A Dishonored Demigod

A Time to Play

I hold the soul of Gilles de Rais,"It always fascinates me. The soul of a human is so wonderfully complicated."
The rosy soul pulses and sickly crimson lines are highlighted along with specks of blue,"Madness and devotion are quite the lethal combination."
I turn my head so Saber is staring through the eye-hole of Thrafsma's bone mask,"This was fun, King of Britain. Caster was such a wonderful playmate. Soon enough, it'll be your turn."
The mouth of the mask cracks on the sides as I open my lower jaw, shove the soul inside, chew twice, and swallow. Arthuria grabs her sword with both hands and I raise an eyebrow,"Oh, that's interesting. You somehow convinced Diarmuid to break his spear? Perhaps you planned on using Excalibur to destroy the demon?"
Her grip tightens,"I cannot allow you to leave until you surrender that soul. It must go to the grail so it can form!"
I chuckle before tilting my head back and roar with laughter,"Hahahaha! Are you really so stupid, girl?! You wish for the grail to form without fully knowing the requirements?!"
She pauses,"What do you mean?"
I smirk,"The grail is functional when it holds the souls of six heroic spirits. That much is true. However, for it to become an omnipotent wish granting device the souls of seven heroic spirits must be sacrificed. So by all means, keep marching towards your death once more!"
She grits her teeth and rises her sword so the tip is aimed right between my eyes,"You lie!"
My joyful mood vanishes as a savage snarl comes from my lips,"I am many things coward, but I do not lie concerning serious matters! Believe what you will, but I promise you I do not lie!"
Shock appears in her eyes,"If what you say is true then you're storing the souls away so-"
"Yes. So your master cannot order you to commit suicide. So none of the others will suffer that fate. I want this game of ours to continue until its absolute conclusion. Besides, It doesn't hurt that you have no choice but to let me live since killing me will guarantee your end."
I grin as I exit Thrafsma's form and shove my hands in my pockets,"But if you really want to do our little song and dance now, I'll happily oblige you."
Excalibur is shaking from the strength of Arthuria's grip and I decide to drive my point home,"Think of it, betrayal just. Like. Mordred."
She screams and lunges for me while Irisviel yells for her to stop. Excalibur screams towards my head as the wind surrounding it dissipates to show its full glory. I jump back and my hand flicks out to catch the blade between my pointer finger and thumb,"Come now little knight, surely you can do better? Show me the destructive power locked away in your sword!"
I dart forward while letting the blade go over my head and get in close,"Come on!"
My fist crashes against her chest-plate and bends the metal like it's clay. She stumbles for a moment before recovering to bring her sword back down on me and it screams against my skin to produce a shower of sparks,"Weak!"
My hand closes around her face as I lift her body into the air and slam her down against the surface of the water. I make the surface as hard as steel and the servant breaks through and sinks beneath the water. I swim after her and create several water copies of myself before barreling forward and carving into her with Dyrnwyn. I quickly circle around as the copies take potshots at her and perform another cut as red stains the water. I quickly dive under her and propel myself straight up to slam both fists into her spine.
We break through the surface and fly into the air and I Blink above Arthuria with my left right arm cocked back in a fist,"Empathy!"
A white bubble surrounds my fist as I bring it down,"Hah!"
The air around us cracks and shatters as the servant is sent skipping over the water and crashes against one of the iron beams holding the bridge up. Without looking behind me I grab the tip of Gae Dearg and feel black blood trickle down the digits,"So you're getting involved as well. Just out of curiosity I must know, is your excuse of a master ordering you or are you acting on your own?"
I let go and Diarmuid springs back with his spear held in both hands,"My master is...indisposed of at the moment."
"I see. The Magnus Killer got him eh?"
A simple nod answers my question and I reach into my shadow, grinning when my hand closes around a shaft of enchanted gold,"Very well then. Consider this practice for Saber. Allow me to introduce you to one of my less used noble phantasms. Come forth, Breithiúnas."
The spear exits my shadow and I slide into a stance with the spear flush against my right arm while my left rests against my side,"Step forward without fear. Never let your mind distract you. And above all else," and I appear a foot away from him with my spear racing towards his heart,"don't die too easily."
The Crimson Rose of Exorcism quickly comes up to divert my thrust but my left arm snakes past to deliver a palm thrust against Lancer's collarbone. He gasps as he's sent back a few feet and I grin while twirling my spear,"Come on. Lets have some fun."
****
Sakura watches as her servant/teacher battles Lancer,"How is he able to walk on water?"
Her uncle shrugs from his position alongside her,"Maybe one of the others has found a way to harden the water under their feet?"
Sakura hums in agreement and turns her head slightly to the right,"Hello, father."
Tokiomi Tohsaka looks at the two with weary eyes,"Sakura. Why are you not with the Matou family. It was agreed by all-"
"Wrong."
The word bites into Tokiomi with the amount of cold packed in it,"What?"
Sakura glares at her sperm donor with cold rage in her eyes as they momentarily flash yellow while the whites turn black,"I never agreed. I begged you to not send me away but you didn't even consider my pleas. No, you never cared for me."
She gets to her feet as a wind makes her hair fly away from her face to show a scowl someone her age shouldn't be able to pull off,"Magnus," she spits out,"such a fancy word for you all. Opportunists, murderers, exploiters. Those words describe you all so perfectly."
Tokiomi's face hardens,"You don't simply expect me to stand her and take that do you?"
"Of course not. Bala!"
The concentrated energy ball slams into Tokiomi, breaking two of his ribs and bruising the others. He coughs and blood trickles from where he bit his lip to stop a yell of pain,"It seems....it seems like Joker has taken you under his wing."
Sakura nods,"He is the most powerful of the servants here, even stronger than Gilgamesh."
Upon seeing his surprised expression she scoffs,"Please, ever since their first encounter Joker's known Archer's true name. He simply humored you to further this game of his."
"Game?"
Tokiomi mutters under his breath but Sakura nods her head,"Yes. Joker views this entire war as simply one grand game of slaughter. One that he has no intention of cutting short. He is a disturbing individual if you're his enemy."
Niece and uncle jump away as a torrent of flames bursts from the jewel of Tokiomi's staff and Sakura glances towards Kariya,"Uncle, please don't interfere."
He nods and Sakura slowly walks towards her former father,"Get up magnus, we aren't even close to being done."
She isn't disappointed as another burst of fire sweeps towards her,"Barrier."
The water vapor around the, condenses into a shield that protects Sakura from the brunt of the flames, but a few tongues manage to singe her dress,"Waves that crash against the foundation of Earth. Tides that forever flow timeless and true. By my invocation I call upon thee. And thou are bound to my will. Gentle seas that become treacherous waters swallow those who dare stand against your own!"
A small whirlpool forms around her and sweeps Tokiomi off his feet and threatens to drown him,"Freeze."
The water freezes and Tokiomi is stuck from his elbows down,"It seems Joker was right. Humans truly are too confident in themselves."
Tokiomi doesn't respond to the jab but glances over her shoulder and tips his head slightly. All sakura hears is a faint whistling before a knife crashes down on her left shoulder, only to snap when the force is amplified and deflected. Quick as a thought she turns on her heel and points at her assailant,"Cero."
The small energy beam passes through the figures body with terrifying ease and Sakura gets a good look before it clicks,"You're one of the people with Saber's master."
Maiya grimaces while holding her shoulder and the burnt hole made by Sakura's attack,"You would've gotten me if Joker hadn't shown me his hardening technique. Too bad."
Maiya isn't ready for the blow that sends her into unconsciousness while her uncle lowers his arm and lets go of the pipe he's holding,"We should get going Sakura. If she's around then Emiya can't be far behind."
The two make their way closer to the water's edge and Sakura's command seals glow green,"Joker, that's enough for tonight."
****
I pause in mid-thrust and jump back while the scratches from my fight steam and heal up,"This was fun, but my master wishes to retire for the night. I guess we should call it a dr-"
A gunshot echoes in my ears before I feel the connection between myself and Sakura shatter,"Little master!"
I completely disregard Diarmuid and races over the water towards where I see Kariya holding Sakura up and putting pressure on a bullet wound just above her heart. My mind whirls as I try to heal the wound but my magic fizzles out when it gets close and tries to surround the bullet,"F***. Hold her as still as you can Kariya."
My hands become Thrafsma's claws and I carefully part the skin and will my claws to extend. They probe around gently before feeling the bullet and I manage to grab ahold of it. It comes out agonizingly slow as I try not to cause more damage to my master and sigh when I hold the bullet in my hand,"Moudiasménos."
The numbing spell takes effect and Sakura is able to open her eyes slightly,"Joker?"
I smile grimly,"Don't worry little master. I'm not gonna let you die."
She smiles thinly,"I can't feel our connection anymore. My command sea-!" and she lets loose a piercing scream.
I watch in horror as the veins around her face become inflamed and she burns to the touch,"J-joker..."
"Droserós. Ypotásso. Anakoúfisi."
My voice is hoarse with rage and my body shakes in fury even as Sakura relaxes slightly,"My command seals."
I looks down at her right hand to see it free of the seals that bind me too her,"Rest, master."
I want to say more but I feel a build-up of energy behind me and turn to see Saber with her sword raised high,"Excalibur!"
The golden light surges towards us three and I can hear Sakura hiccuping in fear and Kariya comforting her before I call upon the full might of the Darkness,"Come to me."
My eyes turn yellow as I explode with power and lift my hands up to stop the surge of power while letting loose a scream as the holy energy burns my hands. I start to slide backwards and another gunshot sounds out and a bullet slams into my spine. I nearly collapse in pain but through sheer force of will keep myself upright even as two more shots slam into me.
My legs tremble in pain and I grit my teeth while pushing my body to its maximum capacity and throw my arms up. The holy energy is forced upwards and into the clouds while I gasp for breath and glare at Saber as she charges up once more,"Joker. Use it."
I nod,"Very well. Return all creation to nothingness, Anzu!"
****
Moudiasménos- Numb
Droserós- Cool
Ypotásso- Subdue
Anakoúfisi- Relief