Fate/ Grand Crypter

Chapter 10

The pressure from the servant was immense. Leo felt chills running throughout his body, but he couldn't bring himself to move. The eyes that stared down at them were not the eyes of a king, gazing at subjects. Her look, her eyes... they were the eyes of an exterminator. She had no intention of dialogue, only destruction. And she could do so, as easily as squashing a bug.

"Arthur!" Cu Chulainn pointed his staff at the black knight. "I am here to finish what we started! This sham of a war has gone on long enough!"

Like a bubble being popped, Leo felt his body relax. Around him, the others were also shifting a bit. Marie spoke up.

"Surrender, King Arthur. You cannot beat us!" She was putting on a brave face, but her voice still held a faint tremor.

"So that is King Arthur huh? Not quite what I expected." Oberon peered up at the ominous Saber beside Leo, the picture of nonchalance. Leo held back his tone as he replied.

"This isn't how she normally looks. She has been corrupted by the Grail, the same as the others. Now get ready, we don't have long."

"Caster." King Arthur said. "Allying yourself with the Chaldeans won't change anything. I can easily beat you together or alone. Allow me to demonstrate."

The black sword held by Arthur suddenly blazed with dark magical energy, the wind howled and its power grew. The energy formed around the blade, extending it. With a careless swing, the sword released the energy, the dark wave thundering towards the group. As the destruction approached, Muramasa stepped forward, swinging a summoned blade with two hands. The blade shattered and a wave of force surged forward, meeting the black magical energy head on. The impact caused the cave to shake, and a massive dust cloud formed. But it wasn't over.

As Leo watched, Arthur shot out of the smoke like a black bullet, magical energy blasting off her body. She swung her blade towards Kirshtaria, but her attack was met by Caenis, who caught the assault on her shield. Fire quickly engulfed the area, as Caster began to blast her with fiery runes. As Muramasa and Caenis quickly began to press the attack, Oberon and Mash stayed back, Mash with her shield out, watching cautiously, Oberon conjuring butterflies.

"Oberon, provide them support!" Leo said, watching the unfolding brawl.

"Already on it, Master."

The butterflies floated from Oberon's hands and began to fly around the fight. As they landed on the Servants, their actions got quicker, and they began to push Arthur back. Leo watched, biting his lip. He had said big things back at the school, but he was worried. In terms of power, the three Servants shouldn't lose, especially with Oberon's support. Muramasa's skills allowed him to match Arthur in swordplay, and Caenis equalled her in ferocity. But King Arthur was not to be underestimated.

As if to give voice to Leo's concerns, his skin suddenly turned cold, as black magical energy exploded from Arthur Alter. The three Servants were knocked back, as Arthur swung her sword into the air.

"Enough. The games end here." Arthur said.

Magical energy began to swirl around her, and that pressure suddenly returned. Leo gasped for air, realizing what was going on. She was about to unleash her ultimate trump card, her Noble Phantasm. The black magical energy gathered around her sword, climbing higher this time, towering over all of them.

"Vortigern, Hammer of the Vile King, reverse the rising sun."

"Marie!" Leo yelled. "Mash needs to protect-"

"Swallow the light, EXCALIBUR MORGAN!"

With a downward swing, Excalibur Morgan was unleashed. The beam of destruction tore through the chamber, shooting towards the group. Mash interposed herself between them and the attack and braced herself. The wave of energy struck the shield and nearly knocked her off her feet. Leo could see her silhouette struggling as she tried to hold back the wave of energy. But this was a Noble Phantasm. A normal shield wouldn't be enough.