Danmachi: the Great Devourer

C241: Preparation

Alt title Teaser: Extraction

Date published: 7/22/2025.

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It is not long after saying her piece is she moved to a wheelchair and teleported away from the magical technological facility that they arrive in the Gram Household. Moving through hidden walls and out from retracting floorboards, the trio which is composed of Blythe, Florence and Illya, make their way through the house until they reach the courtyard that Washio is being trained in. 

Illya has a strange feeling passing over her as she witnesses many wonders beyond what she has known or envisioned. None more so than when she feels the draconic aura coming out from Washio himself as he spars with his father, the dreaded Axel Gram.

Axel soon stops taking drastic moves against as he stands his ground, using only one hand to deflect or block his son's attacks. Facing Illya he has a thin smile on his face as he greets her, "Welcome Illya Von Einzbern, master of Berserker, this is our first official meeting"

"We've had unofficial meetings before Uncle?" Illya tilts her head in confusion.

Axel nods his head in response as he explains. "I had been the one to reduce the pain of your fathers lifelong guilt which was amplified by the grail in the previous war. He should have died roughly 8 years ago if I had not intervened. Also to humor his final request, I had planted a barrier around you to bring you to me in case you faced a life threatening situation. I had made a promise that you would live past this war." he explains his whole situation to the young girl who patiently listens to it in her official capacity as the Einzbern head. 

"What do you get out of this?" Illya can't help but think Axel benefits from this somehow.

"Hmm, I haven't thought of that. Oh I know," He says taking on an evil grin. "Why not become Washio's second wife when you grow up?" "WHAT?" Axel offers his son as a bargaining tool. Said 'tool' Reacts in shock before turning to look at the very much underage Illya with a queasy expression before being smacked away by his father. "Don't get distracted".

 Illya has a flat expression on her face before looking at the doctor and nurse combo. "I think I've heard enough. You can wheel me back down. Staring there a few years with you two suits me far more than listening to him anymore"

"He's not very funny" Contrary to normal reactions both Blythe and Florence nod in agreement as they begin to wheel her away. 

"Wait!!" he calls out with sheepish teardrop eyes, "I repent. I repent"

The trio give him a set of glares but they at least do stop, waiting for whatever he is willing to say.

Sigh, "no one ever cares about what I say, outcast at every opportunity, even by my own nen clone" Axel laments his sorrows, flopping over in place which his son takes as a moment of weakness but still wary of sneak attacks. He strikes only to be forced into a block as a part of Axel's waist morphs into a new fist that continues the sparring session. 

No one comments on Axel's strange physique as one is used to it. Two know the truth and the last is too baffled to care anymore about the long list of absurdities she has witnessed thus far that completely broke her world view.

Eventually Kaoruko comes in with a tray holding view. Washio is given a break to rest and rehydrate while the rest take their seats around the table. All are peacefully sipping their tea before Illya sets down her cup and asks. "What shall be done about the grail war now?"

"Hmm? What do you mean? Oh right. You still have it, well what you are gonna do is communicate to your servant that your safe and to return in their spirit form. That will reduce the energy load on you when I extract the grail." 

"Extract the what now?" Illya has the type of expression like she is judging her own life choices, looking down at the floor with a remorseful look.

"Don't argue, child, listen to your betters." Axel reprimands her tone and she closes her eyes to talk to Berserker. He listens and thus Saber loses his trail about 3/4th of the way to Axel's home but that is enough for Saber to make an educated guess thanks to Kiritsugu's meticulousness.

As a result, she returns to ' Shirou's ' side and explains the situation. Though when she arrives, she finds that her Master is sporting a few cuts and bleeding injuries that gradually are healing. Yet before him is the kneeling form of Assassin. Caster had just last night finished healing him and sent him out to guard again when Shirou arrived. Yet this Assassin is different than the one witnessed before, his silky black hair has taken on a red coloring.

Technically, When Saber first spotted them from a distance, she found her master with more injuries and the Assassin lying on his back with his legs backwards like he fell over himself after his legs gave out on him. 'Angra Mainyu' jammed his hand into the assassin's chest where black mud sprouted and the assassin began his transformation and pledge of fealty while the 'Avenger' healed up. 

Yet as he listens to sabers explanation, he falls to his knees in deep throated pain. In the Gram household, Axel had just reassured Berserker that his master has to get the grail extracted for her own wellbeing, especially as she began to throw up black mud again. As such, Axel jammed his own energy morphed hand into Illya's chest, Blythe and Florence work with Axel to keep her body stable and healthy while a large amount of magical energy is extracted from her, The lesser grail is forced into early manifestation as it is pulled out of Illya's chest, of course with the two divine healers nearby, she only grew heavily tired at the loss of energy. Her body is also quite sore but she is alive and not coughing up black mud, and that is what matters most right now. 

As Illya is lying down, Axel comments, "The moment she started throwing up, I detected Angra Mainyu at the temple. Assassin has been corrupted to his side. "

Washio begins talking in panic. "We can't let them continue like this, if what you all have been saying is true then with Saber, they would have a fighting force of 4 servants and two individuals who can convert our own servants to their side." he is still under the belief that Sabers masters, even when corrupted could not properly fight a servant and thus doesnt realize that it's actually a fighting force of 5 servants.

Illya shakes her head in response to Washio's words as she looks at Axel. "You are correct but your father is someone who has killed servants with ease. Two in fact according to my sources. Even 5 such servants should be no problem for him."

"You are right, but I'm currently the moderator of this great war, I shall not participate except to make a barrier. It is up to you all to claim victory with what you have available here." Axel refuses as he believes his son could surpass this disaster and claim his own legend in his home world. 

Washio and Illya have downtrodden expression while both Blythe and Florence are giving him stink eyes for his dumb reasoning yet they offer no words of encouragement as they too are outsiders in this situation. Especially Florence who is considered a servant in this world but not the current version of her as she is from a different world.

Soon Lunch is prepared and the children all gather to eat alone as Axel wants to let them possibly come up with a plan. Right now they have 2 solid servants in the form of Archer and Berserker. Rin is even slightly regretting killing Lancer now if she knew this would have happened then she would have just let them be and not have been so aggressive to win the war.

"We cant just remain mopping around like this, we have to form a proper plan. At least let's discuss what we know of the enemy servant's power!" Rin is still all business and won't lose hope so easily just because they are outnumbered. 

Washio rises, inspired by Rin's brief speech, "you're right, we cant surrender just yet. While im unsure how effective it can be, Archer should be able to injure the enemy servants from a distance if he does his job properly." he offers his own little tidbit suggestion before getting into work on explaining what he knows about Assassin as well as Caster. 

With things flowing now, the general consensus is that training is halted now and that they must set out as soon as they can but only after properly scouting out the enemy and their territory. 

Currently three factions exist: Washio and his group which is two servants with Washio having his dragonification, Rin and maybe even Sakura with their magic granted Washio wouldn't want Sakura to fight. Rin is in agreement about this but if they can have her act like a special caster whose purpose is to stay outside the battlefield and rain down spells then it's more acceptable. 

Illya could also do the same but her magic proficiency is far more limited as she is still horribly young and thus can't be of much help since the grail was removed, she struggles to even maintain Berserker now. To help illya not suffer while staying at the Gram residence, Sheba had been keeping her hand on the little girls back, sharing her bit of mana which she obtains from Axel.

"I have a question, since you have a master with a open command seals, why not summon a new servant? Lancer is dead after all." Sheba questions them in confusion.

The teens and impaired girl all look at Sheba weirdly as they explain that they require a conduit item to act as the gateway to summon a new hero. That in addition to the uncertainty if it would even work since new servants had never been summoned by masters before during a war.

"Oh if you are worried about the conduit then I have something which I got from the Greeks during one of our business deals. They described it as a historical artifact that landed in their hands." She describes before rushing off leaving Illya a bit uncomfortable but she is back fast enough before allowing Illya to heal once more and then setting down a piece of fabric which all can feel is unique. 

Washio feels hope reinvigorated as they all get to work on setting up a new summoning circle. The others also help out with materials and proportions before they get started. 

Setting the piece of cloth onto the center, Washio takes the central position as he begins his chant, arranging the words in hopes of summoning a lancer from the item. The two remaining servants: Archer and Berserker remain nearby in case something wrong happens since the grail has already been extracted and acknowledged as corrupted.

The Solomon seal begins to glow in response to his chant as the item is consumed to create a pathway to the Heroic Throne. A puff of smoke soon blows up as the connection is made and the said hero arrives before the group of teens. 

"Hmm, where is this? Ohhh, Heracles, you're here too! We should go drinking since the opportunity arose. Eh, You got a pretty bad tan, you should see a healer about that." A feminine voice with a tinge of masculinity arose with caution and even a bit of hostility but seeing a fellow servant the unknown servants tune changed to a very friendly one as they even proposed usurping their masters wine cellar before seemingly making fun of the hero for his darker complexion caused by the madness enhancement. 

"GRAH CAENIS" Hercakles charges with his sharp club and it comes in contact with the figure inside, or rather their silvery spear as the dust is spelled to reveal a masculine beauty with thick muscles but all hidden under a silver white body suit, leaving only the top of her breasts as well as her underwear and the inside of her thighs all exposed. (stage 1, pic here)

"Good, son of Zeus. Let's fight for old times sake!"

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Word count: 2131

Drop a comment if you wanna judge my writing or the story. I'll try to respond, especially if you're confused or anything.