours," Artoria replies, "You had me-us worried."

I note the slip up for later pondering.

"What's the situation?"

"Alter and Berserk Caster retreated to Orleans, and have taken refuge in the castle at its center. We suspect that Alter is planning to summon reinforcements," Artoria explains, "We were waiting for you to awake."

Elisabeth goes to argue, but Artoria silences her with a glare. I chuckle to myself and, with some difficulty, sit up.

"Well, what are we waiting for? Let's get moving," I grin.

Timeskip(brought to you by Artoria being confused by Vox's eccentricity)

"Ain't this place welcoming," I comment as we walk through the halls of the castle, the only sounds being our footsteps and the "tap tap tap" of Solas Dawn against the floor since I'm using it as an improvised cane.

The halls are dimly lit by wall-mounted candles, illuminating the black and red wallpaper, decorations, and the occasional bloodstain. It really screams "evil castle", and I can imagine the sounds of creepy organ music echoing through the halls.

We've been walking for maybe an hour, I can't really tell, when I pick up a strong magical presence around the corner.

"Vox, there's a Servant up ahead!" Roman informs, confirming my theory, "Be careful!"

I roll my eyes, "No shit, Roman. What do you expect me to do, rush 'em? I can barely walk!"

A creepy laugh prevents me from continuing my rant, and I glare at Berserk Caster as he walks out from around the corner.

"Gilles!" Jeanne exclaims.

"This is most interesting," Gilles says, "Who would've guessed you'd defeat Fafnir and show yourself here in Orleans. Honestly, I'm impressed."

I scoff, "Like I, or anyone else here, cares for your opinion."

"Nevertheless! I must stop you! My comrade Prelati, grant me your power!" Gilles screams, holding up the spellbook in his right hand. The object seems to be wreathed in an aura of dark magic. Magic that only the most inhumane, or insane, magus would use. 

"Master, your orders?" Mash asks, raising her shield.

"Sabers, Berserker, Ruler, upfront! Riders, Lancer, flank him. Archer, Caster, suppressing fire," I command, "Mash, I could use your shield."

Artoria, Siegfried, Kiyohime, and Jeanne rush Gilles. Georgios and Ushiwakamaru flank either side of the Caster, while Elisabeth runs with Ushiwakamaru. Amadeus and Gil begin raining magical attacks and weapons, respectively, down on Gilles. Finally, Mash steps in front of me, shield raised to block any stray attacks.

I watch, grinning, as the first volley of ranged attacks closes in on Gilles. My grin morphs into a gape as Gilles mutters something to the now open spellbook, raises his free hand, and summons giant octopus tentacles from thin air. The tentacles are shades of dark purple with ugly yellow spots, and the average one looks to be as thick as a tree trunk. A few of the thicker tentacles rise to form a wall of withering flesh.

"boom"

The volley of ranged attacks impacts against the tentacles, scattering pieces of purple and pink flesh that dissolve into a dark purple mist. The remaining tentacles lower back down, while others lash out at my advancing Servants.

I watch as Artoria, Siegfried, and Jeanne make their way through the disturbing mass of flesh, cleaving apart tentacles. Kiyohime is a short ways away from them, sending waves of fire at the summoned tentacles and filling the air with the scent of burned seafood. 

My Riders and Lancer are having trouble as well. The thinnest, and thus most agile, of the tentacles whip at my Servants, forcing them to utilize their speed to avoid getting hit. I spot Ushiwakamaru lunge through the air, diving between three tentacles and severing them in a flash of steel.

I let out an involuntary yelp as a piece of severed tentacle flies at me, only to be intercepted by Mash. I shudder as the bit of flesh twitches and squirms on the floor before dissolving.

"Master, did you not once tell me that your teacher had shown you so much that nothing will bother you?" Mash asks, and I swear I can hear the slightest amount of teasing in her voice.

I glare at the back of my first Servant, "Yeah well, I don't think Oide thought it would be necessary to prepare me for this."

"Mmhm," Mash hums, and I slump against Solas Dawn as I realize she's won this verbal spar.

'Perhaps Roman is right, I am rubbing off on Mash.'

I am brought back to reality when Elisabeth crashes to the floor nearby, though she quickly gets to her feet.

"You alright?" I ask.

"I'm fine, foxy," Elisabeth says, "I managed to get a hit on him."

I glance over and manage to catch a glimpse of Gilles through the mass of tentacles. The Berserk Caster is more hunched over than when I last saw him, with one hand clutching his stomach.

"Nice work. You think that the rest of you all could finish him off if I take Arty, Jeanne, and Mash to take care of Alter?" I ask.

"I believe so," Elisabeth replies.

"Great. Mash, cover me," I say, before shouting, "Artoria, Jeanne, we're moving!"

The moment I receive the two pulses of confirmation through the Master-Servant bonds, the Raido runes trailing down my clothes light up. I crouch down before exploding forward in a burst of speed, aiming for the hall Gilles had come from. Mash runs beside me, shield raised to defend us.

I hear a scream of outrage and four large tentacles swing towards us. Two blue and silver blurs streak by, leaping into the air and striking down the tentacles before landing. Jeanne and Artoria join Mash and I as we round the corner. At the end of the hall is a large double-door, mostly likely behind which is Alter.

"Artoria, if you would be so kind?" I ask.

"It would be my pleasure, Vox," Artoria answers.

The King of Knights rushes ahead of the group and strikes the doors with Excalibur, destroying them. Jeanne, Mash, and I arrive beside her. With a final glance at the women beside me, we all enter the room where our final enemy waits.