FATE\Deus Decipit

Chapter 10: Strike

1:25 am, East of the Acropolis

The so-called colossus stood among the ruins, perhaps half the height of the columns standing around it. Of course, this did not take away from the scale of the creature, as the columns it compared to were just under sixty feet tall themselves.

Its skin was like marble, glistening with the rain that splashed off its ivory, armor-like skin, its joints connected like plate armor, and an electric blue glow emitting from the chinks in its body. Its hair was like a lion's mane, but stiff, as if made from wire, with some hairs glowing blue, and it remained tough despite the downpour. Its face was monstrous: an angular face locked in a permanent growl- its glowing eyes and bared teeth expressing indescribable hostility. The only part that signified its humanity was its forehead, which, in contrast to the rest of his muscular body, appeared to be obsidian laced with gold, as if a crown. There were similar bands on his tree-like forearms and legs, as well as two additional plates that covered his shoulders and shoulder-blades, these especially seemed to emerge from the body, as if they were too big for his already massive form. He was completely naked except for a skirt-type garb around his waist, slate-gray fabric with a belt made of granite and gold. In his right hand he held a strange glaive-type weapon, a polearm whose gold-bronze shaft led to a circular obsidian blade crowned with the face of a lion. The final and perhaps most disturbing quality was the sound it made, a nonstop rumbling noise like thunder from its body, as if massive gears were constantly shifting within.

Having just made touchdown, it was crouched like a tiger, and was slowly straightening itself within the crater made by its landing. Already the ruins had been disturbed, with one of the two standing corners already toppled. With its face to the sky, its voice escalated from a rumble to a roar, a reverberating call of pure, unbridled aggression that caused the very earth to shake. Had anyone been standing in front of it, they surely would've gone deaf. There couldn't have been anyone in all of Athens who didn't hear its voice.

Rider was certainly no exception.

Like a falling star he emerged from the clouds above- a comet of golden light. The colossus' eyes followed him as he shot down with unnatural speed, breaking the sound barrier, though it was hardly distinguishable from the thunder. Even so, when he made landfall, instead of a crater, it was as if the energy around him unraveled and dispersed with a gust of wind, its golden trail seeming to merge with his hair of the same hue.

Rider stood and straightened himself, seemingly unfazed by the creature before him. The creature bent over somewhat to stare down at the armored inhuman while Rider met his eyes; an unmoving mask matched by an equally unmoving scowl.

"Servant, Rider. May I inquire of thine business, fair giant?"

The so-called giant's growl surged briefly in what could be assumed to be some kind of acknowledgement, though it held no obvious meaning other than that.

"I ask of thee once more: what is thy purpose hither?"

There was no response, nor any change in the grinding noise that came from it.

"If it be true that thou hast no business here, then I would ask thee to kindly take thine leave of this place. I should like to avoid unnecessary conflict."

Rider's voice held no tension or negative intent; it was as if he was speaking to an old friend, despite the force of his words.

The growl grew slowly as the giant tensed almost imperceivably.

"If at all possible, perhaps I may speak with thine Master? The Grail War hast hardly begun, after all. Perhaps we couldst reach an agreement; something favorable to all parties?"