Ch 153: A King who doesn’t kneel.

Akeno felt like she had already won a significant victory over Artoria as she led her to the best bedroom of the house inside the Sanctuary.

Artoria seemed to have realized that she wouldn't be able to resist Akeno's training indefinitely. And that was half the battle. In Artoria's mind, her becoming a slave wouldn't be a matter of 'if', but of 'when', and it would greatly undermine her will to resist. After all, why suffer and endure just to delay the inevitable? It would be more reasonable to just give up and learn to enjoy it.

And Akeno intended to make sure Artoria would enjoy her own descent into slavery.

After they both entered inside the cozy bedroom, Akeno closed the door, got closer to Artoria, and hugged her gently.

"Have you ever done this before?" softly asked Akeno. "I suppose you have, if you participated in previous Holy Grail Wars."

"…Once, with a male Master." said Artoria.

"Was he good?"

"I cannot really say. It… wasn't unpleasant. I have only been summoned another time, besides this one, and the other Master was a woman. She supplied me with mana by placing her hands on my back."

"So you are lacking reference points to judge. I understand." nodded Akeno. Then she gave Artoria a chaste kiss.

Artoria flinched slightly, but didn't object as Akeno gave her another kiss, a little less chaste. And another, less so.

After a while, Artoria seemed to get into the mood and started reciprocating slightly, her own latex-covered hands hesitantly exploring Akeno's back, and she moaned as Akeno's hands worked their magic.

"Why does your touch feel so…?"

"Nice? Unpleasant?" asked Akeno with a seductive smile.

"…nice." admitted Artoria.

"I have an ability called Hands of Nirvana. Part of the enhancement package Noah grants his girls. You will have it, too."

"…That's cheating."

"Who cares?" Akeno climbed on the bed and pulled Artoria after her. She gave her more kisses, more gentle kneading and fondling, and Akeno carefully watched Artoria's reactions to her touch, noting the areas that seemed to make Artoria react more intensely. Before long, the proud King of Knights was gasping and moaning under her touch.

When she estimated Artoria to be close to the peak, Akeno gave her a long kiss as she took her smartphone and used the app to open both her own and Artoria's crotches.

"Yes, the suits can do that, too." grinned Akeno as she took Corruption from her inventory and started equipping it.

"Wait, that's too big!" protested Artoria with alarm.

"Nonsense. It's about the same size as Master's cock, and no girl ever got injured from it. Rather, we all love how big it is. Just relax, it will be fine. And you certainly are wet enough already."

"You don't need to point it out. You have no delicacy." blushed Artoria as she looked away.

Akeno smiled as she positioned herself between Artoria's legs and wasted no time entering her slowly.

"Owww…." gasped Artoria, her hands clenching on the sheets.

Akeno moved back and forth with increasing intensity, gasping as her own pleasure mounted. Artoria was tight, and it felt almost like a hand was gripping the shaft as she moved. It wouldn't take long for her to cum, but she gritted her teeth, as she wanted Artoria do cum before she did!

She barely managed it, as Artoria started to convulse, but the tightening grip of her vagina caused Akeno to lose control as well.

…

After almost an hour of strenuous "exercise", Artoria and Akeno both laid together in the middle of the bed, in each other's arms, catching their breath.

"It wasn't so bad, now, was it?" said Akeno.

"…No." sighed Artoria, unwilling to meet her eyes. "It was… What I experienced before can't compare."

"As a slave in Noah's harem, you'll get to experience something like this every day, if you wish."

"How many people are in his harem?"

"A few dozen. The number increase every month, so we've given up on keeping an exact count."

"He can't possibly have sex with everyone every day!"

"Ufufu, of course not. He has a lot of stamina, but there are limits. But because Noah knew from the start that he needed a lot of subordinates to reform and improve the worlds he would in charge of, more than he himself would be able to take care of properly, he trained us all to be bisexual, so we can have fun with each other whenever we feel the need for some, companionship. It happens a lot."

"…I see."

"This aside, what do you think of the suits we're wearing?" Are you still so disgusted by how it looks?"

Artoria blushed.

"…Those outfits are lewd and obscene. I do not think I'll ever change my mind about that."

"But?" smiled Akeno.

"…But, as long as it is in the privacy of a bedroom… they aren't so bad." admitted Artoria.

"That is some significant progress… Let's take a nap, and then we'll do it again."

"…Yes." nodded Artoria.

They remained on each other's arms, and as they started dozing off, Akeno grinned inside. The collar around Artoria's neck was one of the special ones, ensuring that Artoria would quickly grow a liking to latex, and to the gradually more intense bondage sex that Akeno would introduce to her starting from the next round. And then there was the crest now on Artoria's back, already on lv5. As soon as it reached lv10, Akeno would grant the "Vicory in defeat" curse to Artoria, giving the proud King of Knights a liking for being just taken and used.

…

The sun was setting as Waver Velvet descended from the plane. He looked around curiously, as it was his first time in Japan, and looked indistinguishable from any random tourist.

He took a few minutes to recover his luggage and walked toward the taxi area.

"So, this is in this Far-East island where the Holy Grail War is about to take place." said a feminine voice near his right shoulder.

Waver didn't bother turning his head, as he knew he wouldn't see anything.

"Yes, Rider. In a city called Fuyuki. We should reach it in an hour or two, if we can find a taxi. The Holy Grail War will start in about two weeks. That gives us plenty of time to get familiar with the land."

"I dislike those cities, and how little is left of nature. The air smells bad."

"Yes. Fortunately, Fuyuki City is surrounded by several forests, and they are leylines close to the surface. Those leylines are the very reason that place was chosen for the ritual. The air quality should be significantly better."

"Let us hope so. If we still have two weeks before it starts, prepare yourself, Master. I am going to have you do a lot of exercising. Your stamina is horrendous. What if we have to retreat, and you can't run?"

"Hey, give me a break, Rider." complained Waver. "Magus these days aren't like the heroes of your period. We fight with our minds, not our bodies. And if we need to retreat, well, you're a Rider. No Servant can outrun you, and you can carry me as well."

"Do you have no shame, Master? To rely on a woman to carry you to safety?"

"I don't!" grinned Waver. "Masculine pride won't deflect arrows, and what little amount of stamina I might gain in just two weeks realistically wouldn't change anything."

He then grew more sober. "Besides, I am not certain we have two weeks to spare."

"Are you referring to those people found unconscious?" asked Rider. Her Master had at least taken the time to consult that convenient thing he called "Internet" for news related to their destination.

"Yes. Likely the work of a Servant. We may not be the only ones who have decided to come early."

"Did you get any more information from your fellow Magus?"

"I was out of communication with them for a few days, due to searching for a catalyst for your summoning. Once we get there and secure a place to stay, I will call one of my friends for the latest news." said Waver as he waved at an incoming taxi.

Once inside the car, Waver and Rider refrained from speaking, at it would be a bother to have to erase the driver's memories. Waver didn't like using that kind of method. Although he would still use Magecraft to invite himself inside a modest household. Lodging at the hotel in the city center would be too conspicuous.

…

"Ehhhhhh! It has started already? Fourteen Servants!" shouted Waver in abject shock, his smartphone pressed against his ear.

He had chosen a small house at the edge of Fuyuki City, and used Magecraft to convince the couple of elders living there that he was their grandson, coming back from studies abroad, and Rider was his friend.

The young woman with crimson red hair styled in a crown braid and tied with a black ribbon, dressed in a white sleeveless shirt and beige leather pants, sent him a scornful glance at the sight of his shocked expression. In her hands was a Rubik's cube, and she was intrigued to no end by the seemingly simple toy.

"An attack at the loading docks, and the school… No, I'm not leaving! I will still participate in the war." said Waver with determination.

Rider nodded in approval, her expression softening. She might have some serious reservations about her Master's physique and his unwillingness to do anything about it, but at least, he wasn't a coward. She could accept a Master like that.

"…Yes, I'll be careful. See you later." sighed Waver as he ended the call.

"Rider, it seems that there are fourteen Master and fourteen Servants, two of each class. The first Saber's Master has already retired, after announcing that his Servant had been captured by another Master. And that retired Master is the infamous Magus Killer, Kiritsugu Emiya! And Caster's Master, Atrum Galliasta, is dead, his Servant choosing another as a Master."

"It sounds like things are very chaotic." nodded Rider. "But from chaos comes opportunity!"

"Yes." nodded Waver. "I am used to being underestimated. We will start exploring the city tonight, but we'll be careful. Also, my friend in the Tower told me that Kayneth El-Melloi Archibald is going to participate. I know him. One of my teachers. He is arrogant, rigid and old-fashioned, but he is strong. I wouldn't want to face him directly"

"Did you friend know anything about his Servant?"

"No. I guess we'll have to find out the hard way." shrugged Waver.

…

Sakura was sleeping peacefully. Dreaming of being a princess, being led by cartoonish plushies toward a castle full of delicious candies. Her stomach was growling in anticipation.

She was asleep. And yet, her body was moving, her bare feet slowly leading her deeper inside a back-alley.

Her Servant, Assassin, was keeping an eye on her from the nearby rooftops, her instincts telling her that she shouldn't approach her Master carelessly at this time.

But she didn't understand. Her Master had always been kind and respectful to her, despite her difficult circumstances, and more than earned Assassin's respect and devotion. Part of her wanted to get down on the alley, gently shake her Master awake, and bring her back to their hiding place. But when she considered doing that, an inexplicable fear made her hesitate.

And then, she felt a presence heading toward her Master.

A young man entered the back alley. He had short blond eyes, red eyes, and wore a black leather vest over a white silk shirt, black pants and black leather boots. Assassin could tell with a glance that he was a Servant.

"It seems you already have lost control." said the man with a mocking tone, staring at Sakura.

"What a pitiful mongrel. I expected you to last longer."

Sakura slowly opened her eyes, but her gaze was unfocused. She was still sleeping. She slowly lifted her left hand toward the man.

"…so shiny and pretty." slowly muttered Sakura.

The shadow beneath her feet was becoming darker that it should.

The man didn't move, but a circle made of golden ripples appeared above his right shoulder, and the tip of a golden sword emerged from it.

Assassin immediately abandoned all thoughts of self-preservation and launched herself at the man, kicking the vertical walls on her way down to accelerate her descent, her own weapons appearing in her hands.

The man lifted his head and another ripple appeared in the air above him. When Assassin was only three meters from the man, she was brutally stopped by golden chains suddenly appearing in front of her, wrapping around her and pushing her to the side. Before she could react, the sword shot out from the ripple and pierced her right shoulder, pinning her on the wall along with the chains.

"Ku!" grunted Assassin in pain, trying to reach the sword to unpin herself from the wall, but the golden chains restricted her movements. She couldn't even dematerialize.

"I will deal with you later. A mongrel shouldn't look down at this King from a high place."

The man fired his original sword at Sakura, the golden projectile instantly reaching the speed of a bullet, It severed Sakura's left arm at the elbow before burying itself deep inside the concrete wall behind her.

Sakura looked at her severed arm, but didn't seem to care for more than a second, and made another step toward the man.

Her shadow, however, started wriggling and expanding behind her.

"Such a pitiful mongrel." sighed the man, preparing to launch eight more golden weapons. "Know this is an act of mercy."

He launched the weapons in a quick salvo, but before they reached Sakura, wide bands of what Assassin could only describe as pure darkness, burst from Sakura's shadow, enveloping her in a round shell. The golden weapons touched the sphere and seemed to penetrate it easily, but without leaving any hole behind them.

After a second, the bands unwound themselves and returned to her shadow, revealing Sakura, unharmed aside from her missing left forearm, and no trace of the golden swords.

Assassin noticed that Sakura's forearm, lying on the ground behind her, was slowly sinking into its own shadow.

"Stubbornly clinging to life." sighed the man as he started to walk toward Sakura.

Assassin tried again to free herself and was about to shout to divert the man's attention, when something moved in a flash from the man's shadow. She didn't have time to see clearly before it was gone, but the result was obvious.

the man stopped walking, suddenly tilting forward. He stopped his fall just short of his hand touching the ground and froze for a few seconds. He then straightened himself and looked back.

His left leg, severed from his body just above the knee, was sinking in a small pool of shadow. No, sinking wasn't the right word. It was being jerked inside and devoured, with sounds of bones cracking and chewed flesh.

The man looked at his disappearing leg for a second without any expression of pain, fear or disgust, then slowly turned to Sakura. And only then, did his smug gaze disappear. To be replaced by one of absolute fury.

"You dare presume to make me kneel?" shouted the Servant.

Sakura didn't answer, but her left arm was regrowing. In seconds, it was completely restored.

"Damned knave!" shouted the man again, making dozens of golden ripples appear behind and above him and launching the weapons.

Like before, the wide ribbons made of shadows formed a shell around Sakura, absorbing every incoming weapon without even a ripple, then retracted partially, lowering themselves just enough to reveal Sakura's face and torso.

She was clearly still asleep, but her mouth opened wide, as if she was about to bite into something, and the shadow projected by the Servant rippled again. Sakura snapped her mouth shut with a "ahm" sound, and the man's shadow burst upward, forming giant a pair of jaws well above his head, then bit down on the blonde Servant, swallowing his upper body whole before returning to the ground. Only the right leg, waist and part of the left thigh remained, and they were quickly devoured as they were pulled down.

The sword and chains holding Assassin pinned against the wall disappeared, and as her feet touched the ground, she shuddered in terror. She could feel it. She had the shadow's attention, and it was still hungry. She quickly jumped away, noticing that a pool of unnatural darkness had already started forming at her previous location, and dematerialized.

Fearing that the entity possessing Sakura might somehow still sense her location and forcibly pull her out of her dematerialized state, Assassin hurriedly put some more distance between herself and Sakura, and felt the gaze of the entity turning away from her. As she watched from a distance Sakura slowly turn away and shamble back in the direction of their hideout, thankfully far from the city's residential areas, she sighed in both relief and worry.

Sakura would never forgive herself if she killed civilians, even if she wasn't conscious at the time, and an incident with a high body count would bring upon her the wrath of the Mage Association and the Church. She had to be stopped before it happened.

Assassin herself wouldn't be able to do anything about this shadow. It was obviously something that Sakura couldn't control. Not anymore. That left one option. She couldn't help her Master directly, but maybe the Queen of the Land of Shadows, or the Master who had removed the worms from Sakura's body, might be able to.