The King of the Grail's Fate (Fate/Nasuverse)

Chapter XXVIII: Duel

"Absolutely not, why would we agree to that," Salter says stepping in front of Harrison. The man laughs to himself, "Oh I could think of at least one, your friend Stella, have you checked on her recently." Harrison immediately shifts to one of concern, if Stella is in danger Harrison would have to get involved. "Why what do you know?" Harrison asks in a harsh tone his patience already waning for this character, the man continues with a devious smile on his lips. "If you win I will tell you," without missing a beat knowing how these things go, "And what if we lose?" The man shakes his head in disagreement, "Not we, no using that servant specifically," he says pointing to Salter. "As for what if you lose, well I want your servant," Harrison stares at the man about 50ft away with a face that is cold as stone. Harrison would never bet another person's well-being away no matter how badly he wants the information presented. "No," he says simply shocking even Salter a little bit. "I will not wager someone else's life, I am not their keeper or owner that is a decision that person should make on their own," Harrison continues still staring down at the man.

"W-what but your her master that shouldn't matter you could do whatever you like with her," the man says trying to understand why Harrison cares. It is at this point that Salter whispers to Harrison, "Righter I really don't want you to fight him, I feel like you are still injured, but I also know Stella is a close friend..." a long moment passes as Salter takes a deep breath, "So make sure to crush him." Harrison pats the top of Salter's head as he steps out from behind her, "So the deal is I am not allowed to use my Saber-class servant and you aren't allowed to use your servant as well, and if I win you tell me about Stella and if you win you get my servant," Harrison grimaces at the thought of the last part. "I agree to those conditions," the man says, when he does Harrison feels a pull from his mana as a deal is created and cemented with both of their magic.

Harrison being slightly familiar with how deals between mages tend to work from other fantasy genres and the like, figures that if either of them breaks the rules they will most likely automatically lose the duel or die altogether. Harrison could feel the blood pump inside his veins as his body seemed to flare to life anticipating the challenge. The man smiled as he ran to the left of Harrison in a circular motion. "Schattenkugel!" Harrison saw the man's magic circuits spring to life as a black orb seemed to materialize in the palm of his hand as he ran. Harrison realized at this moment he never even learned the name of the master he is fighting, "I should probably find that out and some point," he thought to himself. 

Harrison's entire personality seemed to shift, even Salter noticed the cold calm, and calculated aura around him as he was unfazed by his opponent as if he was working on a very limited supply of energy and would only move if absolutely required. Proving this theory when the man finally released his magecraft and the back orb that seemed to fade in and out of existence flew towards the back of Harrison's head, at the last moment he moved his head to the side only enough to barely dodge the shot as he starred daggers to his opponent. 

It was Harrison's turn now as his magic circuits flared to life, however for the first time no pain shot through his system as Harrison focused on controlling his output of energy. Only letting the water of mana flow through the small hole of his magic circuits in the damn of his mana pool. "You never told me your name," Harrison said his voice cold and robotic even. The man laughed to himself, "How stupid of me, you can call me Scott," as he did call this out to Harrison a legion of the Schattenkugel came flying at him, easily upwards of 20. 

Salter had moved to the sidelines at this point however, it still took all of her self-control not to jump in as she felt especially at this point with all of the injuries Harrison had sustained that he wouldn't be able to get out of this without taking a beating. The shots came at Harrison in predictable straight-line trajectories which led Harrison to only move slightly to the right or left as he took step by step toward Scott. Surprisingly, Scott had put a second shot right behind another obscuring the second shot so that Harrison didn't see it coming and it impacted hard sending smoke billowing out of the impact site.

"HA not so arrogant now huh?" Scott called out to Harrison. Though as the smoke began to clear it revealed Harrison with a scowl on his face as he held his hand where the shot impacted, it was only lightly singed from the large impact. "I'm done messing around," Harrison thought to himself he had friends that might be in trouble it was time to finish things. Taking a breath Harrison lowered himself into the stance Salter had drilled into him from Kampfringen. He saw Scott reach behind himself as he began to pull out a metal object of sorts, to Harrison it didn't matter if it was to be a sword, dagger, or anything else his strategy was still the same.

Darting forward like a bullet crossing 100ft in an instant Harrison was on top of Scott. Panic evident in the other man's eyes he fully unsheathed the object he had been hiding, releasing a large blast of energy that Harrison only narrowly avoided as it blew off a chunk of skin on his shoulder causing him to grimace. As Harrison backed off he noticed the definitive difference in magecraft between the two attacks shown off by Scott. That wand allowed him to borrow the power of another it had to at least. It was completely different than the magecraft Scott showed off earlier and Harrison also didn't see his magic circuits light up which is a typical tell of magecraft. He didn't have a lot of time to think about it as Harrison had to focus on dodging even with the increased durability and speed he gains with his circuits active he was only barely keeping himself alive. He did manage to steal a glance towards Salter. She had a face of concern and calculating as she looked on at the attacker.

"I need something to flip the script he was clearly prepared for things to go this way," Harrison mumbled to himself as he ducked under another beam that decimated anything it hit. A voice echoed in his head as if the question he asked was not to himself, "You called Righter," it was Jalter's voice though Harrison had no idea where she was. He didn't have to wonder for long, however, as with the next blast from the wand Jalter materialized in front of him her sword in one hand as she cut the beam in two splitting it before Harrison. 

When the beam ended Scott looked flabbergasted as he stared on at the group, "But I thought we made a contract against using servants, you should be dead." It was Harrison's turn to smile now as he had said things in a particular way just in case things went this way. "No we said I couldn't use my Saber class servant, this one is a Berserker, and besides if my theory is to be correct you are using your own servant's noble phantasm," Harrison said motioning at the want Scott held. Scott did waste further time being upset as he unleashed wave after wave of magecraft. 

This forced Harrison and Jalter to stay on the defensive as they switched off defending and dodging beams of magic, fireballs, ice shards, or lighting. Though they were gaining on Scott as it seemed he had to stay in the same place for his casting to go through while with Jalter, Harrison was making gradual progress toward him. "Want a boost," Jalter called out to Harrison as she spun towards him dodging a massive ice spike. Harrison sends her a look that says "Of course I do." Jalter slams her front foot into the ground cracking the floor as she sends her arm backward, Harrison jumps up putting his feet into her hands.

"GO!" she shouts as she thrusts forward with all of her might sending Harrison flying at easily 100mph. From Scott's perspective, Harrison appeared before him as if teleporting his eyes wide with rage as his back leg was brought back. It had already occurred to Scott at this moment, that this would be the last thing he saw for a while as Harrison's foot impacted the side of Scott's face sending him flying through the brick building to his left.