[center][h2]Lyaeus (10)[/h2][h3]DDD[/h3]@HotSpringPeeps[/center] At last, they arrived. Before them were knights. A heavy number of them. Or at least, that is how it might seem to the unknowing. However, before their eyes, the nature of those beings was apparent. Two stood immediately before Gilles and his forces, while the remainder surrounded the hotspring from all sides. Each of them bore that same expression, that same look of disgust. Yes, the threads flowing off of those knights were repulsive. The prayers they exuded were repulsive. Ah, it was tragic. For all the disgust they felt towards the knights, the one who they were connected to had a pure desire, but it was a desire so pure that it had been mangled beyond recognition. And besides that, the Berserker seemed intent on opposing them, so there was no recourse. His existence, though. Given [b]what[/b] that Berserker was... Troublesome. That could be troublesome. There could not be hesitation. [color=bc8dbf]"...Gilles de Rais, I apologize, but I will have to strike you down."[/color] One of the two standing before Gilles spoke up, while the other's will reached out. A line of magical energy connected the Berserker to each of those knights. In that regard, the most natural course of action was apparent. It grasped ahold of those lines, and in a single fell swoop, [b]severed[/b] them. For such beings, even a momentary disruption of magical energy was sufficient to undo them. Even if the nature of the Berserker was different than his Caster counterpart, the rule nonetheless endured. And so, as the myriad knights of Gilles de Rais fell apart into masses of unknown blood, the others made their move. One brought an air of primal madness over the hotspring, inducing those within to fall to a bacchic craze of mindless violence. Five watched in preparation, to react at a moment's notice. One began to warp space around the hotspring, as if trying to isolate it from the surrounding world. One began to form 'something' in its hand. The battle for the world had begun in earnest. [hr] [center][h2]Lyaeus (30)[/h2][h3]Remnants of Troy[/h3][@Undyingregret] [@BlueHelix] [@Kyuuzen][/center] Within the structure was a magus. Charging from the side was a Servant. Appearing from the other side of the city was a magus and a Servant. In that regard, what to do was simple. The lone Servant's defensive capacity was high. However, there was another recourse. And so, rather than attempting to battle him, a pair of Lyaeus simply took to the sky to keep him in place. The lone magus was not in a position to do anything, and killing humans was to be avoided if possible. As she was not a threat, then, there was no need to kill her. Instead, one simply reached out, and severed the line she possessed to her Servant. The pair was troublesome. The Servant was too steeped in grudges of the past to be amicable to conversation. An offer of friendship would fall on deaf ears, and besides that, it was unwilling to join hands with such a being. At the same time, it would rather avoid killing the Master if at all possible, but the Servant was undoubtedly a magus from the Age of Gods. Troublesome, troublesome. And so, the majority of them remaining in their position of guarding that dome of rock that housed their source, three Lyaeus moved to engage Dido. A brilliant light began to flow from their bodies as they did, brilliant enough to blind one who stared into it for too long. And yet, Dido would surely understand the greater danger it presented to her specifically. The purifying light of the great god of this land. A light that repelled evil. A light that expunged curses. [hr] [center][h2]Lyaeus (3)[/h2][h3]Off the Coast[/h3][@MrCellophane][/center] They streaked towards the fleet that laid off the coast. Any desire to engage in a dialogue was quashed when bullets flew at them without warning. The attacks hit their mark, but the Lyaeus were not slowed down in the slightest. It would be some time before they reached the boats; after all, their capacity to move on water was not at the level of certain Servants, but that only bought time on an order of seconds. [color=a2d39c]"Prepping the Grand Ritual! Ys, cornerstone it up! Strategist, let's blow 'em away!"[/color] Hopefully those seconds would be enough. [hr] [center][h2]Lyaeus (7)[/h2][h3]Southern Moor[/h3][@Yukitamas] [@addamas] [@Undyingregret] [@DostHou][/center] Two pairs, Masters and Servants. Just after the two had made contact, the Lyaeus came upon them, surrounding the four with their own numbers. [color=bc8dbf]"A great hero of this land, and one who strived to free others of their damnable fates." "By any chance, would you consider joining me, in creating a more beautiful world?"[/color] [hr] [center][h2]Lyaeus (6)[/h2][h3]Miyama Plains[/h3][@Reflection][@Sageage][/center] At last, they descended. As the great hero finished his task, whether in victory or failure, they arrived. They were in a position to respond to attacks, that much went without saying. It seemed that if hostilities broke out, five would attend to the Servant, and one to the Master. However, before then... [color=bc8dbf]"Hero Roland, will you not join me? Let us rid this world of meaningless tragedies."[/color] [hr] [center][h2]Lyaeus (2)[/h2][h3]Shinto Town[/h3][@Scallop][/center] A Servant and a beast, charging and screaming about ridiculous things. The Beast felt fury, as she did not even attempt to understand. The humans felt fury, as she claimed to speak for their will. And so, they unified. The first leapt back, observing from a distance with those eyes. The second stood calmly in the path of the Servant and the elephant's attacks, and formed 'something' in its hand, driving it forwards to meet the assault. [hr] [center][h2]Lyaeus (2)[/h2][h3]Tohsaka Leyline[/h3][@Kyuuzen][/center] Another lone Master. Another connection severed. Little else was to be said, and so it departed as quickly as it arrived. [hr] [center][h2]Lyaeus (4)[/h2][h3]Church Outskirts[/h3][/center] The sword emperor had felt his power wane to its nadir, every scrap of land he had conquered torn from him. The beings that besieged him a moment later were equally troublesome. Even with his combat aptitude, the four were coordinated and capable enough to pin him down. No, that was not the issue. If it was merely skill, he outmatched them. In fact, his blade had met its mark countless times. The issue, then, was that they had not suffered a scrap of damage. It should not have been possible. Ignoring the fact that his own strength was absurd and that his sword's curse carried certain death, magical defenses should have been negated entirely by Florent's nature. Military Synergy kicked into overdrive. No matter how foreign these beings were, he would eventually come to understand them. And besides that, they were so occupied with keeping him pinned to the spot, not giving him a chance to dominate the land or the resources of that nearby church, that any meager damage they inflicted was easily within his armor's capability to heal. He was controlling the flow of the battle, and so he simply needed to continue analyzing, and once he found a way to harm them- He felt it. His connection to his Vassal was cut in a moment. Whether the idiot had gotten himself killed, or something else had happened, he did not know. The result, though, was the most concerning part. Was this why they were focusing on pinning him down? They were planning this, and refused to give him a chance to connect to the land again. Time shifted from his ally to his enemy. Without an opening to connect to the land, the loss of his Vassal was painfully felt; his existence was quickly growing hazy. [color=d9869f]"Tch..."[/color] Unless something to shift the tides occurred, the Sword Emperor would soon fall. The thought of dying to these things was so infuriating, it made him even consider using [i]that[/i]. [hr] [center][h2]Lyaeus (2)[/h2][h3]In Pursuit of Nikola Tesla[/h3][@floodtalon][/center] [color=bc8dbf]"...I see. You simply don't understand...no, you [i]can't[/i] understand. You can't see their wishes or their karma, you can't see what they pray for, and so you assume they are the same as you. You assume that is what they live for."[/color] Understanding and sorrow blossomed across the face of the one who had spoken, as it shook its head in dismal disappointment. It seemed that it had earnestly hoped that Tesla would join its cause, but alas. [color=bc8dbf]"A genius cannot understand ordinary men. I do not blame you, Nikola Tesla, as that would simply be to blame what you are, but I cannot accept it. I cannot accept a world that causes them to suffer, and neither can they. Those who have lost their homes and loved ones, those broken by meaningless tragedy, those who rage at death and scream at life, I cannot ignore their prayers."[/color] Stones fell from the sky, but were fended off by those shields. However, the lightning that came a moment later finished the job, shattering that protection, and allowing the lightning to reach its targets. [color=bc8dbf]"You are indeed a Star of humanity, but are you not aware? Monsters kill humans. Heroes kill monsters. Humans kill heroes."[/color] In the very same moment, though, vines burst from the ground, wrapping around Tesla even as he fired his lightning. Even through Tesla's armaments, their touch was icy, and it would not take long for him to realize that their touch was beginning to wick away his own magical energy. The two Lyaeus stared forwards at Tesla, space around them shifting as they evidently prepared something, their bodies crackling as the lightning driven into them seemed to dissipate into [i]something else[/i], something that was pulled inside of their bodies. [color=bc8dbf]"And in this moment, I stand beside humans."[/color] [hr] [center][h2]Lyaeus (2)[/h2][h3]In Pursuit of Darius III[/h3][@Yukitamas][/center] The Berserker rode on a vehicle made of skeletons. The original designation likely would have found such a thing charming. Truth be told, even in its current state, it agreed. However, it was not enough. One Lyaeus chased after the skelecar from behind, while one stood directly in its path, having been approaching from the opposite side. According to Darius's expectations, the latter would have been trampled underbone, and the Berserker would reach Tesla to whisk him away. However, that would not come to pass. The Berserker would not even have a chance for Tesla to enter his line of sight. This is because, in the fact of the charging bonemobile, the Lyaeus standing before it moved. 'Something' formed in its hand. The same something that the Lyaeus standing against the elephant rider had thrust forth. The same something that the Lyaeus outside of the hotspring had prepared. And so, as Darius III's makeshift car and the Lyaeus met, that very something was released, erupting with the force of a great Noble Phantasm to stop the Berserker in his tracks, and likely bring him down in the process. A miniature sun descended upon earth.