#m_lacrimosa

[tgrailwar-zero]

It was dark.

As AVENGER's breathing aligned with MOONCANCER's, the darkness seeped in. Calm, like the rising tide and cool like the mountain breeze. Her words grew distant as the darkness settled in, and you saw an internal look at AVENGER. One that even he couldn't see or comprehend.

Something had gone wrong with the summoning.

Several Servants tried to answer the call, and while some had been overwhelmed nicely, others had fought harder for the chance to be summoned. Catalysts clashing, souls attempting to be pulled from a greater gate- and while one had won out, it had come out cracked and damaged. A Saint Graph that would turn to ash the second it took a step within the virtual space, fragmented and incomplete, filled with fissures and leaks, not meant to fight or wage war of any kind.

But like a miracle, something kept it together.

The realization that there's something there. Something latched on, keeping the Spirit Origin from breaking apart due to sheer weakness. However, this proposed a contradiction, as realizing this 'something' exists would cause AVENGER to tear himself apart in utter rage due to the undying hatred associated with his class.

One light orbiting another, like the Moon orbits the Earth, like the Earth orbits the Sun. A twisted accompaniment, fitting as a twisted sense of fate. A Servant that would never be whole, and so to resemble that wholeness had something supplanting the gaps.

Leaving him in a limbo. To be at ease, that 'something' would need to be untouched. To be whole, that 'something' would need to be opened.

An artist, marred by hatred. Only his music remained as a remnant of his former self. The curse of a Heroic Spirit, to give up being a 'human', but desperately wishing to remain a 'musician', however even the music he loved so dearly was twisted and dirtied by the lies that made up his entire being.

And as his being as a 'musician' was at risk of shattering as well, a hand reached out with the cruelest of kindnesses and preserved that.

Even if his True Name couldn't be unlocked.

Even if being an Avenger was a lie.

There was still music.

[tgrailwar-zero]

Conductor, I know you said you’re a problem, but if you’ve helped hold Avenger together, then surely you aren’t just a problem. I understand that we cannot tell Avenger about you and promise to uphold that, even if I would rather not keep anything from him, but more to the point-

you’ve said you’re a problem, but are there any positives to your presence outside of what you’ve already stated? I’m trying to be an optimist here, since I believe most of my fellow Masters are assuming the worst right now.

"Obviously. I'm a genius. A musical genius, but that sort of theory can be applied to anything with the proper understanding. And this Grail War is a song that's horridly out of tune, I can tell you all that much. You're working with some flagrantly loose information."

"Which is to say that you all still haven't made it out of the testing phase. Congratulations. You're sitting at the second movement out of three in this little concerto, but you've also gotten the help of- say it with me- a genius."

"..."

"So, back to the thing I was saying about the Grail War."

[tgrailwar-zero]

So, whoever you are, how exactly did you get here? And why were you in that code cast?

"Yikes. Straight to the interrogation, huh? Can we get a bit more gusto in those reactions? Maybe even a 'good morning' or a 'good afternoon'. A little more energy will get you a long way, you know. Also, 'what' is a bit of a rude way to address another person. Tsk tsk. Tut tut. For shame, and all that."

The Servant smirked.

"Who's to say? ...Just kidding. I am. I'm to say. You're welcome."

"Hm. Hmmm. Well, considering my actual Class is a bit convoluted at the moment, I guess this is primarily an Avenger-class Spirit Origin, and 'Caster' is taken. But you've already started calling him Avenger, so... maybe something like 'Conductor'? That fits the arbitrary naming scheme these things tend to have."

[tgrailwar-zero]

After a moment of waiting, MOONCANCER stepped into the room, giving him a concerned expression.

"So, about that malignant data… I have an idea of how to handle it…"

Before she could finish her statement, AVENGER gripped his head, going faint as MOONCANCER rushed next to him on the bed. He found himself fading in and out of consciousness, as CONDUCTOR flickered into view.

CONDUCTOR: "Really took your time hanging around here, huh? I expected some urgency, but maybe you wanted to sit and chat instead. I'd say I understand, but we're not exactly having a nice walk on the beach at the moment. Did you forget this was a Grail War? Both between and within the factions?"

MOONCANCER: "Avenger…! This may be worse than I thought. Masters of Avenger, I'll need you to listen to me and be open to any suggestions I'm making. I know we can't communicate directly, but I'll need you to be cooperative. Okay?"

She stepped closer, placing the back of her palm on the now fully unconscious AVENGER's forehead, as if checking his temperature.

MOONCANCER: "This data… it's nothing like either faction. Both Red and Blue have distinct magical energy signatures. Considering the unknown source, I'd call it a virus before anything else. It's closely attached to Avenger's Spirit Core. If you want, I can get rid of it, though it may be a bit of a… rough experience."

CONDUCTOR: "Virus? She's got some nerve, calling a genius like myself a 'virus'. Isn't she the one called 'MoonCancer'? What does that even mean? That's not exactly the most innocent Class name. Anyways, I'm taking the reigns and triggering the armor. I'm not letting Avenger get hurt."

With a flash, AVENGER's baton sliced through the air as MOONCANCER stepped back, her own magical energy rising slightly as she tensed. She held up her hand, in an effort to pacify the situation.

MOONCANCER: "My responsibility as leader of the Blue Faction is to ensure that all of my teammates are fighting at top capacity. We can't afford to lose anyone, especially to something as easily solvable as this. All I need is to access Avenger's internal data, and I can get started. It blocked me out last time, I think, but if I can just use a bit more power…"

CONDUCTOR: "If anything, she's just looking for excuses to eliminate the competition early. She's got the rest of the faction eating out of the palm of her hand. If she gets rid of me, then Avenger's Spirit Core will be broken entirely, but if she knows I exist and tells Avenger, that'll result in him breaking his own Spirit Core. She may also be trying to snag Avenger for herself, like Gunner. Have him broken so that she can 'fix him up' and claim Master rights. Remember what I told you are, this is a competition."

"This is definitely a tense situation… but, well, I know you're going to make the right choice. We can talk more when you're somewhere safe."

[tgrailwar-zero]

The standoff was tense. AVENGER's Lamenting Exterior snapped back on him in the flash. The staredown was marred in thick silence before CASTER finally spoke, smiling as casually as one would at a meeting between friends.

"Reminder that this is nothing personal. Just the throes of a Holy Grail War."

MOONCANCER was sending a Servant. He was headed there, but it was a matter of if he would be able to make it in time.

"Foreigner… how are you feeling?"

She scoffed, her hands gripping her paintbrush tighter.

"If you're askin' if I can fight, I'm fine. Code Casts aren't respondin', though. You should be worryin' about yourself, you were movin' slow during the confrontation with Alter-Ego and took a few nasty hits. Still, if we need an extra boost, I can always put Toto-sama in the driver's seat…"

AVENGER didn't totally understand what that meant, but she had a point. Without Masters, his movements and mana consumption had been sloppy, unfocused, and actively detrimental.

FOREIGNER's mana was actively rising. It was inky. Thick, pulpy, unnatural and disgusting. But necessary. This was the dilution of a power much, much more unseemly.

...RIDER was nowhere to be seen. There was a chance that he left- considering he was Masterless, a fight like this would be his one and final battle- if his enemies didn't kill him, he'd most likely run out of mana. That, or perhaps his reasons were more personal. Or he was flanking, and playing it safe. Lots of potential options on that front.

Music was a choice. But he'd need to play fast. Same with attacking. And while he was fast, there was no telling what kind of counterattacks these Servants had up their sleeves.

CASTER stared at the two Extra-classes, her eyes narrowing as her smile widened.

"Well, perhaps it's a little personal. Your Masters are quite unique, yes? They're a threat that I'd rather stamp out sooner than later. At least before Saber can get a bead on you. Perhaps you can hide in your second shell when we finish this one. Lancer, are you ready? Our victory here cements a step forward for the Blue Faction."

LANCER stepped forward, his mana swelling around him.

"I am Vlad Ţepeş! The Voivode of Wallachia! Infidels that stand before me, ready yourself for annihilation, and pray that our Lord is merciful to your souls in the afterlife!"

A True Name reveal. A spike in mana. That most likely meant that he was going to use his Noble Phantasm…

For most Servants, it would be a trump card. Holding one's True Name so close to their chest that even the slightest hints would be a tactical disadvantage. However, this was Vlad the Impaler. His name alone carried a level of fame, weight, and fear that allowed him to be more powerful than his time would allow. His maddened devotion rendering him immortal in the annals of history.

To him, in this form he held, hiding such a True Name would be ridiculous- because it would be alleviating his enemies from that fear.

And his enemies certainly felt fear. A chill ran down AVENGER's spine, his own True Name lost, but the sparking flames of the sins that held him down began burning and toiling within his stomach. Fear. Guilt. Anger. Agony. Facing the Son of the Dragon would mean death, his body nothing more than another corpse on a pike in the lands of Wallachia.

...Speaking of grudges. It'd be a risk, but there was always CONDUCTOR. Revealing the existence of AVENGER's source of hatred would be a massive boost in power… but at the same time, the drawbacks would be notable, no matter how successful the actual trigger was. Still, neither CASTER nor LANCER seemed as if they were willing to back down.

-

[tgrailwar-zero]

This situation wasn't optimal, but it was salvageable. On instinct, AVENGER attacked. Not using his blade directly, but by relying on the one thing that came naturally to him as he summoned his blade.

Music.

Magical energy flared from the blade as lines of blackened mana, like the strings of a violin, shot out from AVENGER's own neck. He placed his blade like a bow upon them, before rapidly and suddenly bowing against them. You watch as the masked conglomerate hiss and fade further back into the shadows, while the armored Servant lets out a pained roar at the noise.

You're not sure how much you've done, but you do know that hurt. You also can feel as if you've burned a fair amount of mana to do pull this off without getting too hurt.

With them stunned, the next course of action was clear. AVENGER sprinted to the window, his blade soaring through the air as he slashed through the glass, and he found himself jumping out into the night city skyline. A dagger shot past him, grazing his shoulder, but ultimately missing as he began plummeting downward.

"Gh- Berserker! Handle that Servant, but don't risk your life over it. The insect is still around here somewhere, and we have their Ruler! I don't want to be the one to tell Saber you died for nothing!"

The skeleton-masked ensemble faded back into the shadows as the BERSERKER sprinted after AVENGER.

"AAAARRRRRR--!!"

Unnatural speed, even for a Servant. Without hesitation, the black-armored Servant surged out the window, gauntleted hands ripping away at the paneling of the windows as black mana slowly and poignantly corroded them, turning them into deadly weapons.

One is blocked with a well-timed swipe of AVENGER's blade, but the other lands a direct hit against AVENGER's torso. He yells in pain, spiraling in the air before colliding with the ground, rolling against rough asphalt before using the momentum to spring back up to his feet, drawing his blade again.

The screams of the various citizens of the city resounded around AVENGER and BERSERKER as he slammed into the ground, letting out a guttural, raw scream. The scattering crowd, the approaching Servant, his heavy armor clearly no hinderance to his own agility.

This was good. BERSERKER is clearly powerful, so making it out unscathed was an impossibility. But you made it out, and the other Servant wasn't able to pursue you and AVENGER.

You have some distance. You could keep running, get out of the city, and try to find where the rest of your allies (MOONCANCER and FOREIGNER) are. But PRETENDER and RULER are still somewhere within this place, and presumably in danger. Maybe PRETENDER could catch up, but RULER may not be able to.

You find yourself an an impasse.

Avenger's Current Statistics:

Current Health: 4/7 (-2 from BERSERKER's attack, damage reduced and other attacks dodged due to success).

Current Mana: 7/7

Current Items:

Code Cast, heal(16); - [ Recovers +2 Health ]

Code Cast, m_lacrimosa - [ ERROR, Corrupt Data from Summoning, ITEM UNUSABLE ]

--

Due to AVENGER's C-Ranked Mana parameter, it costs 2 points to attack with magical energy, but it'll do 2 points of damage to enemy Servants in-turn. It seems like that first burst of energy was free due to your success. Congrats! You did an additional +1 damage because of your AVENGER skill! You lost that boost, but instantly regained it due to taking damage!

You currently have no way of seeing BERSERKER or the skull-masked Servant's health!

It seems as if picking an option with 'Endurance' or 'END' prompts your Servant to take care for defending. If that option isn't there, then you'll get hit regardless, and your success determines how well you can reduce the damage.

...That item is new. When'd that get there? Well, that seems like a question for another time. No use messing with it now.

[tgrailwar-zero]

something's bothering me. why would caster go to all that work to remove us from avenger and take over his contract just to.... leave him to help blue team gain an advantage? what does she gain from that? is she trying to lull blue team into overconfidence, then flip the switch and have avenger turn on them at the last second? even if it meant sacrificing all her allies? why?

and theres something else thats been sticking in my head. pretender said people have finally started listening to mooncancer now, but it seemed like they had been following her lead from the start. and back at the beginning he told us she was an extremely skilled hacker, one who displayed a familiarity with adjusting a servant's spirit origin. it feels a little odd that m_lacrimosa flew beneath her notice.

how do we know avenger was the only servant bugged like that? that we were the only ones being manipulated? we've been approaching this like caster is some sort of mastermind nemesis of ours, but like... this grail war, the whole solar cell, its all artificial. fake. a lie. how do we know caster is actually.... caster? like what proof do we have mooncancer hasnt been behind everything from the start?

_

[tgrailwar-zero]

You sit at the precipice of AVENGER.

The edge. Broken and fissured. The edge of a shattered mind that has been wrung and

A choice needs to be made, plain and simple, now that you stand here.

A choice that will be irrevocable.

Either reach out to the latent 'something' within AVENGER holding it together and wrest it free.

Or calmly silence it, like simply blowing out a candle and watching it vanish into smoke.

A choice, with unknown factors and outcomes, but a choice nonetheless. No right or wrong. True or false. Good or bad. Simply 'here' and 'now', and what that means for the future.

[tgrailwar-zero]

Huh. Guys, I have an idea. After we rescue Avenger, why don't we just... Give him to Moon Cancer?

Ironically, I feel like doing the opposite of what Conductor says would be the best case scenario here; If what Pretender said is true, Moon Cancer does care about her teammates to an extent, and I doubt she'll turn down getting Avenger back on the Blue Team, especially if we take all the blame for that whole virus situation and maybe pretend that we're fine with ditching Avenger to get the absolute unit of a Servant Kuku here. We know now that removing m_lacrimosa won't harm Avenger's Spirit Core, and Gunner seems perfectly fine with her as his Master. That way, Avenger gets back into relatively safe hands, especially with Ruler and Foreigner around, and won't be hounded by other Servants instantly wanting to kill him just because he's on our team. We just need to convince them that we no longer have ties to Avenger, and his loyalty won't be compromised between us and the Blue Team.

So... Break his heart to save him? :') What a way to end our rom-com (For now)...

_

[tgrailwar-zero]

cast: m_lacrimosa

[tgrailwar-zero]

Adding on to the Admin being suspect theories, she DID give us the option of making an Amalgam Contract; Which, by her own words, would've reset Avenger to his state at summoning, thus removing m_lacrimosa, and transported him and Rider to a new base and fixed our mana supply issue, which would've rendered Caster's attempt to kill them both at the port to eliminate us null. Hell, pissing off Avenger and Rider aside, it would've probably solved most of our problems then, considering how Caster and Conductor was behind most of it. I still think she's up to something that isn't necessarily aligned with the best interests of the Solar Cell, and she's using us as a means to an end, but I don't think she's in leagues with Caster either. It's not like Amaterasu's Tails get along with each other all the time; Quite the opposite, in fact.

Also, I feel that picking the 'safe' choice has turned out terribly for us every single time. Risking the Spirit Origin/Ruler mission could've allowed us to actually catch onto m_lacrimosa being a virus, since the Spirit Origin would've been unaffected, Ruler was already released by Saber, and the Red Team Servants were willing to leave Avenger alone for the most part to take advantage of the Trojan within him; None of which we actually discovered, because we were too busy being beat into a pulp by Alter Ego and Caster. Chancing the Amalgam Contract could've solved all our problems, and Avenger and Rider would've probably listened if they knew Caster was out to get them because of us; We ARE their Masters, after all, and learning that might've at least weakened Rider's loyalty to the Red Team. Meanwhile, doing things like getting Rider to drink the pulque turned out beautifully in comparison. I wouldn't say we should become as cruel as our past selves were, but we should definitely be taking risks a lot more; Being passive was what allowed Caster to truly ensnare us, since we didn't actively seek any other sources of information that would've contradicted Conductor's words, besides perhaps Moon Cancer.

_

[tgrailwar-zero]

My thoughts on Caster 'hacking' us: How can we be so sure that it isn't just her bugging us through m_lacrimosa? We know from experience that it's able to insert itself into and update elements of our UI to misrepresent itself as a helpful party, listen in to and respond to our asks (both the ones we addressed to m_lacrimosa directly and the ones we sent through ask_avenger(); as seen at the port) and even mess with our options (again, as seen at the port and when we were being tricked by him, since the options to surrender and let Moon Cancer do her work were probably AVENGER'S desires, which we may have unwittingly helped suppress by supplying mana via votes to Conductor instead). Even with all that aside, we know that Servants can control whether we have access to the descriptions of their Skills and Noble Phantasms; And the reason why we didn't have that with Avenger is precisely because of Caster. And while she may be pretending otherwise, she didn't exactly seem to be able to do the same while we were with Rider since he wouldn't have had a virus on him, or even comment on when we used ask_admin(); to try to get ourselves out of that situation, considering how she'd probably have more than a few choice words about that; Which would explain why she'd come all the way personally to take care of us when m_lacrimosa was under threat of being removed for good, since it WAS her ace in the hole. The most likely option is that Caster was hacking us THROUGH Avenger; Serving as a kind of middle man between, altering the contents of our communications as she saw fit, rather than hacking us ourselves. That would've explained why Avenger told us to get a VPN on top of the antivirus.

_

[tgrailwar-zero]

... Oh, shit. Guys, what if it's Caster pretending to be us? It wouldn't be out of the question if she were to say, wipe Avenger's memories of what happened that night, and then use m_lacrimosa and the contract she created with him to fool him into thinking she's actually us. That way, she doesn't have to worry about m_lacrimosa being removed and pinged as a virus on Moon Cancer's radar, since she can just control him from a distance as her Trojan within the Blue Team this time. Or something.

_

[tgrailwar-zero]

Given that Heiliger Saber CLAIMS that he wants to work with us, perhaps it'll be possible to use this leverage into strong-arming Caster into giving up Avenger? Of course, we need to be wary of what state she'll be returning him in; It's likely she'll try to use him as a sleeper agent against us later down the line, or as a vector to spread more malware into our systems, or worse. We'll definitely need to scan and vet him properly before we take him back, especially since m_lacrimosa is capable of tricking our senses (As seen during Moon Cancer's first inspection) and affecting Avenger's behaviour. But we might be able to get him back without a fight, which would risk hurting and killing him especially since he's capped at 1 HP right now.

_