Fate/Legion

Summoning Demons

"Master Kariya, I beg you to reconsider", Lancelot pleaded.

"If what that witch of a woman says is true, both Yggdmillenia and Edelfelt will no doubt summon more servants of their own. The four of you can't fight them on even terms as is. If you disapprove, go play house with Alter and Jack", I snapped.

It's painful enough that Alter and Medusa are at each others throats, but now the threat of Yggdmillenia and Edelfelt is on the rise. Those two will drag the other masters into their petty feud one way or another. I might as well be prepared.

"Master, if any more servants are summoned, then civilians may die from mana loss. What would you gain from such death?", Lancelot pressed.

"Nothing. But I don't have anything to lose either", I coldly brushed off his opinion.

Shuffling through my bookcase, I pull out a letter, some charcoal, an old glove, and a torn piece of cloth. I hand the letter to Lancelot.

"Take this to Edelfelt. Let him have his blasted war", I order.

The black knight obeyed in silence, rushing off to deliver my message. I turn my attention to the items in my arms. If my guess is correct, they should be the correct catalysts to summon Cardinal Lancaster, Fredrick the II of Prussia, and Napoleon Bonaparte. Hopefully my sources are reliable.

I take the items to the cellar to start the invocations. Jack was playing with some worms that remained. She picked and prodded them as a cat toys with a mouse. In normal circumstances the worm would attempt to dig beneath its victims flesh and commence the painful process of rapid decay. Of course, Jack wasn't normal. The situation seemed to reverse, it was the worm that would die painfully. It's almost satisfying to watch it suffer. Almost.

"Jack", I announce, "go play somewhere else. I'm about to summon the remaining servants."

"May I watch?", she asked in that disturbingly innocent tone.

Thinking about it, there isn't anything wrong with her staying. I nod my consent and turn back to the ritual. One by one, I place the three relics in their place on the summoning circle. I take a step back to view my handiwork. It's rough, but it will do.

I began the incantation process, reciting by memory the same chant I used to summon my current servants. The only difference is that back then I used a single piece of stone from an unknown source as a catalyst. Now, I must collect individual catalysts to summon more servants. Regardless, the chant is the same.

Jack watched silently in the corner, just as a leopard inspects an unknown figure. The ritual circle glows bright red, signifying the success of my incantation. As a final edge, I bite my thumb to make it bleed. Slowly the blood eked out of the wound and fell into the center of the circle.

A vast burst of light engulfs the cellar. The pressure of mana stings my eyes. I don't look away, though. They will answer my call.

The light began to fade away, dust clearing all the while. As my eyes readjusted to the darkness, I beheld three figures: a tall blonde haired man in a light blue coat, a black armored woman with a dark banner, and a trench coat wearing man with a slim musket. Each spoke in unison.

"Are you my master?"

Now was the time to solidify my dominance.

"Correct. I, Kariya Matou II, am your master. Now answer me, what are your names and classes?", I commanded.

The light blue coated man was the first to speak.

"My name is Charles XII of the Swedish empire. I am of the Rider class", he spoke with confidence.

The woman stepped forward.

"I am Jeanne de Arc of the avenger class", she seductively proclaimed.

Jack's eyes sparkled at the sight of her. I can only assume it has something to do with that French obsession she's had lately.

Finally the musket wielder spoke.

"I am Napoleon Bonaparte. I hold claim to the title of Lancer. But something tells me that is not your true concern", he observed.

I glared slightly, knowing he's correct.

"How about someone tells me why and how Charles XII and Jeanne de Arc stand before me when I used relics from a Prussian and a Cardinal?", I demanded ferociously.

"I fail to see how my summoning is a problem", Charles said, clearly missing the point.

"The problem is that I don't know your abilities", I snapped, "and how is Jeanne even possible? She's already been summoned."

Indulging my inquiry, the black Jeanne confessed her origins.

"Master, I am but a homonculous created by Gilles de Rais. In other words, I'm superior to that dog of a cardinal you wanted so much", she hissed at the mention of the cardinal.

"And your abilities? I already know of Napoleon's Grand Finale, but I hadn't intended for the rest of you. What can you do?", I asked skeptically.

Charles XII was the first to answer, ever eager to show off.

"As a Rider class servant, I naturally have a mount. When riding my horse while wielding my saber, I can activate my noble phantasm, Gott Mit Uns, which increases all my stats by the quotient of the number of opponents and allies", he proudly boasted.

A large smile formed on my lips. Jack hadn't fully understood and made her ignorance quite known with her gestures.

"It means, Jack, that the more heavily outnumbered he is, the stronger he gets", I explained in satisfaction.

Charles smiled heartily, knowing full well the power he possessed as a result. Jeanne Alter, however, was noticeably unimpressed.

"Is that all? My Le Grondement De La Haine much more effective in results", she venomously spat.

I shot a pretentious glare in her direction.

"Then by all means, explain", I hissed.

She gestured smugly to her black banner.

"My noble phantasm draws energy from my hate and the hate of everyone around me and burns my targets for every sin they have committed", Jeanne alter proclaimed, "Now answer me this: What does Napoleon's noble phantasm do?"

For the first time since his summoning, the French emperor grinned.

"You'll see soon enough", he whispered.

Small talk commenced between the four present servants as a dismissed them. They aren't at all what I had hoped for, but I believe they will do quite nicely.

This war of Edelfelt's will be troublesome. I know Bismarck will join Edelfelt, but I worry for Emily. She's spending too much time with that fool Emiya. He's gonna get her killed with that idealism of his. I do wonder, however, which side Forrest will choose.