V E N G E A N C E

― If God exists, then I will certainly receive divine punishment.

[jellyfishcaptain-blog1]

Steel, Faith and Chivalry - Bellum event part1

@vengier​

After Johnny’s triplicata had suddenly acted on its own, both he and his servant were found themselves in green, bright plains. The two hotties dressed in all black were presented by a village burning in front of them, the screams of the weak who cannot defend themselves and the clangs of steel clashing against steel.

The streets were in chaos, amidst the fire and bloodied corpses of knights and peasants alike. Johnny rested his right palm against the hilt of his sword underneath his jacket.

“Soooo, this is the kinda stuff we were assigned for, huh?”

However, before any discussion could take place. Three Light armor Knights charges the duo, accusing them to be insurgents. A Heavy armor Knight, wielding an imposing shield and claymore, was standing behind the other three knights shouting the orders to assault them.

[vengier-blog]

The clash of blood, steel and fire was familiar in so many ways to the black maiden. Standing next to her Master, she took a survey of the area before a harsh glower was cast his way at his most obvious comment. A roll of her eyes followed. “Pft. Of course it is. Just what did you expect to be facing?” 

Her curt retort was as abrupt as her movements as she moved forward in flourish of clothing material and fury. Darkened blade drawn, she did not wait for any “orders” from her so called Master and there was no guarantee she would obey them anyway.

At least in this moment, it seemed as if this were her idea. These lessers were in her way, and thus she needed to dispatch them. There was also the need to release that ever present pent up rage that Avengers always carried as well. The Light armor knights her primary targets first, taking out the smaller trash before moving onto the dump. 

[ryuunosenshii-deactivated202201]

              Pungent blackness billows up between broken windows, coiling out of a busted rooftop. Orange firelight dances against silver and green, eating away at wooden and cloth furniture. A glass cabinet bursts and a bookshelf begins to collapse. As a glaring green visor radiates out of the flames, the cottage’s brittle rooftop begins to crumble in on itself. “Ah, kuso-!” He swears roughly, whipping up an arm to knock away falling debris. The cottage is small enough that it doesn’t take him long to jump over a flame-engulfed table and surge out of the busted window. Unscathed though he is, the sudden appearance in a burning house was alarming, to say the least. The same instant, the flames explode and the smoke only grows thicker. Outside, it saturates the skies, creating a screen that settles over everything. It is difficult to see until the smoke disperses.

              What is perhaps the most melancholy about this violent scene, are the dozens of burnt and suffering bodies. Still the war wages on, knights oblivious to the suffering; too focused on wanting to spill the blood of their brethren. This is the sort of war-torn battlefield he had been expecting upon ending up in the Grail ward, with his body being held together by magical power. His purpose, to be in a contract with a Master and fight a war to protect humanity. He is all right with this, considering it doesn’t change his goals from what they had been on Earth; to fight alongside the new Overwatch strike-force. Though it had only been Winston, Lena and himself at the time. They never had a chance to see whether anyone else would respond to the re-call; especially with the breaking news of Akande Ogudimu’s escape.

              Across the burnt and smoking grounds, he witnesses a lone knight in black armor; very unlike the other knights, wreak havoc upon the weak few. They have numbers, but the black knight has much more power. It’s clear to him that she’s a servant, and the other knights are weaker than most servants. The way she is armored, she almost looks as though she could be part of this war. However, all of them; master and servants, are part of the war as a whole. He cautiously stands ready with one hand on the hilt of his smaller wakizashi, the other hand in front of his face and ready to produce shuriken.

              “Yo. Nice weather we’re having, yeah?”

@vengier

[vengier-blog]

The scent in the air could only be described as nauseating to most. Flames licking away at flesh, consuming the remains of what were once human until they were nothing more than piles of ash, carried away by the wind. Violent flares of colors, red, orange, yellow, violet rose and fell as they washed over their prey. The crackling roar of the inferno mixing with the terrified screams of the now damned created a symphony so terrifying and depressing, it would drive most mad.

Yet there, standing almost gleefully amongst the carnage was a woman shrouded in black. There was an odd way that the flames refrained from encroaching on her person, keeping a careful distance as she made her way through the charred ruins. Almost admiring the work.  

Surprisingly, this was not her doing.

She had stumbled upon this place on her trivial quest of “helping”, per her Master’s request. While she had no real personal investment in this timeline, she was bound to a contract - and that meant that she was going to help.  Ah, it was just too bad it was already too late for these people. These people who cried out for their God in their final moments, only to be purged by the flames. How terribly ironic. How terribly...disgusting.

All she could do now, was examine what was left to examine and try and prevent things later. Exasperated she would lazily kick around some of the smoldering debris with her foot, rattle some litter with her sword or cease the burning of some flames with her own control over fire. There seemed to be nothing of note here.

It was after awhile that she took notice of the other servant patrolling the area, and once he made himself known, she would turn to face him directly. An inhale accompanied by her immoral smirk as she made an attempt at some sort of snappy quip, only to be beaten to the punch...by being asked about the...weather…?

“Geh?! All this going on and you feel it best to ask about the weather? Christ, either you have your wires crossed or they forgot to install your brain.”

[endofemiya-blog]

6.24

[vengier-blog]

Childish as always and so easy to mess with. For someone who plays at being as much of a villain as she does, you’d think she’d learn how to avoid getting so upset over small inconsequential comments. But there she was, throwing a tantrum. Again. He couldn’t deny how amusing it was. He gave her a small shrug in response to her.

“I doubt it would make much of a difference, Jeanne. There’s not a lot much left of me to begin with. Wouldn’t be so much ash as a meager clap of dust.” Her threats were hardly worth noting aside from means to make use of his own brand of self-deprecating humor. Regardless though, he had no reason to continue to pester her, at least down that route of thought.

“I see you have a master now. He looks like an idiot. Likely going to get you killed with sheer stupidity.” Straight to the point and brutal to that end. Scathing as the remarks were, however, they weren’t aimed at her. In fact, it seemed as though he was genuinely concerned that her master would cause her problems. “You have a plan to handle that situation? Or should I introduce myself to get the point across that he needs to fall in line?”

Geh, with words like that it was almost as if he cared about her. A wrinkle of her nose at the mere thought as he continued to speak.  She was no stranger to the self deprecating way of thinking, if anything she partook in it herself. She was a wicked woman who would pay for her transgressions in the end. There was nothing further she could truly be judged for on this plane of existence. Her final sentencing, likely to the pits of hell, would come when she was finally laid to rest for good...that is, if God even truly existed at all.

“Ufufufufu~” Her laughter was directed at the comment of her Master looking like an idiot. “I guess you of all people would be able to single an idiot out.” Hands rested on her hips as she peered at him. “Ah! You should be worried, I am not sure how much patience I have. Is it enough to keep two morons around?” Her words were spoken so fiercely that it was hard to tell if they were spoken in jest.

Yet, if anyone were to really know her, they would find that through her malice and thorny persona, she indeed held loyalty in high regard. It was for this reason, she would not strike down those of which she was allied.

[vengier-blog]

❖ ❖ ❖  @vengier      ❝  I thank you for such a–… Filling description. If I appear holy          in any way towards thee, I wonder if in the eyes of others do          they measure me the same… With far more mannerisms I presume.          Though I suspect a heathen like yourself perhaps would no need           for any, no?   ❞         A ‘Heathen’ carried a double meaning toward the woman currently speaking toward the rather, ;colorful’ female. Her personality did not grant any welcoming and if anything, had a coy measure as if to say. There was no interest in others before her, ‘less it supplied her with what she needed. Kriemhild could only guess such a women was uncultured–that is to say. Kriemhild herself became as much in the latter days of her life. Yet the other did not know that and she was not about to rabble on about her self in any way.

    ❝  To your dismay though, I am Avenger. There is nothing holy about me        save for my status and stature. Does this fit in with your assumptions of        me….? Ah, let me take a guess and gander at you…. Berserker? No though        that’d be a compliment considering your current sanity keeping you at your wits        to hold a fruitful conversation with me. ❞

Heathen? There was a wickedness to her grin which made its way to her face at the choice descriptor. A heathen. It was the same as calling her an infidel, heretic, or, her personal favorite, an unbeliever - oh, just how correct this woman was.  

Of course, commenting on that would be to relinquish a hint as to her true nature and a large clue as to her identity. Instead she rebuffed the words with a lethargic shrug. Her golden optics looking away from the woman as she continued to drool on. It sounded like this one might simply like to hear herself talk.  Yet there was something that caught her attention, earning a sharp black look.

“Geh. You an Avenger?” She seemed taken aback as she moved to her feet, looking over the woman, truly for the first time. “Pft, you have got to be kidding, for I know all of the Avengers and you are not one of them I have ever seen.” To Jeanne’s knowledge there were very few, and she seemed to hold some measure of pride to be a part of this perceived elite core (of trash). “If you were truly Avenger, you would know you gaze at someone who shared the same title. 

“Christ, why would someone try and lie about something like that?” Jeanne knew that they wouldn’t, and thus she would sneer at the woman. “You must be new then, how sad.” 

[endofemiya-blog]

6.24

[vengier-blog]

A smirk crossed his face in response, not giving her an inch. She was much like a child, trying to constantly one up him to prove her own superiority. But truthfully, it was never something he was willing to argue. The Archer was not greater than anyone, in any way. He simply was, and offered no apologies to that end. But at the same time, dealing with her childish antics made him want to poke the bear so to speak.

And so they waited. He let her sit there and sass for a good thirty minutes, just examining the world as it passed by. Patience was a virtue he was well versed in. There was a strong doubt that she was of similar fortitude. However, just as he felt that she was about to give way and throw a tantrum, perhaps storm off in a huff, he laughed and spoke up.

“Truly. My luck is both equal amounts terrible and grand. I lose my master and my ability to use my Phantasm, but in return, I have a such a powerful ally who, for all her grandstanding and posturing, actually came to check up on me. I suppose it’s more a matter of equal exchange than anything.”

He turned his gaze to her, that ever defiant smirk on his face. “I’m sure you’re wanting to argue that fact, but you’ve been waiting awfully patiently for me to acknowledge you. That doesn’t look good for your image, Jeanne.”

What an absolute moron. Did he have to work hard at being that dumb, or was he born with it? An existence “blessed” with being that talentless and brain-dead almost made her believe in a higher power, at least, in a divine power cruel enough to do that. Maybe that was something she could get behind. Ha!

With an inhale she would turn to him, studying his laughing face as he entirely got the wrong impression of her being here. A twisted grin etched upon her features as she sneered down at him once he was finished. “No you idiot, I am here to gloat. Christ, wouldn’t you know that by now?” To revel in the fact that he was now Masterless did seem like why she was here, but to be so blatantly called out on it tended to mute the excitement. On top of that, she was allied to the guy, which meant that until he served his purpose to her, it was better to have him alive. All in all, she had come to make sure he was okay...but only from an investment standpoint!

Masking the sulking expression that was creeping to her face, she would turn away from him. Running a hand through her hair slightly she grimaced at his words. Good thing there was no one else around, lest her image truly be destroyed by people getting the wrong idea about her loyalties and idenity. “Shut up! Unless you want to be charred into dust. Considering the wind and we being on top of this building, I think your ashes would spread pretty far.” Her biting words were accompanied by the dark flames which flickered at her fingertips in warning. 

[vengier-blog]

Really, Sombra thinks she kind of likes this woman– Servant or not. She’s got a sharp tongue that reminds Sombra of people she’s gotten along with before, and really, who doesn’t like someone a little unpredictable?          For now, at least. It’s only a matter of time before Sombra figures her out, after all.          Still, there’s something about the way she talks that Sombra can say she agrees with, even if not so overtly. Better everyone think her impetuous and half-baked in her opinion than anything resembling purposeful.  

         “Wow, that took a sharp turn, no crees?” Even as she jokes, Sombra’s smile sharpens, shoulders rising in an irreverent shrug. “It’s not so much that as to find what sticks,” she admits, looking amused. “If you find the right buttons to push, the right string to pull, you can have anyone dancing like a marionette for you.” She clasps her hands behind her back, cocking her head in a mockery of innocence. “And most of the time, they’ll be so mad they won’t even realize they’re doing just what you want them to do.”

This woman had a point, her grin remained poised on her face even as the words were flung back at her. Crossing her arms over her chest she gave a haphazard shrug, the ideals the were being spewed about, while not exactly the same, were similar enough that Jeanne seemed mildly interested in what she had to say. At least without instantly becoming snappy and abruptly ending the conversation with violence. 

“I don’t like to mince words or actions.” She started, her attention driven back to the master before her, keenly aware that there were closely guarded secrets in play here. At least in the eyes of said Master.  Jeanne could care less about things like blackmail and leverage of that nature. Instead, she would simply use weaknesses in a straightforward manner to usher in pain and misery. “I do not deal in passive vengeance. If you want someone to do something, you make them.” 

The faux innocent gestures would make Avenger roll her eyes some, waving her off as she continued. “Besides, you want them to look at you and realize exactly what you are doing and that no one, not even their precious God, can stop it.” 

[fatestainlens-blog]

[ EVENT #2] : b e l l u m (Phase 1)

Read event preludes [PART 1] [PART 2] [PART 3]

The decision had been made. Those who chose to battle would advance towards near certain death. Those who chose not to would stay behind, leaving their fate in the hands of the brave few. The barrier surrounding Utopia continued to waver, seemingly crumbling from the very top. Slowly, but surely, the distortions were beginning to overpower the GRAIL itself. If left alone, the barrier would fade and the horrors that lurked outside would come to ravage everything.

Masters and Servants stood by, their Triplicata flashing as a new function had been implemented into it. A means of long distance travel between locations. In short, teleportation. Using this, they could leave the confines of the barrier and head towards their destination. However, before they could do so, the voice rang through their ears once again. This time, offering a warning.

Keep reading

[nijigenlewd]

黑贞 by artist 云灵Kylin (weibo)

[endofemiya-blog]

6.24

@vengier

A nostalgic view of bright lights and a dark sky. It was the view that the Altered Archer was given, In the back of his mind, there was a hazy stirring of memories from a life long since past. Maybe he had seen a similar view before, not unlikely considering his class. But the fact that it was trying to piece something back together in his mind made him wonder if there was something more to it. Perhaps he was better off forgetting anyway.

So there he was, sitting upon the railing of the rooftop of an unremarkable apartment complex For the time being, this complex acted as his home, with him and his “room-mate” occupying it. His fellow Alter wasn’t about for the time being however, so he decided to partake in some peace and quiet so that he could figure out how to handle his situation now. Where was Jeanne anyway, he’d ask himself. She has a master now if he recalled correctly…

Almost on cue, the doorway to the rooftop opened. Naturally he was alerted, but he didn’t bother showing he cared. Anybody else would have left him be. But only one woman here was quite as bold and brash to simply not care. The sound of footsteps approaching wasn’t so much ignored as it was completely glossed over. It wasn’t until the other was within attacking distance that he actually bothered to speak up.

“Occupied. Come back later.”

[vengier-blog]

She didn’t much care for Archer’s sass, as in, his ‘warning' would fall upon deaf ears. The rooftop was in a city that was part of a 'free country' was it not? Therefore Avenger could do as she pleased. Such a childish rationality, and yet she wouldn’t hesitate to utilize it when it suited her.

A side glance was cast towards Archer, before she looked ahead once more. One hand went towards her ear, tugging at it lightly as if something was faintly annoying. 

“Geh, I could have sworn I heard the voice of that pitiful, masterless Archer - but, there seems to be no one here. Christ, am I suffering from some sort of delusion? This must be hell if I am trying to be led into thinking I am hearing the voice of God again, and that voice sounds just like that idiots’.” 

She was silent after that, remaining an apt distance from Archer and seemingly completely unaware of his existence. There was part of her that of course had shown up to gloat, but for now she merely played along with his request for silence. After all, it was probably already irritating that she was here and wouldn’t leave; and that sated her...for now.

[fatestainlens-blog]

                                        The fated hour draws near.

                                                    Sound the trumpets of war.

[animepopheart]

★ sombernight | Jeanne d'Arc ☆ ✔ republished w/permission

[vengier-blog]

 Siegfried stood with the same serious expression as the Avenger started to laugh at his question, he didn’t know if it was a taunt or was actually fun to her, regardless, he won’t attack until given a reason to.

 “Very well.” He replies quickly, shrugging as he conmposes his tone. “In that case, you should be wary of your surroundings if you wish to make everyone your enemy, that recklessness of yours could kill you.” Saber says with a worried tone, even if he doesn’t see the darkened Saint with as he sees the other Jeanne he still holds respect to her especialy because of her strength.

 “I wonder about that, I would not yield so easily against the likes of you. Hoh. Why is that I wonder?” He suspected that it was because of his connection to dragonkin, especially the Fell Dragon Fafnir. But after hearing her teasing comment, he just crossed his arms and looked at her to the eyes, no hostility on them.

 “I thank you for the compliment. However, my heart already belongs to somebody else.”

His advice, that she didn’t ask for, fell upon Avenger’s ears. The droll prompting her to roll her eyes a bit like an annoyed teenager listening to a caring parent. Arms crossed over her chest, uncrossed in another wave, brushing off his words without giving a pause to their meaning. “Pft. I welcome them to try.” 

She cared little about who her enemies were, she would burn everyone in her way that opposed her. If she could not, and she met her end, she was prepared for that as well. To be judged int he flames of hell for all her ill deeds. There was no one on this earth that could truly judge her anyway.

Eyes darted back to him as he mused about her charisma. A sneer as their eyes met and he delivered his line about his heart being captured by someone else. A leer was directed his way, laughter filling the air again.

“HAHAHAHA! It may be hard, but don’t be so dim witted, Saber. Your heart is not what I need when keeping you around.” 

[vengier-blog]

It wasn’t as if she was unaware of the form approaching her, it was more like she did not care. She had only just shortly departed her “cordial visit” with Siegfried, and she was keenly aware of the sharp eyes which followed her every movement as such. 

My, my, was someone jealous?....Angry perhaps? The mere thought was enough to make the sides of Avenger’s lips upturn ever so slightly. With a flourish she turned and placed a hand on her hip. Addressing the form of a woman. 

“Geh, either I shouldn’t be surprised you aren’t an assassin or the Master pool is about as talentless as the brainless clergy these days. No mater which it is... you’re a joke.” 

Her sneer remained on her face as she inspected the woman now. Her vibrant hair, her aura.. it reminded her of some sort of sanctimonious garbage, it made her sick. “Christ, and just what am I looking at? Some sort of ‘divine scrap?’ Pft, more like a holy heap to me.” 

[vengier-blog]

facsimile

[vengier-blog]

noircisaint

A huff left her. Of course she knew they wouldn’t battle here, but laying down the thread was something to be done, even if it meant pointing her sword at her own face.

“I knew I was not stupid to try battle myself.” Her sword was slowly sheathed again before the arms were crossed under her chest. Face wearing a almost condescending smile for a moment before she continued speaking. “Now, let’s see. How about we start with comparing? It will be a good insight on each other and the experiences we had.”

“Do you know of an organisation by the name of ‘Chaldea’ perhaps? That would be a good point to start off.” It would be a lie to see this Jeanne did not had the slightest interest in getting to know what the double of her had to say about her past. Would they align with her own? Would there be a larger difference?

Perhaps the entire origin of that Jeanne would be altered and something new.

Such conversation would usually bore her, were it not for the fact that she was essentially conversing with herself. A quirked brow as she combed over the words spoken by her counterpart. 

Chaldea. She had experience with the organization, albeit brief. “My time there was cursory at best, a stepping stone before being summoned into a different instance.” A haphazard gesture made to the area around her. “I don’t even know why I even bothered answering the summons somewhere else, especially when that place is crawling with pious garbage aiming to make the world a better place.” 

Did she really mean something so callous? Of course, her other self probably knew the answer, unless they both lied about their feelings to themselves, which was also entirely likely. 

The fact that Chaldea was her first question, alerted her that this version of her self was probably stationed there. “And you? Which depraved occurrence do you belong?”  

[vengier-blog]

Just about as fun as Widowmaker and Reaper too, which only makes the corner of Sombra’s mouth tilt higher in her apparent amusement. The threat, while serious given that this is a Servant and she is not, is taken in stride and waved off with a smirk.          “Good thing I’m not a cat then, huh?”

          Her posture is a practiced slouch– only used because it gets her into the right sight lines for the right people– and she takes a step forward, half turning on her heel as she rolls her weight onto it.          “Hey, it’s not a bad thing, really. Kind of threatening, which is I’m guessing what you’re going for.” Or so she assumes, given that she’s fairly certain Servants can change what they wear at least a little. “I think the cloak is a little much though,” she adds as an afterthought. “But you pull it off, so who cares, right?”

She had to hand it to this woman, she had something that resembled a backbone. As such Avenger could at least acknowledge a flicker of respect. This master was right, she was no pussy. The corner of her lips seemed to pull ever so slightly into a sly smirk of amusement, though her dangerous eyes remained trained on the stranger critiquing her wardrobe. Her amusement with the situation swiftly depleting when the conversation turned on her.

Was that statement positive? There was a silence between them as she seemed to try and go over the almost backhanded compliment about her jacket. She quite liked her jacket...

b-but that was besides the point!

Her contemptuous air remained poised as she regarded the stranger who was at no loss for witticisms. A combined interested garnered from a backbone and the astuteness behind her words. “Others may find your quips fascinating and clever, but your light hearted jocularity is not what I am interested in. Tell me, do these jests hold spite and ire? Do you hope they will make people hurt? Now that would be a worthy conversation!”

[vengier-blog]

The words of the Avenger made Siegfried to tense, unknown to him she was just jesting on him, surely he would never feel too comfortable with the one dubbed “Dragon Witch”. He stands firm and nods quickly, as if to shrug it off inmediatly.

“In that case we are enemies this time, correct?” A simple question, but depending on how she takes it it could be a declaration of war. He shrugs at her question. “I wonder about that, there must be a reason to be summoned here so suddenly even if it was just a simple Holy Grail War. The same question could go with you, do you have a job to accomplish as well?”

Enemies? Enemies? Not holding back her thoughts she would begin with a rather unsettling laughter. To anyone else, they might have already tried to leave or attack Avenger, but to the rather sad plight of Siegfried, he was a dragon... and Avenger was not “the Dragon Witch” for nothing.

As her laughter seemed to die down, she would place a hand confidently upon her hip. “Enemies?! Christ how stupid can you be, Saber? Everyone is my enemy. Those God-Fearing morons who so blindly believe in that sham called religion. Who so devoutly follow after that trashy holy woman. They are all my enemy, arguably more so than you... At least right now.”

Taking mild notice of his discomfort, she seemed to grin wildly. “You should be happy that I do not wish to burn you alive or polish your face upon my blade! I’m keen on keeping you around whilst I do my avenging.”

“After all, you were never bad to look at.” 

[vengier-blog]

◘ ◘ ◘ ◘ — Something about her was… off.

And yet, he was averse towards the idea of acknowledging the danger that was staring him right in the face. To do so would mean to fumble about, looking for excuses to extract himself from the conversation he had so boldly initiated.

So he continued to play along, never mind how she had never agreed to his game.

           ❝ That’s a touch morbid, no? Not that I’m any stranger to the impact of my own spells. I’m not saying I’ve set myself on fire before, ❞ - but it’d be a lie to say that he hasn’t either -  ❝ But I’m quite familiar with combat. ❞

Nothing seemed to rattle him, unseat him, trip him up. All of her rather questionable conversations topics, quips and actions did nothing. How very interesting and equally as frustrating. A cant of her head, followed by a narrow of her eyes at his morbid comment and yet she did not lash out at him...yet.

Of course, he shouldn't get too comfortable, there was a chance that the volatile persona that was Avenger would burst in an instant. 

“Pft, you think that’s morbid? Christ, I would hate to know where you got your tolerance for the gruesome.” A lazy wave of her hand... “But I think you can be taught.” 

Huh...it seemed to get a bit hot in here. Was that the smell of smoke licking against leather?