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"Archer, do whatever you want with me, kill me or cut me up but please, don't hurt my Master!" Medusa's voice trembled with resolve as she faced him. His steady approach had pushed her to her limit, and now she stood firm, arms spread to shield the quivering Sakura Matou. Her gaze met his, fierce and unyielding.
"Oh? So I've got free rein?" Yuto's lips curved into a faint, teasing smile. Ignoring the shame flickering in Medusa's eyes, he reached out, his fingers brushing her delicate chin with a gentle lift.
This purple-haired beauty was a sight to behold. Her tight white gown hugged her frame, highlighting a figure that was both strong and graceful. Her skin glowed soft and fair, carrying the quiet strength of someone seasoned by battle. She wasn't the curviest, but her long legs, slim waist, and firm, rounded hips gave her a balanced, athletic charm that caught the eye without trying too hard.
Yuto never said no to a striking woman. His fingers lingered briefly on her smooth skin, drawing soft, reluctant whimpers from her lips.
"Wow, just a light touch and you're already like this? You're full of surprises," he said with a grin, pulling his hand back.
"Anyway, let's get out of here first."
The mess they'd left was massive. The Enzou Mountain was gone. Even Kotomine Kirei, the priest who cleaned up these disasters, couldn't hide this one. Better to slip out before the news crews swarmed in.
........
Time slipped by fast. Another night came and went. Artoria, who usually dropped off the second her head hit the pillow, tossed and turned instead. A long, tangled dream kept her restless.
In it, she stood amid shadowy mountains, a red sacred pillar glowing at the center. Distant sounds echoed: demons cackling, humans shouting in combat. Blood hung heavy in the air, tinting everything a faint red. A sharp-looking young guy swung his weapon, tearing through a swarm of demons like they were nothing. He moved with deadly precision, leaving bodies scattered across the chaotic battlefield. Swords clashed, metal rang out, and monstrous creatures threw themselves at him in a frantic, doomed fight.
Artoria's eyes widened, hooked on the scene, but just as she leaned in, it all shifted. Flames roared up, swallowing everything. When the haze cleared, she was somewhere else; a modern city with skyscrapers piercing the sky. There, the King of Curses, stood with arms crossed, his smug, wicked glare fixed on a world falling apart below. Then that same young fighter showed up again. Solo, he took on Sukuna with raw power, bringing the arrogant curse to his knees, groveling like a fool to avoid death.
The sight lit up Artoria's eyes with awe. The dream kept jumping: sometimes lighthearted adventures, sometimes him mowing down armies without breaking a sweat. Over time, he changed. The boyish edge faded, replaced by a calmness and steady strength.
"Hmm?" she murmured, thinking it might end there. But then came a scene that made her cheeks burn. She was in a huge room, watching a stranger. A girl with long black hair in thin lace lingerie and black stockings walked forward. With a bold shove, she pinned the young fighter down.
"Yuto, this time, I want to take the lead." the girl said with a smirk.
'This memory's dragging on way too long,' Artoria thought.
Finally, after what felt like forever, she woke up. Sunlight streamed through the window, and she raised a hand to block it, mildly annoyed. Specks of light slipped through her fingers, leaving her staring, lost in a daze.
"A dream? No… probably memory sharing," she muttered, ruffling her messy blonde hair.
She froze at the sudden chill against her skin. Glancing down, she realized her pajama pants were completely soaked, likely from the dream's intensity. Her cheeks burned as she slipped out of them and into a fresh pair of light, casual clothes.
Opening the window, a cool morning breeze swept in. It was a nice day. Last night's rain must've washed the city clean. The sky gleamed clear, with wispy clouds. Warm sun brushed her face, and she squinted, soaking it in.
"Who were those women with Archer?" she wondered aloud. "They were all so pretty, with way better figures than me… Is he some kind of flirt?"
Those steamy memory flashes hit her again, making her press her legs together. Her face went pink, her green eyes misting over. She huffed softly. "Seriously, Archer, you're too much."
......…..
Yuto, flipping pancakes with an apron on in the kitchen, had no clue what Artoria was thinking.
In the living room, the TV buzzed with news. Rin Tohsaka, her servant Scathach, Medusa, and Sakura Matou sat watching. Footsteps creaked downstairs. They glanced over, then back to the screen.
"Good morning, viewers. Here's today's news. Last night, something wild went down in Fuyuki City's southern suburbs. Ryudou Temple on Enzou Mountain was wiped out. What could level a mountain overnight? Some creature? Aliens, maybe? Wait, field reporters just sent this in. Director, —[static]"
The screen fizzled out. Rin and the others sighed in unison.
"Didn't see that coming," Rin said, shaking her head.
"Too bad," Scathach added, her tight white sweater showing off her fit frame. "Last night, I chased that golden servant hard, but she slipped away." Out of her battle gear, her long legs and slim waist stood out, her curves impossible to ignore.
Medusa held her own in the looks department, but even Sakura, who was pretty stacked herself, stared in quiet awe. Artoria and Rin, who were less gifted, couldn't help but stare in awe.
Rin exhaled hard. It took effort to stop staring at Scathach. "We're stuck. We have no leads, just fog ahead. Why'd that servant snatch Caster?"
Rin wasn't alone in her confusion, Scathach and Medusa looked just as lost. That golden figure's motives were blank.
Yuto coughed lightly, pulling their eyes to him. "I know who she is."
"Who?" Rin slammed the table, her sharp eyes locked on him. "Archer, how do you know her identity?"
"Long story," he said with a casual blink, then laid it all out.
"The Holy Grail War's all about the Grail, right? The thing is, it's a tool made by the Three Families: Einzbern, Matou, Tohsaka to reach the Root and achieve their respective dreams.
"It's split into two: the Greater Grail, a magic powerhouse under Enzou Mountain that charges up every sixty years, and the Lesser Grail, a container for dead servants' souls. When a servant loses, they don't just return back to the Throne of Heroes instead they get trapped in the Lesser Grail until the end of the war. Once it's full, it will automatically be released. Using the powerful force generated when they return to the Throne of Heroes, they can pierce through the surface world in one fell swoop and open the way to the outside world. This is the so-called 'root'."
"Every magus dreams to reach the root. The Families dangled the Grail's wish-making promise to lure outsiders into this bloody mess."
"So this war's been a sham from the start?" Rin's voice tightened, her smile forced. Sakura's frown matched it. Unlike Artoria, who'd stumbled into this, they'd poured everything into prep, only to hear they were just pieces on someone else's board. It stung.
"Hold up, it's not that simple," Yuto said, waving at them to listen. "The Greater Grail does not store pure magic but Angra Mainyu, whose job is an Avenger, outside of the usual seven classes.
"Angra Mainyu? That Zoroastrian demon?" Rin nearly jumped. "Archer, you sure? He's the embodiment of 'All the World's Evil'."
"I am not messing with you." Yuto replied. "His soul got sucked into the Lesser Grail, then the Greater one, and it messed everything up. It turned the Grail from a wish machine into a dark trap. That fire ten years back that took out Artoria's family was also his doing. Imagine if all that evil spilled out."
Yuto was done with the war's little games. So he flipped the table, figuratively, letting the truth spill. It hit them hard, leaving Rin, Sakura, and the rest quiet, processing.
After a bit, Sakura licked her dry lips and spoke first. "How'd you dig up something this deep, Archer?"
Curiosity wasn't just hers, Scathach and the others leaned in too. This was heavy, dark stuff. How'd a servant like him know? They needed answers before moving. Plus, his wild strength and pile of Noble Phantasms had them wondering: who was this guy?
Yuto saw it coming. "I got lucky," he said easily. "Because of a chance, I happen to obtain Gilgamesh's Spirit Origin. It comes with her Noble Phantasm, Sha Naqba Imuru, the Omniscient Omnipotent Star. It let me peek at hidden stuff, like names and secrets."
He was stretching it a bit, sure. Sha Naqba Imuru was strong, but not that strong. Still, it sold the story.
"So she's Gilgamesh, the oldest hero ever," Artoria mused, chin in hand, eyes sparkling. "Explains the attitude. But I didn't expect the Hero King to be a woman….it feels off."
Yuto nearly quipped about her own King Arthur twist but held it. "Point is, Gilgamesh has what she needs for the Greater Grail. She's probably setting up the big finale now. We've gotta move fast."
They all paused, thinking it over. Yuto knew some might doubt him, but with no better info, he was their best shot.
…..
As they started to split, Scathach called from the corner. "Archer, wait."
She stepped closer, her purple bodysuit hugging her frame, her legs carrying her with quiet grace. "You got enough magic left? Your Master's supply's pretty thin, from what I understand."
"Ugh…" Artoria's face went red, guilt creeping in.
"So, recharge before the big fight," Scathach said.
"With whom?" Yuto blinked.
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