Fate/Gamer Alternative

Chapter 22

"Sakura Matou"

Living Darkness. Grail Vessel. Servant Devourer

In some timeline he was summoned, the tainted mud inside her spread across Fuyuki and destroyed it overnight. In others she went insane with grief after the death of Shirou Emiya, leading to a catastrophic event violating the Heaven's Feel ritual

"What business could you have with my Master?"

It's been so long...Archer's memories of the original Grail war has faded. At best all he could remember were names. Names of his friends, the one he summoned. Names of some he deem inportant to kill

The girl in fromt of him tilt her head. Like Rin, there was a stark contrast to his original timeline. Those demure and lifeless eyes were still the same, but now sparked with something beyond his cognition. In a sense, she feels alive

But...she is wrong. Too finished for a broken piece. In this torn down house where even the ground has been razed beyond repair, the who girl sat there unbothered is a perfect isolation

"Servant Archer" Her gentle voice made him unconsciously straighten up "Fought Lancer to a standstill on the first night. Destroyed Berserker three times during the course of the next day. My sister seems to have found herself a formidable ally"

"Isn't it rather creepy to stalk someone so extensively?"

"Oh Assassin wasn't sent to keep an eye on you. He was suppose to follow Onii-chan"

Shinji Matou you poor fool.

A spark of pity course through him. During the timelines where her sanity was broken, Sakura Matou's first victim always stayed the same: Her one and only brother. His fate was never meant to end well with the path he chose

"Be as it may, there must be a reason you called for a meeting with Rin" Forcing himself into a calm state, he pointed out sharply "As opposing Masters we are enemies. I believe it is foolish to invite an enemy Servant to your hideout, especially when I am capable of killing your Servant and finishing you off"

"Assassin?"

"It is true. His killing techniques are subpar, but Archer possess Noble Phantasms capable of immense destruction even I would be hard-pressed to counter. With him so close to you, the chance of escape are almost zero"

"Thanks for the insight"

The girl should not have accepted his words with such serenity

Archer's eyes found his fellow Servant providing an affirmative nod in return. That was his only reaction. No panic, alert, or wariness. But that calmness unnerved the EMIYA the most

"It was unfortunate my hospitality doesn't appease you. Be as it may, perhaps you would be delighted in killing another Master?" 

The smiling Sakura spread her arm wide, as if inviting the steel of his sword. 

He ascertained no defense. No discernable emotion. Her face is as beautiful and yet crude as a doll with no soul, revealing nothing in those eyes as deep as the ocean

It would have been so easy to slash apart her vulnerable body before the girl can even blink

"..." Kanshou and Bakuya slowly disintegrated in his hand. Archer look down across the smiling Matou. He don't trust her. No, every fiber in his body honed by the eternity of suffering across countless worlds tell him the girl saw nothing before her but prey

A devouring Black Grail. Hollowed Hunger spilling forth in satiation of an unfulfilled appetite

"Enough of this game. Tell me what you want and I will give an answer on my Master's behalf"