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

Chapter XXXII: Time

Jalter did indeed beat Harrison back to the house, as although he talked big he also didn't want to jostle around Salter too much. Almost on cue as Harrison pulled into the parking lot behind Jalter, Salter began to stir. It was a long drive even at the elevated speed that Harrison and Jalter took, and Salter had slept for an hour and some change. As her eyes fluttered open she stretched all her limbs outward with a yawn. Harrison swung his legs out of the car and was met with Jalter's smug look. "Yeah yeah you won, whatever," Harrison said laughing off her victory. "THAT'S RIGHT I DID WIN," she shouted with a maniacal laugh befitting her witch moniker. "Won what?" Salter in turn responded as she groggily got out of the car.

"Oh, I just beat Harrison in a race on your motorcycle..." Jalter's words died on her lips as the words your motorcycle came out. Harrison looked over to Salter whose anger was palpable, "Yeah do you know how much mana it takes to power that construct," Salter said an aura of red and black emanating from her that looked similar to her flames of dread. Seeing a golden opportunity to mess with Salter, Jalter let a sly grin across her face as she said, "If it was so costly you could always get a ma-" she never got to finish that sentence as Salter slammed her fist into Jalters gut sending her reeling. Harrison's face turned a bright red as he completed the sentence on his own, "Yeah mana transfer right those are a thing," he told himself as if he forgot.

"You guys back because we got a big problem," another voice entered the fray as Yor called down at them from the staircase. "It's about Annabelle, Sakuta brought her here and she is umm fading quickly," Harrison was already moving before Yor said what the problem was, scooping up the blushing Salter and the laughing Jalter, yet their faces returned to seriousness at the recent developments. Harrison burst through the door to his house led by Yor carrying the two rival servants in tow. "Yor I owe you an apology but explain what's up first," Harrison said setting the two girls down as he skidded to a halt at Annabelle's side who seemed to be a feverish mess laying in the middle of his living room floor.

"It seems that her Mana is being drained at an alarming rate which is well killing her," Yor says bluntly. "Where is Sakata he should be able to explain what's going on," Harrison asked Yor as his eyes darted around for the hulking mass of muscle. "Right here boy," the deep voice of Sakata came from behind him as he moved around Harrison and Yor setting a cool ice pack on her forehead. "I am assuming that the not-so-golden boy master we were teamed up with found out about this alliance, and decided to start pulling on her mana tethers draining her of any ounce of life she has, and doubly so since she is a homunculus, I would say if things are golden we have another hour or so," Sakata explained rather succinctly. Harrison balled his fist turning his knuckles white as what was happening, was explained to him.

"Yor, Sakata, BB you guys stay here and tend to Annabelle make sure nothing gets in or out of the apartment complex, Salter, Jalter," Harrison said starting to give out orders with practiced efficiency as if he had been doing this his entire life. Regardless. upon being called upon the two girls give their respective acknowledgments, a sly smile and arms crossed from Jalter and a quaint nod from Salter. "We will be searching like madmen, my bet is taller structures with a clear viewpoint, judging from last time we interacted with them, they must know we are coming and if so it would only make sense to pick a strategic vantage point," Harrison elaborates. "We will have a disadvantage being on the ground as they have an Archer and Caster servant, and maybe more now. Jalter I want you in spirit form, do not leave my shadow, they might not know I have two servants yet and we need to capitalize on that." with the plan laid out Harrison and Salter booked it out of the apartment. Salter grabbed Harrison unexpectedly as she vaulted the small balcony falling 6 stories down instead of taking the stairs, before placing Harrison on the ground. "Yeah smart smart, now let's go," Harrison said quickly recovering as Salter hopped on her bike taking off as Harrison started his car and began the race against time.

Harrison's mind was racing until the familiar hum of his engine reached his ears, taking a long sigh before slamming the car in reverse. The sound of tire screeching was loud in Harrison's ear as he could hear the burnout Salter was pulling on her bike as it struggled for traction the power she was pumping through it was too much for the tires. She was still able to take off before Harrison, as he shifted gears into reverse sending his car into a wild J turn narrowly missing the other cars in the parking lot. "COME ON LETS GO," Harrison called out as he slammed his transition into gear his car roaring to life as it flew out of the parking lot. The two of them started off in opposite directions searching for any telltale sights of the Master, utter focus on Harrison's face as sweat pooled on his forehead. Harrison had never pushed his car the way he was now even at track events he sometimes visited, but now at this moment, his focus was perfect each shift performed with utmost efficiency.

Salter was not having as good as a time as she gave everything she had to her bike, which drained her further than she had already been, the ride there and the race back almost emptied her entire reserves and now this was draining her mana way quicker then the link between her and Harrison could hold, "The mana transfer may have been necessary you witch," Salter said to herself as her vision swam her eyelids closing on their own, yet she grit her teeth forcing herself to push faster and further. After about 15 minutes of darting between roads in the general area, Salter saw a familiar sight to her right the blink of blue light, "Archer."

Harrison saw a similar light that Jalter pointed out to his left, whipping the car around an intersection dodging between other cars they head off towards the cell tower at dangerous speeds. "140... 150..." Harrison mumbled to himself as his speed climbed and climbed. Soon enough the two drivers met on the same road driving straight for the cell tower. Harrison was so focused he didn't notice that Salter looked like she was falling asleep while on the bike. When they got within 1 mile of the cell tower arrows started to hit the ground around the two vehicles as they were forced to weave around them. Each arrow struck with enough force to destroy part of the pavement sending debris flying everywhere. Harrison still pushed onward, and when he was within 500ft of the cell tower at the end of the road he slid his car to the side in a brake slide, not bothering for it to stop before wrestling with the door to get out. Harrison thought Salter dismissed the motorcycle to come to a running stop, but in reality, she was so low on mana she couldn't keep the construct summoned.

The two of them looked up at the tower and Harrison could swear he could see the three of them hundreds of feet up there. Sharing a quick glance with Salter, "Are you ready," he said. Despite Salter very much not being ready they had wasted 50 minutes already and she knew they didn't have much more time so she swallowed her doubt, and mustered all of her strength to say, "Lets do this," at normal volume.