C231: Start of the war
Alt Title teaser: Identity of Rider's Master
Date published: 6/20/2025.
So for anyone that has reached this point, mostly looking at you two lovely devils that commented on every chapter thus far. I have changed my mind, I am not planning to go to Grand Order, mostly due to learning that f/go takes place in alt timeline where fuyuki only had 1 grail war and that was the corrupted Singularity F with Saber alter and caster Cu Chulainn that everyone who has seen the first grand order movie or played the prologue for the game knows about.
As such, I'll likely finish up the story with fate/stay night. Though I won't list the book as "complete". I know webnovel states that it allows side story posts but I don't really trust that since I haven't been able to do that in my other book.
I would like to eventually post some side stories regarding the adventures that Axel's children went through, maybe an altered Chaldea with Washio or something but it's only ideas at the moment. For now tho, Enjoy
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"As such, let us go over the rules of this war to ensure everyone's safety." Axel and the masters begin to discuss the situation and from a general standpoint, the primary consensus was to have set battlefields. Regions in and out of the city where Masters are required to roam at certain times to ensure that there is actually a fight. This prevents the fights from occurring in residential areas or potentially involving civilians which is the principal factor to avoid as the damages from the previous war were more than enough for Fuyuki to bear for many more years.
As such the current list of locations is the Shinto side Harbor, the entire forest outside the city, as well as Ryuudou temple. The mention of the temple seems to disappoint the female Caster in the audience. Yet as she ponders the situation, she realizes that she could turn it to her favor. Though one thing that can't be dismissed, for her at least, is whether the man before her knows that this location was under her control and is thus targeting her.
A second feature was the dismissal of noble phantasms just like in the previous war to mitigate unprecedented damage possible to the city. This is not a total ban like before even though that was previously canceled due to the existence of 'caster' who had been targeting people without casting barriers.
What is different this time around is a type of little game that Axel is introducing to the war. He will have his people spread out tokens in various locations across the city. They have a slight magical residue so they can be easily found if searched for. The tokens have sigils on them, when a bracelet that Axel will give each master scans the sigil. It will 'power up' the bracelet, when that is fully charged, the servant of the master may utilize their noble phantasm once before the 'charge' is spent once again.
"Why should we do this and how can you enforce that nobody will attempt to bypass the bracelet?" Souichirou Kuzuki speaks up after raising his hand. Though the mask hides his face, 2 people recognize his voice a little, that being Shirou and Rin but also another who is heavily cloaked in their clothes seems to tremble at hearing the voice.
The answer comes in two forms, because noble phantasms are already fairly rare and can only be utilized by a master using his command seals more often than not due to the fickle nature of certain servants. I am not trying to diminish the value of your command seals. I simply wish to treat noble phantasms as what they are, strategic weapons, not to be used for mass destruction and death of civilians. I have my own method to detect if any of you go against the rules. As for the punishment?"
He puts his hands together, left in a palm while the right is clenched. The audience watches as his magical aura begins to rise until a silvery light begins to shine from his hands as the clenched right hand begins to move away from the left. What is quickly revealed is a silvery spear surrounded by various magical essences
"The answer is quite simple, ill kill your servant. It could be with this or could be another way but know that nothing i've used this spear against has survived. The pillar of heaven, beacon of morality, The Rhongomyniad. And this one was made by me" He informs them of the consequences but when he goes into detail about the magical weapon/mystic code, many stand up in shock at the name and Bazett even proclaims.
"Bullshit" over him being able to create a divine weapon.
"That is not for me to explain unless your wish to the grail is for me to actually do so. Nevertheless, you have felt it's power and thus have no reason to doubt my claim in being able to uphold my word regarding this rule. Now if every Master can take their bracelets." Sheba unveils a briefcase hidden behind Axel's chair which she opens to reveal a set of golden bands. Everyone one by one comes up to claim their bangle and a prototype token which shows its appearance for reference but holds no sigil.
Not long after, they begin to depart one by one yet Axel has the cloaked figure remain in request of a private meeting. Axel sits down once again as he waits for some sort of response yet is only met with the lack of.
"Will you not speak to me now Boy?" Axel asks as he puffs up his chest and that releases some wind magic that blows the hood of the cloak revealing the 16 year old boy with deep indigo hair. He bears a resemblance with Murasaki Shikibu as well as Axel Gram himself.
For this was Washio Gram himself who was the mysterious master of the unknown rider. The most important fact that Axel can tell is that Washio's sealed talent was in fact unsealed. Not completely of course as the seal Axel had last put up is quite strong but it's enough that Washio can begin to access some of his draconic might and even awaken his talent in magic, specifically illusions.
With the continued silence as Washio only continues glaring at his father, Axel. The father can only sigh in mental exhaustion as he speaks up once more.
"At least explain yourself. Why did you join such a dangerous situation? Rin and Sakura's father died in the last one. The father figure of one of the current participants had been the one to cause the great fire a decade ago by attempting to destroy the grail. So why did you join? I can predict most of your thoughts and actions but I still have enough will to hold myself back. So at the very least respect that and tell me why you would endanger yourself like this"
The glare directed at him stops as Axel begins speaking. Looks of uncertainty cross his face before he pales at the large destruction and loss of life. Granted it was marginally less since Axel had killed off the original caster and his master, only recreating their image and some of their actions since he did not want to kill innocents to attract the bounty.
Nevertheless, Washio lifts his head after a minute of consideration as a blush partially covers his face. "A…A ring."
"A Ring?" Axel is now genuinely puzzled as he can think of various magical rings across various media but Washio should be unaware of them with the exception of this worlds anime.
"I want the grail to forge my future wedding ring to Sakura. I plan to propose once we both graduate. I don't care about College anymore Dad. I don't care about any sort of plans you would have for me about that"
Once all those words are said, Washio seems to turn a shade brighter as he realizes that he kind of blew up on his dad when they were having a serious conversation. He had likely been thinking about this for a long time and had been ranting to himself about blowing off college and marrying Sakura. Washio knows that Sakura is practically his little sister now but they couldn't help but to fall for each other after so long together.
Axel has a stone face as he reaches into his left sleeve with his right hand. He pulls out a cable that had a small tube at the tip. Axel crushes it before reaching into his pocket where the connection cord to a recorder is found. Throwing out the needle-like cord out of the recorder, Axels facial expression begins to morph into a creepy smile.
"I had originally planned to discipline you by getting blackmail on you and giving it to your mother so she can properly discipline you and have you drop out. But i think ill keep it for myself and share it with everyone at the wedding. He he he" Washio grows pale at his fathers words
Axel has to suddenly do a backwards flip off his chair as Washio partially dragonized with a massive magic dragon claws swiping down on where he was sitting.
"Hand it over dad" Smoke comes out of Washios mouth as his body warms up greatly as he next releases a fire breath at him but Axel cartoonishly jumps over it, flaming butt and everything. "YAOU" even letting out an iconic yelp from his burning butt.
Naturally Washio does not believe he already won after witnessing his father pull out the Rhongomyniad earlier, so he keeps up the assault by releasing dragon fire fireballs to chase after his father whose priestly outfit burns down into ash as it's revealed he has his casual clothes underneath.
To get rid of the floating fireballs, Axel spawns a bomb in his hands which he lights and then tosses behind him which collides with the leading fireball and causes a small explosion that takes out the others. Axel wipes imaginary sweat off his head as Washio appears beside him and unleashes a punch at his fathers face.
BANG SNAP
Just in the last second, Axel spawns a black of wood that snaps right in half, he repeats this a few more times with the following punches before wagging his finger in his sons face whilst showing off the snapped boards.
"Ya know son, you got a real good punch there. You have a real bright future ahead of you as a promising martial artist. Lemme introduce to ya some real good techniques see" Axels voice morphs into that of a typical italian mobster as he holds up a box from nowhere as Washio is confused. "What?"
"ME!!" The box opens up to Axel's fist popping through it, punching Washio into the air.
"Shoryuken"
Washio is sent flying into the wooden awnings as he breaks multiple rows of wooden benches the chapel had. The two continue fighting for quite a while as the other masters get wind of the conflict but find that they could not approach due to a barrier blocking their path. They can only hope that the unknown master who stayed behind is either killed or weakened from his conflict with Axel.
Eventually the two calm down and begin a proper chat as Axel reveals his otherworldly origins as well as the greater details about Washio's whole family. Washio had made comment about having dreams of the illusionary trials that his parents had put him through to test his mental state in regards to inheriting his power properly which Axel explained why he had always failed.
"I see, So i owe Sakura even more."
"She is indeed a great person and I have high hopes for you son. Give me a couple grandkids at some point." Axel teases his son a bit more as Washio nearly starts another fight but calms down after a bit.
Axel reiterates that while he spiritually supports Washio in his victory, Axel himself must remain steadfast and neutral in this. Only if something beyond any scope beyond norm rises up, he would step in. He would also ensure that he wouldn't die naturally. That would be far too heartless even for Axel.
Soon enough the two depart as Axel openly leaves while Washio is teleported home where he begins planning his next move now that his mind has been both refreshed and freed of it's previous uncertainty and burdens from trying to hide magic from his family, unknowing that they already possessed it.
He also got to learn about all his different siblings and various notes that they had left behind when studying magic. Axel had compiled the best amongst them and gave it to Washio who would study it in his free time to get a better handle on his own power. Of course Sakura continues to assist him in all things along the way.
With all else completed, the first official day of the Holy Grail War begins.
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Alt Title: New Rules, Confrontation and Acceptance
Word count: 2067
Drop a comment if you wanna judge my writing or the story. I'll try to respond, especially if you're confused or anything.