Fate/Eclipsed Stars (Project Moon/Fate Grand Order)

Angela, Mash, and Cú Chulainn walked through the charred ruins of Fuyuki, their footsteps crunching against the ashen ground. Angela carried her book after dematerialized her club, her gaze distant and analytical. Mash remained steady, her shield at the ready, while Cú Chulainn kept an air of alertness, his staff resting casually in his grip.

As they approached Olga Marie Animusphere, her stern visage betrayed her inner frustration. She stood with arms crossed, tapping her foot impatiently. The faint glow of the flames around them reflected off her pristine white coat.

"You're late," Olga snapped, her voice sharp and commanding. "Now, explain what's happened, Mash Kyrielight. What is this... transformation?"

Mash hesitated, her hand tightening on her shield. Her lavender eyes flicked to Angela and Cú for reassurance. Angela merely tilted her head, her gaze detached, while Cú offered a subtle nod. Taking a deep breath, Mash began.

"When we were attacked," Mash said softly, her voice steady despite the weight of her words, "I was gravely injured. I... I don't think I would have survived if not for the Heroic Spirit within me. It... it offered me its power. I accepted, and I became a Demi-Servant."

Olga's expression faltered for a moment, but her steely resolve quickly returned. "A Heroic Spirit? Inside you?" she demanded. "Explain how this is even possible. I though you weren't able to equipped such a phenomenon."

Mash shook her head. "I don't know, Director. All I know is that... I felt its presence, its will to protect humanity, and it saved me."

Angela observed the exchange silently, her cold gaze fixed on Olga. The Director's frustration was palpable, her sharp tone barely masking the fear and confusion roiling beneath her composed facade.

Olga's eyes narrowed, her focus shifting to Ritsuka. "And you" she said, her tone icy, "Master Candidate 48? Explain why you are still standing when every other Master Candidate has been eliminated."

Ritsuka took a cautious step forward, their voice calm but firm. "I was somewhere else after you kick me out Director. That's all I can offer you."

Olga's frown deepened. Before she could press further, a faint hum emanated from Mash's shield. A bright holographic projection flickered to life, revealing a man with disheveled auburn hair and a tired expression.

"Hello hello Ah! Finally, I got through!" the man exclaimed, relief flooding his voice.

"Dr. Romani Archaman," Olga said tersely, her tone shifting to one of authority. "Where have you been, and what is the status of Chaldea?"

Romani's face fell, and he glanced away, his expression heavy with guilt. "Director Olga, I've been trying to contact you since the explosion. Chaldea is... barely operational. Half the facility is in ruins. The entire A-Team and the other Master Candidates... they are critically injured and are kept in cryogenic sleep in their coffins."

Olga's lips parted slightly, her composure cracking for a fleeting moment. She clenched her fists, her voice trembling despite her efforts to remain calm. "Lev... Where is Lev Lainur? He was supposed to oversee the Rayshift. Why isn't he here?"

Romani shook his head, his sorrow evident. "I don't know, Director. Lev is missing. I've tried to locate him, but there's no sign of him anywhere. The percantage of him being near the explosion are high"

The silence that followed was suffocating. Olga's shoulders tensed as she took a slow, deep breath, willing herself to maintain her composure. "And the staff?" she asked, her voice quieter but no less commanding.

"Half of the field staff survived," Romani replied. "But we're stretched thin. It's just me and the remaining staff keeping Chaldea running. We're doing our best, but..." He trailed off, his exhaustion apparent.

Olga closed her eyes for a moment, exhaling sharply. When she opened them, her expression was unreadable, her tone neutral. "Understood. Continue monitoring our situation and provide updates as needed."

As Romani's hologram flickered and stabilized, his gaze shifted to the unfamiliar faces beside Mash and Ritsuka. His eyebrows furrowed, confusion evident as he leaned closer to the projection, trying to make sense of the figures standing amidst the ruins.

"Wait a second... Who are they?" he asked, pointing at Angela and Cú Chulainn.

Cú Chulainn stepped forward, his staff resting casually on his shoulder, a grin spreading across his face. "The name's Cú Chulainn. Y'know, the Hound of Ulster. But today, they've got me working as a Caster."

Mash blinked, tilting her head in confusion. "Caster? But you're famous for being a spearman. How...?"

Olga's sharp gaze darted between Cú and Mash. "Exactly! The throne summoned you as a Caster? Why not a Lancer? That makes no sense!"

At that, Cú's grin faltered, and a vein visibly twitched on his temple. "Don't remind me, lass." he muttered darkly.

Then, as if the heavens themselves were his target, Cú jabbed his staff into the ground and threw his hands up in exasperation. "Oi, Throne of Heroes! What kind of sick joke is this? You take my spear and call me a bloody Caster? What am I supposed to do? I'm a half baked dryad who only know a few runes for god sake ?"

Angela's lips twitched, the faintest hint of amusement breaking through her normally stoic demeanor. Mash covered her mouth, stifling a giggle, while Ritsuka and Romani exchanged an awkward glance, their restrained chuckles betraying their sympathy.

"Not a single rune explains this madness!" Cú continued, shaking his fist at the sky. "I'm a warrior, not some fireball-throwin' scholar! My spear, Throne! Give it back!"

"Cú..." Mash started, her voice uncertain.

"No!" he snapped, pointing at her with mock fury. "No consolation! This is blasphemy!" He threw up his hands again, muttering to himself in an increasingly theatrical tone. "What's next? Summon me as an Assassin? Oh, sure, send me sneaking around like a honerless thief in the night. Or maybe an Archer! Yeah, give me a slingshot and tell me to go hunt squirrels. Unbelievable..."

Rtisuka tried to suppress a laugh but failed, "I... I think you'll be fine, Cú," he managed between chuckles. "You seem to be handling it well enough."

Mash smiled awkwardly, scratching the back of her head. "Yeah, uh... you seem pretty strong, even as a Caster."

Cú sighed dramatically, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Yeah, yeah. I'll make it work. But I'm still writing a complaint letter to whoever's running that throne."

Angela finally spoke, her voice calm but carrying a dry undertone. "Are you finished? Or shall we continue standing here while you lament your missing spear?"

Cú turned to her, his grin returning. "Alright, alright, pale lady. I'll save the rest after finishing this mess."

"And the other one?" Romani asked, his gaze shifting to Angela.

Angela straightened, her piercing yellow eyes meeting Romani's through the projection. Her tone was even, though a subtle edge lingered. "I am Angela. Formerly the Director of the Library of my role's namesake." She gestured to the thorned club resting against her shoulder. "Now, I find myself bound to this world as a Caster Servant."

Romani blinked, confusion washing over his face. "A caster? Angela, was it? There's no record of a Heroic Spirit by that name that I know of." He glanced at Olga, who crossed her arms and frowned.

"Indeed," Olga interjected, her tone sharp. "There hasn't been any Heroic Spirit or legend tied to someone named Angela. Let alone one who claims to be a librarian. Are you certain you're not just a fabrication of the Grail's whims?"

Angela's eyes narrowed, her calm demeanor shifting slightly as irritation flickered across her face. "I assure you, Director Animusphere, my existence is quite real. However, I am certain that I'm not from your world."

Her statement hung in the air, heavy with implication. Mash furrowed her brows, her shield resting slightly against the ground. "Not from our world? What do you mean by that, Angela?"

Angela took a measured breath, her voice steady. "I am from a place known as the City. A world governed by chaos and ruled by power. Where the strong rule and—" she hesitated for a moment, her gaze growing distant, "—bring ruin to the weak."

Romani's hologram tilted his head, intrigued but skeptical. "The City? And you're saying this is an entirely separate world from ours? That... doesn't align with how the Throne of Heroes usually operates. Servants are typically drawn from the legends and histories of this world."

Angela's gaze hardened slightly. "Then perhaps I am the exception. I do not claim to understand the mechanisms that brought me here, nor do I care to. I simply know that I was preparing to open my Library when I was forcibly summoned to this place."

Olga scoffed, her sharp tone cutting through the momentary silence. "A librarian," she said, her voice dripping with disdain. "And how, exactly, does a librarian fight? Do you hurl books at your enemies or bore them to death with lectures?"

Angela's glare was icy, her voice sharp as she responded. "It is true that I was not forged in battle like some brutish warrior. However, my Library was a place where even the strongest fell to their hubris. Do not mistake your ignorance for superiority, Director."

The tension between the two was palpable, sparks practically flying as their gazes locked. Angela's expression remained composed, though the bite in her words was unmistakable.

"Okay let's calm down" Ritsuka interjected, raising their hands in an attempt to defuse the situation. "We're all on the same side here. Let's not start fighting among ourselves."

Romani chimed in, his tone light but firm. "Right, right. Let's keep things civil. We've got enough enemies to worry about without making more." He turned back to Angela, his voice curious. "Angela, you mentioned the City. Can you tell us more about it?"

Angela hesitated for a moment, her gaze shifting slightly. "The City is vast, chaotic, and merciless. It is divided into districts, each controlled by a different Wing, or corporation. It's not a place govern by reason but by the misery of others"

Mash frowned, her expression thoughtful. "It sounds... harsh. Almost dystopian."

"It is," Angela said simply. "But that is the way of things. Weakness invites destruction, and strength is the only currency that matters."

Olga shook her head, her skepticism unrelenting. "If this place is as brutal as you describe, then what exactly is the role of a librarian in such a world? Cataloging misery and chaos?"

Angela's lips curled into a faint, humorless smile. "A valid question. My Library served as a beacon of knowledge, where all book are gathered there. A place where seekers could find what book they desired—though often at a cost. It was a sanctuary, but also a battlefield. I defended it, as I will defend myself here."

"Alright, alright, that's enough bickering," Ritsuka said quickly, stepping between the two women. "Angela's proven she can fight. That's what matters right now."

Romani nodded, his hologram flickering slightly. "Agreed. And if Angela's from another world, well... that's just one more mystery to solve. We've got plenty of those already."

Olga huffed, clearly displeased but willing to let the matter rest. "Fine. But I'll be keeping an eye on you, Angela. Don't think for a moment that you're above scrutiny."

Angela's gaze was calm but unyielding as she replied. "I would expect nothing less."

As the group settled after the tension-filled exchange, Cú Chulainn leaned casually on his staff, looking at the others with a raised eyebrow. His wolfish grin returned as he finally broke the silence. "So, I've got to ask: why are all of you here? You don't exactly look like tourists."

Olga adjusted her posture, arms crossed as she met his gaze with her usual stern demeanor. "We were sent here by Chaldea to solve an anomaly in the timeline. Something is very wrong in this place, and we're here to investigate and resolve it."

Cú's grin faltered slightly, his expression shifting to mild concern. "Timeline trouble, huh? Sounds serious. What exactly is the problem?"

Olga's brow furrowed, her frustration evident. "We don't know. That's the issue. Chaldea detected irregularities in Fuyuki, and before we arrived, we were attacked by an unknown enemy."

Cú tapped his staff against the ground, his expression thoughtful. "Fuyuki's been in a bad state for a while now. There was a Grail War here—typical setup, you know, seven Servants and their Masters for the Holy Grail in a time honored tradition of Murder-Death-Kill."

Ritsuka and Mash exchanged a glance, both nodding. "That much we're familiar with," Mash said, her shield resting against her side.

"But then things went sideways, the city got turned into hell for some reason" Cú continued, his tone growing darker. "Every human in this city vanished without a trace. No bodies, no signs of struggle. Just... gone." He gestured to the desolate city around them, the flickering flames casting eerie shadows on the ruined streets. "And as if that wasn't bad enough, Saber—yeah, that Saber—got corrupted by something. Whatever it was made her insanely strong, and she started going after the other Servants."

Olga tilted her head slightly, her gaze narrowing. "Corrupted? Elaborate."

Cú sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Not sure how to explain it exactly. She's not the same Saber as before—stronger, faster, and a hell of a lot more dangerous. It's like she's a different person entirely. She took out most of the other Servants except Berserker."

Olga's frown deepened. "Most? You mean there are still others active in this city?"

Cú nodded. "Yeah, a handful. When Saber started her rampage, I managed to get away, but not without some... changes." He gestured to his staff, his frustration bubbling back to the surface. "My class got swapped from Lancer to Caster. Don't ask me how; I'm still mad about it."

Romani scratched the back of his head awkwardly. "That's... pretty unusual."

Cú threw his arms up, exasperated. "Unusual? It's downright ridiculous! I'm a spearman, not a Goddamn spell-slinger! And let me tell you, using runes instead of my spear? It's not exactly my idea of fun!" He stomped his foot the ground while jabbed a finger toward the sky. "Oi, Throne of Heroes! What the hell were you thinking? Did you think this was funny? Because I'm not laughing!"

Cú finally let out a resigned sigh, shaking his head. "Anyway, I've been laying low since then, picking off Assassins and other pests when I can. I heard some noise earlier—that was you lot, I take it?"

Romani's voice crackled through Mash's shield, his hologram appearing again. "Wait, you mentioned Saber and some other Servants. How many are left?"

Cú crossed his arms, his expression serious now. "Let's see... Saber's still stomping around, obviously. Berserker's out there too, and you do not want to mess with him unless you're ready for a fight. There's Archer silently brooding somewhere and Caster summoned a bunch of skeletons" He tapped his staff against the ground again, his brow furrowing. "Yeah, that's about it. Five left, including me. Saber, Berserker, Archer, and Caster."

Olga raised an eyebrow. "You're sure about that? No other classes active?"

Cú nodded firmly. "Positive. Saber's the big threat right now—she got way stronger after she turned. Berserker's no pushover either. Caster summoned many of her skeleton minions. As for Archer..." He shrugged. "He's hasn't move an inch but is a pain in the ass."

Angela's eyes narrowed slightly, her grip tightening on her book. "And this corruption you mentioned. Any idea where it came from?"

Cú shook his head. "Not a clue. All I know is that it turned Saber into something... wrong. Whatever it is, it's unnatural."

Romani sighed, his hologram flickering slightly. "That's not much to go on, but it's better than nothing. We'll need to stay on our guard."

"Agreed," Olga said, her tone clipped. She turned to the group, her expression resolute. "We've got a lot to deal with, but we'll start by figuring out Saber's location. If she's the strongest threat, we need to know where she is and what we're up against."

Cú smirked, leaning on his staff. "Now that's the kind of plan I can get behind. Let's get moving. Enough time's wasting, and I've got a bone to pick with that Saber."

Angela's gaze lingered on Cú for a moment before she nodded. "Very well. Lead the way."

With the group now focused and determined, they prepared to delve deeper into the ruined city, the weight of the mystery surrounding Fuyuki pressing heavily on their shoulders.

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A/N:Hello everybody today my birthday so I'm giving you all an extra chapter. Hope you enjoyed it.

Feel free to let me know what you think of how the stories are going and where it should go. I'm always eager to hear from you. Leave a powerstone or a comment to support me ;)