Fate/ Grand Crypter

Chapter 15

Ophelia raised her arm, magical energy swirling around it. Several summoned hawks rose around her, silvery trails defending against blasts of fire from above. A scaled form shot down towards her, jaws open and snarling. Before it reached her, however, a red sword slashed through the creature, splitting it down the middle. As its corpse fell to the ground, a tall figure, dressed in black combat gear and wielding a red sword, pushed it aside, readying himself in front of Ophelia.

"Take care, Master," Sigurd cautioned. "They are not strong individually, but their numbers will make this difficult."

"You don't need to remind me, Sigurd," Ophelia said, conjuring up more spectral hawks. The sky above them still held over 10 wyverns, even with Sigurd taking down a third of their number. The creatures had realized that Sigurd was defending Ophelia and had frustratingly changed their tactics accordingly. Ophelia gathered the hawks around her, their silvery light melting together.

"I will strike at them, Saber focus on defence."

"Yes, Master."

The wyverns above continued to soar, keeping distance from Sigurd. They had recognised him as a threat. But Ophelia was not so helpless that she only relied on her Servant for combat. The hawks she had gathered melted into each other, their light forming into a single shape. The new hawk emerged from Ophelia's hands, its wings shedding brilliant light. It shot forward, almost vanishing from sight as it was propelled through the air by its magical energy.

The silver hawk pierced one of the wyverns in the sky, tearing a massive hole through its chest. As the dragonkin fell, the hawk's light faded away, as it melted into nothingness. Ophelia began to gather magical energy again, but as she did so the wyverns acted. The winged monsters began to dive, aiming to eliminate Ophelia before she could unleash another attack. Sigurd raised his blade and readied himself, but before he could strike, an assault struck the approaching dragonkin. Insectile spears launched from a nearby hill, tearing into the ranks of the wyverns and, sowing chaos in their midst.

As the wyvern's charge was stopped, Sigurd's sword arm moved, taking advantage of the confusion. Four red daggers flew out, each striking the head of a different wyvern, killing them instantly. Another two fell to the rain of spears that assailed them. The final 4 quickly flew higher, escaping away from the range of the enemy attacks. They turned tail and fled, disappearing over the horizon as Ophelia watched.

As the wyverns disappeared, Ophelia saw Leo and his servant Oberon heading quickly in their direction. She released her magecraft as they approached, and moved to meet them.

"Leo," Ophelia said. "Thank you for the timely assistance."

"It was nothing," Leo replied. His eyes flicked over to the masked Servant standing at her side. Ophelia had not introduced her Servant to the group, but Leo knew his true identity thanks to his knowledge of the original work. Sigurd, a Saber from Norse mythology, is a powerhouse in every sense of the word. A famed dragonslayer, Sigurd was a hero with the literal heart of a dragon, which took some of the burden of his combat off Ophelia.

"The singularity is dangerous the moment we step inside," Ophelia said, looking upwards at the ring of light.

"Not only are there wyverns that should not be here, but the sky is displaying something unusual as well."

Leo nodded slightly but continued to scan the horizon.

"Oberon, are you absolutely sure there is no one else?"

"Yes, Master." Oberon nodded. "My familiars are continuing to expand the ground they are covering, but so far, it's just you two."

"Damn it," Leo said.