Descent of Ruler

Yumi felt the hair on the back of her neck rose when a sudden chill filled her room. She glanced around, trying to see if anything was amiss but saw nothing in particular. 

It was then she noticed the red spear was shaking slightly. Yumi took a step back in fear it would suddenly lunged itself to her, slipping out a paper talisman. 

The spear abruptly spun around before it finally stopped, pointing itself into the direction of the open window where Lancer had disappeared too. 

Was it telling her something?

Her answer came in the form of dark red light emitted from the spear and once again, Yumi had to shield her eyes. The moment she opened her eyes, the dark version of Lancer stood before her, his spiked tail flicking wildly in the air.

"Master," he spoke out, his red eyes scrutinizing her carefully, "your command?" 

Yumi's head once again blanked out. How was she supposed to respond when you have another servant in your hands? But still, she bowed deeply, hands clasped on her stomach, a greeting she hadn't done for the man.

"Greetings, I, Yumi Shikamura will be your Master as of today," she said, trying to keep her voice as steady as possible.

"Are you Berserker?" She continued hesitantly and looked back up, staring straight at the man. 

The man nodded. "I'm the Alter of that man, the one who dwelled in the darkness." 

"This was the first time such thing has occured," the man continued and took a step closer, "however, the only thing matter is that you are my Master and I'm under your command."

Yumi chewed her lips once more, her brain currently in a frenzy. Other Master wouldn't know the fact that she had by chance summoned two servants, not to mention the same one. She could use this chance to turn the tide into her favor and win the war. She should hide him for a while and let him to be her trump card.

She stopped chewing her lips and looked at the male properly, making sure that her words were full of conviction. "Berserker, would you mind if you have to stay low for a while?"

The man smirked. "Why, of course, Master," he replied, "I'm your tool in this bloody war, I would be offended if I can not serve my purpose." 

She had expected that answer and went back to chew on her lips, mulling for answer. After all, those born from madness and uncontrollable anger thirst for the blood carnage and massacre of the enemies. She also couldn't put him under her Command Spell else she'd destroyed the still nonexistent thread of trust among them. But she didn't want him to just appear and get into the fray when she didn't even know the Servants other Masters had summoned. The paper man acted only as her eyes, not her ears. Even if she could see their Noble Phantams, she wouldn't know their name that led to their true identity!

She hoped that Lancer knew who they were and could give her some information when he got back.

"Berserker," she tried once again, trying to choose her words carefully. 

"I promise if you stay low for a while, I assure you will get the bloody battle you want. You can massacre anyone who hinder your path, be it Masters, be it Servants, be it comrades, anyone." She gulped down, preparing her next words. "Even me." 

The man seemed to mull over her words for a moment before a feral grin bloomed on his face. "I didn't need your consent to kill anyone in my path, Master, but I'll trust your words that a grand battle will be upon me."

"And don't worry, I won't kill you." His grin turned even more wolfish. "For now." 

With that he disappeared into thin air, carrying the dark and choking atmosphere with him. 

The brown haired girl let out a deep sigh. Somehow, she managed to make Berserker listen to her words, the consequences wouldn't be pretty. The girl wiped her clammy hands to her miko skirt.

She needed to find out the reason to this anomaly. 

**** 

Back and forth, two different magical energies clashed against each other. Golden lights struck the earth like golden electricities, and mountainous spikes of ice rose high into the sky. It was a sight of ultimate destruction, ruining everything in their paths despite the innocent lives at stake. No one was backing down anytime soon, forgetting two particular masters suffering the more it continues.

"Anfang."

The wind that settled within that place viciously blew like the breath of a storm itself.

"Vertrag... Ein neuer Nagel."

All the remaining figures visibly stiffened at the unknown voice. A velvety, resolute voice that echoed loudly like the roars of thunder that pierced the skies in its anger, of which that dominated the sounds of havoc that wrecked upon the earth.

"Ein neues Gesetz... Ein neues Gesetz... Ein neues Verbrechen..."

Gilgamesh' eyes widened at the incantation. His spare hand immediately shot above, directed towards his master who was falling once again due to his cause. The others could only act with caution, anticipating something else to ensue due to the foreboding feelings that surrounded them the same.

"Höre meinen Befehl..."

Suddenly, a large winged shadow appeared from above-- wings spreading out behind the silhouette of a woman's back. All eyes turned to marvel on her powerful countenance, as her ground-breaking aura extended to the vicinity of the site. 

"Der erste seiner Art..."

It was suffocating, maddening-- hostile in its purest of nature. Everyone that witnessed her arrival gaped in utter bewilderment, frozen in fear. Who was she that suddenly appeared at the scene? No one knows for sure, but they will have to find out soon.

"Servants summoned by that of the Great Holy Grail,"

Whether they like it...

"Heed my Order--"

...Or not.

"Deactivate your Noble Phantasms, NOW!"

As soon as the command escaped the confinement of her lips, a blinding light engulfed them for a moment. Both expected impacts were replaced by the light that was brought forth by that mysterious voice. Although the effect didn't last for long, something was still wrong and all of them knew of it. When everyone became certain of the peace that came right after a storm once more, they gradually recovered from the disorientation and looked around in confusion and horror. The ground where they stood was reduced into a battered crater surrounded with the remnants of ice. Bodies littered the ground, their last breath having already escaped their lungs.

Gilgamesh, at the exact moment, caught his master once again, shielding her eyes from the visage of the ruined land.

Bright lights were shining from above. However, it wasn't from the Gates of Babylon that appeared prior to the climax of the outcome. Replacing the sun that had hidden itself among the heavy clouds, the bright light illuminated the sky furthermore. 

A few of them lifted their heads towards the sky, immediately realizing what had taken place was no dream that befell them the moment the situation registered upon their muddled minds. Indeed, it was not a mere illusion, but reality instead.

For she, with the grace akin to that of an Angel of War, was standing in the air for all of them to see, sneering from above with a disposition that seemingly encompasses that of an absolute authority.

"Who was it that dared to defy the rules of the Sacred War?"