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Owner	Pose
Eryl Fairfax	The fallen city of Kelek.     Once a shady metropolis that jacked up the prices of daily necessities, the Unification of their world meant that access to said goods from other places became easy, causing the bottom of the market to fall out. As such, both ordinary citizens and the criminal underworld that rules moved out in droves, leaving the place all but abandoned.     Sightings of Ruler coming in and out of the area have intensified, and the myriad places to hide made it ideal for setting up the ambush. Even today, Ruler can seen drifting aimlessly through the deseerted streets, as if looking for something.
Touta Konoe	While the goal was an ambush, Touta looked like he was ready for a full-on battle. Still within the outskirts of Kelek, he had followed some rumors and had finally been able to come across Nagi after all this time, and was even able to assemble a group of close friends to help him in his endeavor. While he still had his more casual smile on his face, there was definitely something about him that seemed more serious than usual. Maybe it's the way his smile might have seemed more forced than usual, the way that he might have missed people arriving as they showed up rather than his usual need to make sure he greeted those who did show up properly, maybe it was the way he gripped at his taichi but something about this really seemed tense for him.     "Alright guys, so let's go over this one more time. The guy we're trying to get is the Servant who's supposed to be running the rules for this Paradox Grail War, Ruler. AKA, Nagi Springfield...aka My great gramps apparently.     As Rynith will tell ya, oh uh...For those who haven't met her yet this is Rynith. She's a Servant in this Grail War as well who's agreed to help me out" Touta makes an effort to let Rynith introduce herself as well, and even support his statement of just how tough Nagi was. After all, she and several other Concord members had tried to go at him prior right?     "But uh, I'll be honest this guy's a legend back in my world and even with when the Concord was trying to axe him he still was able to take them all out. It probably won't be any easier for us if we're trying to catch him alive. But that's what we'll be trying to do. I wanna try to see if he's willing to spill the beans about what's been going on with this war."     Touta finds himself silent once more for a moment as he stares at the abandoned landscape and the one who seemed to be trailing through it aimlessly in search of something. Though as he looks back at the group he lets out a sigh and that awkward smile again, "Honestly, I think it'd be best if I can convince him to tell us what's going on. It'd be alot easier than having to pull teeth with this guy, but knowing his track record we'll probably have to beat it out of him. So...The plan's this. I'm gonna go down and chat him up and give him one last chance to spill the beans. If he does, than we don't have to sweat it. But if it doesn't...I want everyone else to start coming out of the woodwork to get the jump on him. I'm not part of any factions so I don't think he'll expect me to have any actual back-up besides Rynith. If that happens we'll just all try to beat him down as much as we can and then..." He turns towards Nanoha with a thumbs-up, "We'll use some of Nanoha's binding magic to see if we can pin him down. It's probably not the best plan, but it's the best I could figure with what options we've got...Though if anyone's got a better idea in mind, feel free to throw it out there."
Sumiko	"I might have something, but it might not work.  Dunno at this point," Mikoto says.  The small girl is standing to the side, not transformed yet.  The fact that if she did, might give her away should Ruler be looking for people to ambush him...which he probably was given that he hasn't gotten axed by the Concord yet.   Pushing from the flat surface she looks towards the ground they have to work on.  "When you see a ball of dark data looking stuff fly out and hopefully hit Ruler, then that'd be a good time to just pile everything you have.  It'll give us a good chance to hurt him...though I suppose we might need a way to prevent him from just running away." "But I guess she's on top of that," Motioning towards Nanoha, "Hi Nanoha."
Solty Revant	When Touta called and asked for a favor, Solty Revant was more than happy to help. At first. Now, hearing the plan and not really clear on just why this guy needs to be beaten up if he doesn't talk she looks uncertain. She raises a hand like a child in school once Touta finishes explaining. "Um...Mr. Touta? Why's it so important to learn what he knows? He doesn't seem to be hurting anyone. Certainly not setting entire towns on fire like Ms. Jeanne was yesterday." she says.      That might explain why her usually perfectly human exterior looks so banged up today. There are cuts all over her, exposing the gleaming metal beneath her skin and even exposing some of her inner workings in a few of the deeper slashes. One of which is a patch in back and front of her midsection that looks like she was run through with a spear.
Nanoha Takamachi	Nanoha looks a little more serious than she normally is. She too has held off on transforming in case Nagi can detect in. So she's just in some casual clothes as she listens to Touta describe the situation and lay out the plan. Nanoha's not very comfortable with just out right ambushing Nagi, so she nods in agreement as Touta says he will try and talk to the Ruler first.     Nanoha gives Mikoto a smile, "Hi, Mikoto." As her binds are mentioned, Nanoha proceeds to explain, "They can be broken. So it help if we're worn down his strength a bit." Mikoto suggests a good opportunity for when to actually try and Nanoha nods to her, "That'll help."     Nanoha looks back to the others, "I'll take to the air and try and keep him close to the ground so the rest of you have good opportunities to engage him."     Nanoha says strictly, "We're not here to kill him. So let's avoid that."     Nanoha then looks back at Touta, nodding at him to signify her readiness.
Eryl Fairfax	Rynith, aka Lancer is indeed here. She offers a polite bow to everyone and says, "Thank you for your assistance everyone." As the plan is laid out, she nods along. "I will join Ma-Touta in the initial approach. He may expect an ambush if I am not present."     Ruler at the this point has come to a stop in the middle of a four-way intersection, surrounded by high-rises and dark corners one could conceal themselves in. There's not going to be any better opportunity to jump him now. The Servant produces a takeaway container of takoyaki and begins munching on the fried balls of batter and octopus with a perturbed look on his face. Something is confounding him.
Touta Konoe	Touta finds himself blinking at first when Solty asks that question, but the look on his face makes it apparent he forgot to mention something, "Ah, right! Sorry! Sorry! Solty the reason we need him to talk is cause this whole war has been causing weird...Glitches in the Multiverse. It's a little complicated but basically, this whole Grail War thing might be a lot more of a problem than just someone starting fires or anything like that, even if it doesn't look like it. And Ruler seems like he might know something. But...Ah..." He realizes just how banged up Solty looks and immediately goes to pat her head, "If you don't feel up to it don't force yourself. I think Nagi's not the type to try and do anything crazy but no reason for you to push yourself. I mean, jeez Solty, you look like you were already trying to fight him before you got here." It's not meant to be rude, but he does try to give a teasing smile as he says it. He won't force her to fight, especially seeing her like this but well...     It's then that Mikoto and Nanoha discuss their ideas of the plan and what needs to be done. Mikoto would create a larger opening for everyone to try and dog in on Nagi with their attacks and Nanoha would try to keep him from getting into the skies. Along with the final touch of keeping him bound once it happened. He gives a nod to the both of them with that same light-hearted smile, "Yeah, it'd be a lot easier for everyone if we could get him to tell us how we can deal with these abnormalities this war's been causing in the Multiverse. But if he's gonna try to keep things under wraps just to make sure this thing finishes, then he's got another thing coming."     He throws one more smile at the group before he notices that Nagi's finally stopped moving it was going to be as good as any time to try and hold him up. "Alright, if you see things go south you know what to do. Also, look out for the lightning magic he's got. It's pretty crazy if it hits ya." He starts heading down the path with Rynith following at his side, until they appear on the opposite side of the four-way intersection. His blade in hand but still rested on his shoulder as he tries to cross the path towards Nagi. "Yo old man, fancy seeing you here! You looking for something? Maybe we can help... And by 'maybe' I mean, isn't it about time you tell me what the hell's going on and let us help you fix it?" The us he of course was referring to at this point was himself and Rynith. Not like he's got anyone else waiting around right.
Solty Revant	Solty offers Rynith a warm smile and a little wave. She's actually met Rynith before, but it has been a while and it was only briefly. "I'm glad you are alright, Ms. Rynith." she says when Lancer is introduced. She then listens to the plan and nods lightly. "Not just someone. Ms. Jeanne." she says to Touta concering the fires, and looking rather serious for once.      When Touta says she doesn't have to force herself and gives Solty a headpat, the green-haired android smiles and shakes her head. "Don't worry about me. If it will help people, I don't mind. But, I do hope we won't have to actually fight him. It doesn't seem like he's done anything bad."      Nagi stops, and Touta goes into action. Solty looks to the other two girls and smiles with determination. "I'm sure he'll talk to Touta. Touta's really nice." she says to Mikoto and Nanoha. She nods at the instructions they give, then tries to make her way quietly closer and peeks around a corner of one of those buildings to watch them talk.
Nanoha Takamachi	Nanoha looks a little doubtful at Solty, saying, "I think he's tried before... So far it hasn't worked. That's why we're here, now, doing this last resort."     Touta is on his way towards Nagi, so Nanoha turns to move into position as well. As she does, Nanoha can be heard muttering in mild humour, "It's always lightning magic."     A short time later, Nanoha has made her way up a number of stories in one of the corner buildings. She approaches a window at the edge just enough to get a peek at what's happening down in the intersection below. Is... Is Ruler eating? In the middle of a deserted city?     Nanoha muses to her Device via telepathy, "I don't like this..."     Raising Heart chimes inside Nanoha's head, <There is no data suggesting an ambush.> Not exactly what Nanoha meant. Still, she waits quietly as she observes.
Sumiko	"Seems like a good chance.." She says, giving Touta a firm look, and a nod.  She moves to find a spot to look like she's just...being a person not involved in a discussion between grandson and grandfather.  Or Master and renegade servant.  Or Crazy old man yelling at clouds and some guy concerned for the wellbeing of everyone around them.   "No problem Rynith, and nice to meet you," she says, not mentioning who her boss is. Mikoto turns her head towards Solty.  It's really hard to break the kid's bubble...and she sighs.  She can't bring herself to reveal the truth of the world.  Of course, Nanoha says something and Mikoto turns her head towards her next.   "Any idea what this place is...or was?  Maybe it's something important to him..?" She doesn't know, she's just throwing spaghetti at the wall to see what sticks.  She frowns and looks back towards the meeting, another frown on her face.   "Wait.  Are we the only ones to show up?  Doesn't he have any guy friends?" Mikoto, asking the real questions.
Eryl Fairfax	Ruler turns his head to see Touta and Rynith making their approach towards him, and visibly scowls. "I've told you time and time again kid, butt out. Go live a normal life. This whole War is so far above your paygrade." He descends to the ground and chews on another takoyaki. "Buhreive it ohr not, ahm busy" he says around the treat before swallowing. "So I don't have time to babysit. Get lost, the both of you."     Rynith steps up now, a stern look on her face. "I was called forth into this suspicious war, and through the kindness of your own flesh and blood, have been allowed to continue existing. I will not return to the Throne, or wherever else I came form, without an explanation as to why. And if I must pry that explanation from your lips, Ruler, then I shall." In her hands, a 3D blueprint of some kind of laser spear appears, and she points it at the man.     Ruler just laughs, and points his staff right back. "We're Servants. Fake copies of real people, called forth to fight so that no one actually has to die. We aren't even owed the right to refuse the call, let alone an explanation for it." He's smirking now, exerting that pressure that only a seasoned warrior can. "Anything we want in our short time, we have to take by force. So quit beating around the bush and come at me. It's about time I finished what I started with you, Lancer."     Rynith charges, her constructed weapon flashing blue and white as she swings in a flurry of graceful arcs. But Ruler merely sidesteps and ducks each swing, avoiding them by less than inches, that infuriatingly cocky smile not leaving his face. "C'mon kiddo! You just gonna let her do all the work?!" he shouts at Touta. It seems he has failed to notice anyone else.
Touta Konoe	It was the thing he wanted to avoid. Cause truthfully, he knows that Nagi is superior to him. If he's anything like his son, he knows just how much of a difference there is between the two of them. It's a gap that he can't hope to overcome with his strength alone. To some degree Touta doesn't want to fight this man. This man who he knows isn't evil, or at least not evil enough to let Touta be consumed by the abnormal glitch that occurred that day when he saved Touta. There was a reason the grail had chosen Nagi as Ruler and a part of him can't help but not want to challenge that sort of power. The grip of his blade is tensed unsure if he was going to have to fight or not. It's second minute jitters if one ever had any. Before he can say or do anything Rynith's already stepping forth with spear in hand demanding Ruler talks, "Rynith..." That was suppose to be his job, and yet she's doing it for him.     Touta thinks he's about ready to jump in but before he can he can feel that pressure being exerted on him and for a moment he almost loses the grip on his blade. There's a moment of turmoil in his heart. So he ends up falling behind as Rynith charges in first...Only for Nagi of all people to call him out. There's a look of confusion as he does but in all this confusion Touta realizes something...     "Yeah...Guess you're right old man, if you want something you just gotta take it for yourself...But..."     In the next moment Touta finds himself following up Rynith's charge. He brings his swings in right after hers in a way that make it seem like the two have been practicing fighting in unison for some time. "...That doesn't just apply to Servants does it?!"
Nanoha Takamachi	Nanoha continues to watch, responding to Mikoto over the radio, "No clue. There wasn't exactly a lot of time to scout this place or learn what it used to be."     Before anything more can be said, Nanoha's eyes catch sight of the sudden rise in action. She frowns just a little as the diplomacy quickly breaks out into a fight. While it's not unexpected, Nanoha had been hoping that they wouldn't need to resort to this. Nanoha turns around, walking away from the window. Taking a deep breath in preparation, Nanoha stops and turns back once more.     A small explosion rocks the side of the tall building and a streak of pink comes blasting out of it. It arcs, heading down towards the growing fight. Nanoha quickly comes to a stop, floating in the air some distance above the fighters. She's transformed, her white and blue combat dress swaying in the wind, golden staff in her right hand. The other raises in Nagi's direction, palm open.     A beam of magic quickly shoots forth towards the Ruler. But it's not aimed to hit, instead simply passing by to blow away a small chunk of the street.     A warning shot.     Nanoha stares Nagi down with a determined look, saying firmly with a well practiced tone of authority, "Ruler. You possess information vital to the continued protection of the people of the Multiverse. I would prefer to not have this escalate any further than it has. So please, listen to those who are pleading for your help and agree to talk to us so this can stop."
Solty Revant	He wants to fight before he gives up the secret? Well, that sort of changes things! Instead of an ambush, they are just doing what he wants them to do now, which makes attacking him okay as far as Solty is concerned. So, despite there being a plan in place, Solty hops out of cover and charges. She leaps and spins to try and deliver a kick to Ruler's back, then as she bounces back she says, "That isn't true, though! Ms. Rynith didn't have to take Touta's kindness by force! He just offered it because it would help someone! If you are his ancestor then you must have some of that kindness in there somewhere, and I'm sure you can find it if you just try a little! There's no reason to get hurt over the stuff that Mr. Touta wants to know!"
Sumiko	Mikoto frowns, this conversation is going down faster than even she thought, and of course, the way Ruler was treating his own flesh and blood.  It makes her blood boil, to the girl who has lost two families.  She takes family, or rather the concept of it, rather seriously...and the fact there is someone who would slap the hand away... The magical girl transformation was fast, a green streak of light soars towards Ruler, as it forms into Mikoto, taking her jade sword.  Her feet have a similar glow to the flight magic Nanoha uses.  She moves in a straight line, aiming to hit Ruler from the back with the blade and swing around front.   Screw it, the plan is ruined, and she's /unhappy/.   "You selfish bastard.  This is your flesh and blood, and you're treating him like this.  I am starting to think that Priscilla and Seifer have the right idea about you." She says, pointing the blade at him, "If taking things by force is how you do things, then prepare to be robbed completely blind by the Magical Girl of Envy!"
Eryl Fairfax	The fight is joined!     Rynith and Touta come at Ruler with a synchronised flurry, blades catching the setting sun. But even with twice the attacks to deal with, Ruler dodges and slaps aside the weapons with practised ease. "You're right kiddo, it doesn't. But saying you'll take something and doing it are two different things. Can you really get the answers you want out of me when you're hesitating like that?"     Nanoha's warning shot hits the ground, grabbing the Servant's attention. In that instant, Touta and Rynith see an opening and claim it, their blades biting deep into the man's side and distorting his shape. "Guh!" he gasps, leaping back to make some room. "Hahah... oh, this was /planned/ huh? Okay kids, not bad. But numbers aren't everything. I've taken on whole armies, you think a small squad will be enough?"     Solty comes flying out of cover and kicks at Ruler's back, but he pivots inhumanly fast and raises his own leg to stomp down on Solty's to divert the blow. He leans back, avoiding the brunt of Mikoto's swing so that it only grazes his face rather than cleaving through him. "I'm damn offended! Only five of you?!" He grins, a cruel gleam in his eyes as magic power flows off him like a river. "This will barely burn off that takoyaki!"     He moves, appearing before Touta in an instant, all while 'grasping the world' in the same way he does. He swings a punch at the boy's gut, the broken pavement cracking under his feet from the force. Then he's beside Rynith, aiming a palm thurst at her head posed to send her flying. All the while, he's chanting. "Man Man Terro Terro... Septendecim spiritus fulguralis, coeuntes." Seventeen orbs of lightning begin orbiting him as he lunges at Mikoto, launching a series of rapid jabs at her face and body, before flying at Solty, grabbing her by the head and attempting to drive it into the ground. "Sagitta Magica, Convergentia Fulguralis!" He shouts, the orbs of lighting becoming streaking missiles that fly towards Nanoha in attempt to strike and stun her!
Sumiko	Mikoto moves the blade deftly, blade managing to catch the magic-infused hands of the Servant, just enough so she can use her small body and lithe form to just stay ahead of each fist.  She can feel the force from them as they fly by, just narrowly avoiding crushing her skull in.  Flipping back, Mikoto slides back across the ground from the force of the blows exchanged. She realizes she can't hold back here at all.  The sword moves across the ground, as the magic circle forms below her.   "Oh you think there are just the five of us," She says, with a dangerous smirk.  From her circle, bees, swarms of bees fly out towards Ruler, aiming to swarm and sting him. "With me, there is a legion, and the friends I have made are my power."
Solty Revant	Solty lets out a little 'eep!' of surprise as she is suddenly slammed face first into the ground. But, she manages to get her arms out and cushions the impact somewhat, causing electricity to arc over her limbs from the force of the impact. She still ends up on the ground, but at least her face is whole. She hops back to her feet quickly, frowning a bit. "Ms. Mikoto is right! You shouldn't be so mean to anyone, much less family! Family is very important! I didn't even have one until last year, so I know how precious it is!" she says as she moves in again.      The android girl's fists start to glow with a flowing yellow-orange aura, and seem to be vibrating at extreme speeds as she starts throwing punches. Each one that hits releases a burst of pure force along with the actual impact the punches would already generate.
Nanoha Takamachi	Nanoha doesn't recall Touta mentioning just how much enjoyment Nagi apparently gets out of combat. That changes things! For one thing, it makes the man a little harder to talk down.     For another, it means he's probably very good at it! Though admittedly, Touta may have actually mentioned that part.     In an extremely familiar feeling situation, Nanoha watches the the barrage of lightning orbs streak towards her. Small wings of pink light flash into existence from her feet and Nanoha is suddenly blasting off into the air. She weaves around the the orbs as they close in. She's starts off well enough, avoiding them. But soon enough they overwhelm her, several striking and causing energy to ripple through her.     While her defensive magics are able to dent some of the damage, Nanoha still winces at the pain. Several scorch marks smoke a little as Nanoha comes to a stop once more. Judging by what she felt, it's clear that Ruler is not lacking in power.     Nanoha grips her staff tighter, "Looks like we will have to take this one seriously, Raising Heart."     The staff chimes in response, <Yes, Master. Axel Shooter.>     A dozen orbs of pink appear floating in the air around Nanoha. They are quickly joined by another dozen. And another, spreading out. Nanoha raises her staff up, the orbs beginning to crackle with magic. She then swings it down towards Nagi, "Avalanche Shift!"     The orbs all begin to fire beams of light that arc through the air, dancing around each other. They quickly rain down on Ruler, exploding amidst openings presented by the attacks of the others.
Touta Konoe	Touta...Wasn't ready. Even if he's immortal the strike to his gut demonstrates just how powerful this Servant actually was. His technique as he 'grasped the earth' was impeccable and the way he used it to leverage his strike makes for a nasty blow that not only makes the boy cough up blood but sends him flying to the other side of the intersection before creating a crater upon his landing.     Sounds of coughing can be heard as Touta tries to pull himself out of the dust. It was only the first blow but it's Nagi has already imprinted just how powerful he actually was as Touta's appearence shows his chest practically smashed in by that single blow. Touta finds himself coughing again as his body tries to restore him like a car you try to pull a dent out of. As he looks around, to see Mikoto being able to avoid a bludgeoning, but for the others...     "*Cough*...I guess...There's a reason even the Concord wasn't able to take you down. If that's the case..."     Touta pulls out a small disk that extends into a hula-hoop and starts to spin it around his waist. His hands begin to change as dark miasma begins to form around him. It was clear they needed to start getting some traction in this fight or else it'd be over before it even started. As Nanoha and Mikoto release their spells, Touta grasps the earth this time. The earth around him beginning to crumble as he charges in behind the attacks. He needs to make sure to pay back this old man for that hit and yet...He needs to know how he compares to this old man in terms of fighting power, so he needs to get serious. "ONE-HUNDRED THOUSAND FOLD!!!" Touta would swing his blade down with as much force as he could using its enhanced weight to try and increase the impact of his strike.
Eryl Fairfax	"Friends huh?" Nagi says as he faces down Mikoto and the swarm of bees. A few manages to sting him and raise some welts, but hsi hands blur and crush the majority before they can reach him. "The power that comes from having friends is when you work with your friends. You had a good ambush going, but you broke it early because what? I said some mean words? Hurt your feelings? Now you're all in a brawl with me, and that's where I excel. What kind of a friend are you to do that?" He tosses the corpses of bees back at Mikoto, before following up with a big haymaker, aiming to spike her against the ground.     Solty comes at him with a flurry of hypercharged punches, enough to smash steel and concrete. So the fact that Nagi is able to catch each one in sequence without even being pushed back speaks volumes of just how strong he really is. "You're right kid. Family is important. Why do you think I keep telling him to stay out of this? Grail Wars are serious business. Powerful people with powerful Servants willing to go to any lengths for a wish; do you think that's a place for someone to half-assedly involve themself like he's doing?" He retaliates with his own flurry of rapid punches, each one arcing with electricity.     Pink lasers rain down on his position, kicking up dust as the ground underfoot is superheated. Nagi's body is pierced in multiple locations, his form distorting, but he's still standing. "Hey there missy! Instead of hovering around up there-" He vanishes, leaping into the air to kick off a building and get behind Nanoha. "Why not join in the fun?" He aims a savage axe kick at the mage, one with enough force to launch her into the ground.     Nagi descends, just in time for Touta to lunge at him, his blade's gravity amplified to crushing levels. It sinks deep into him, but his form is too dense with power to get a full cleave going. "Graaah!" he shouts, looking his great-grandson in the eyes. "Heh... that's a good look you have kiddo. Let's see how far it takes you." He places his hands on Touta's shoulders, then drives his knee upwards, aiming to strike his chin.     Lancer suddenly comes flying from the rubble she was launched into, her blueprint weapon now split into twinblades. She tries to bury these into Nagi's back, causing him to yell before twisting his arm to strike her with his elbow. "Get off!"
Sumiko	Corpses of bees hammer Mikoto before she hits the ground hard.  Rolling across the ground she groans as she comes to a stop.  Slowly she peels herself off, biting her lower lip.  He had a point...she shouldn't have jumped the gun with everyone but... "Yeah, but soullessly sitting there and doing nothing isn't any better.  You might be right, I jumped the shark..." he says, pointing the blade at him.  "It'd have more punch if you were doing anything for your own flesh and blood." "You want to know why?  Because I don't have a family, I lost mine, BOTH of mine.  Families should NOT be like this, they should NOT do this to themselves.  So you know what..." She says, wiping some blood from her nose.   Then her hand covered in a sort of data bracelet appears, turning towards Ruler like a cannon.  It fires a ball of black data-like energy, attempting to trap him inside the ball, before attempting to drain data from the source target in a very painful way and sending it back to Mikoto.  Of course, this would leave a toll on the Servant himself. "You can give me advice when you start acting like an adult."
Nanoha Takamachi	Nanoha gets some solid hits in, but Ruler's body does that weird phasing thing. Admittedly, Nanoha doesn't know whether that's normal or not. She's not that familiar with Servants. Though she had some ideas. Ideas which so far aren't actually turning out as expected.     Nagi addresses her and is suddenly behind her! Nanoha quickly turns, spinning her stuff around with both hands to meet the kick. While the Mage manages to block the blow, the force behind the blow is still enough to send Nanoha crashing down into the ground, ripping up a trench in the street as she comes to a stop. The orbs that had been firing at Nagi follow her, remaining in the air around her.     Parts of Nanoha's Barrier Jacket are torn where she hit the ground. The skin beneath is rather roughed up. But still Nanoha manages to stand. As she rises, she firmly says to Ruler, "Touta is fighting for what he believes is the right thing to do. In order to protect others. You can't just dismiss that, or the strength it can give someone."     Nanoha brings her staff down to point in Nagi's direction. The Device chimes, <Master-> Nanoha interupts, "I know." The Device continues, <We will need to-> Once again Nanoha says, "I know. Blaster two."     Magic erupts into a pillar around Nanoha, rising up into the sky. Bits of rubble at her feet begin to float, quickly disintegrating under the magic pressure. Two objects similar in design to the head of Nanoha's staff materialize in the air around her. A large spell ring appears beyond the tip of the staff, another two beyond the smaller bits floating around Nanoha. Nanoha then calls out, "Photon Smasher!"     A large beam of energy errupts from the staff, blasting forward. Two smaller ones blast out from the bits, converging on the larger one and causing it to grow larger. Meanwhile, the orbs that had been following Nanoha fire another barrage of their own. The large beam roars through the air towards Nagi, joined by a collection of smaller ones.
Solty Revant	Unfortunately for Solty, Nagi's punches are much more effective than her own. She is battered as she tries to block them, and that electricity starts to interfere with the flow of her own thanks to the growing cracks in her armored body. She staggers back after Nagi's assault, wincing heavily. The patch over the hole in her torso is gone, showing a few of her internal robotic components.      But, she is looking more determined than before as she listens to Nagi. "That is exactly why you should help him! He is already in this! He has a servant! And he is trying to help people that aren't even involved in this Grail War thing but are still in danger from it! So instead of being stingy you could share with him and maybe end up helping both of you!" she says in that innocent, passionate way of hers.      With nothing she has been doing causing much of an effect, Solty tries to just distract Nagi for those who seem better equipped to deal with him. She leaps at him and tries to wrap her arms around him, attempting to slow him down so the others might be able to hit him a little harder.
Touta Konoe	Touta does have a pretty serious look right now doesn't he. His eyes seem determine one way or the other to catch up to Nagi. Even if it's a unrealistic goal he's been doing everything he can to try and keep up. Though that look disappears behind Nagi's knee as it slams into his jaw with such force that Nagi can feel the impact go completely through and rattle the boy's entire body. It was a pretty nasty blow for anyone to end up receiving, and yet...     "Who the hell are you calling half-assed...?" The impact had landed and yet Touta seemed to have found himself gritting his teeth and through the use of his ki avoiding his jaw being completely obliterated. So the young man lowers his jaw forcing Nagi's knee to lower so that he could look his old man in the eye,"...Maybe I'm not as powerful as you or that Saber...But like hell I'll let you say that I'm half-assed compared to the people in this war!"     Touma breaks himself from Nagi's grip and proceeds to bring his blades swinging back again. Though rather than the heavy impact of his weighted blade this time he was just relying on speed alone, and the erratic movements that just made it difficult to keep an eye on. And yet...None of them really held the sort of power that his last blow had. Yet Touta still finds himself talking big as he does.     "Maybe, I'm not some powerful Master like all the others in this war! But you know what?! I've got a dream! A dream that I don't need no broken grail to give me! And you know what else I got?!?!" Touta strikes keep becoming more sporadic. It becomes hard to where the hell he's trying to strike until...He just lets go of the blade to lock up Nagi's arms. "I've got my friend who /is/ a Servant! RYNITH!!!!" One of the arms that tries to lock up Nagi's reveals a card in the palm of Touta's hand that Nagi of all people should be aware of. A Pactio card...That begins to radiate light to the point the image on the card is impossible to see. Perhaps the reason Touta hadn't been able to put more oomph into his own blows was because he was trying to charge up Rynith's???
Eryl Fairfax	"Better to do something than nothing huh?" Ruler says in response to Mikoto. "I'm the same way. And things didn't go so well for me. I took down the archvillain plotting the destruction of the world. And the woman I loved was scapegoated for it all and sentenced to death. I condemned myself and her to exile to save her. Sent our son away so he could have a normal life. So don't lecture me about acting like an adult, when you can't even act like a girl your age."     The data drain strikes him, encasing him inside a ball as knowledge flows from him to Mikoto in fragments. Contextless snapshots of his life, memories of the countless battles he's waged. But the clearest thing she gets is the memory of a hooded man from Nagi's point of view. The brandish a Command Seal, and it shines red. "I invoke this Command Seal to order you, Ruler," the man says. "You are not to speak of-"     Nagi bursts free of the orb by expressing all his magic against the confining space, breaking the transmission before Mikoto can get any further details. Ruler is just in time to bear the brunt of Nanoha's massive blast, his form disappearing in the light of the beam. When it fades, he's left in the bottom of the crater, slumped to one knee. The mounting attacks are taking effect!     He gets to his feet, only for Solty to grab him, trying to hold him in place. "If he wants to be part of the War, I have to treat him impartially! That's the point of being a Ruler!" He struggles to get the girl off him, but now Touta is coming from the front, hacking and slashing and cutting and carving and eventually just aiding in tying the Servant up as he invokes his Pactio.     "That's how?!" Nagi exclaims as he looks up to see Rynith floating in the air with a massive charged blueprint scythe clutched in her hands. "Let us see you take this one, Ruler. Noble Phantasm! Bardiche Blueprint: Crescent Form!" She lunges, swinging the curved blade to try and take Nagi's throat out!     The blow connects, and there is a vicious spurt of blood. Nagi staggers, having to be supported by Solty and Touta for a moment. But he's not done yet. "All right... you want to be taken seriously? Time for a gut check." He takes his staff and begins floating into the air as he exerts his power. It comes off him like a truck, blowing everyone back. "I'm here because one of those distortions you keep seeing is in this city. I've been looking for days but I can't find it... but I think I get it now. It /is/ this city. It's suffused the whole place. So to take it out, I gotta take the whole place out."     A magic circle appears in the air above the city, growing and growing without pause. "I'm not stopping for any of you. So either stop me from finishing this, or get clear. It's up to you."
Nanoha Takamachi	This is their chance! Ruler is preparing a devastating attack, in an attempt to destroy the city. But it looks like it's leaving him vulnerable. If what he says is true, they can deal with it later. For now, they need to stay focused on showing him how serious they are.     Nanoha, raises a hand, a spell circle appearing beyond it to form a shield against the initial rush of power from Nagi. Nanoha is panting a fair bit at this point, having taken some heavy hits from Nagi and expended a lot of magic in launching her attacks. She seems a little unsteady on her feet, but still has life in her eyes. She plants her feet into the ground to steady herself against the flowing power and prepares her own.     Nanoha swings her staff up into the air, a large spell circle appearing on the ground beneath her, additional spell rings flashing into existence around the remote bits. She then brings her staff around to point in Ruler's direction. Ports in the staff's head slide open, four wings of pink flaring to life from them.     Motes of pink begin to streak in towards a single point ahead of the staff, merging together and forming into a quickly growing orb. The spell gathers ambient magic that's been unleashed in the battle so far, collecting it. As the power quickly grows, the rushing air around Nanoha growing louder, Nanoha sends out a warning to her allies, "You might want to back off for this one!"     Even as the spell gathers the ambient magic, Nanoha doesn't believe it'll be enough to express the seriousness of just how much they would like Ruler to provide them with the information he has. So Nanoha adds yet more to the quickly growing orb, the cartridge system at the neck of her staff sliding back several times. KA-CHUNK. KA-CHUNK. KA-CHUNK. KA-CHUNK. KA-CHUNK.     The spell receives a large boost of magic from the concentrated mana cartridges, expanding further and obliterating the street beneath it as it does so.     Finally, Nanoha looks to be at her limits, growing even more unsteady until she finally swings her staff to the side and up, "Starlight-" She brings her staff down to smash into the massive orb, "-BREAKER!"     The pink orb BURSTS and a massive beam roars through the air towards Nagi's rough position. It doesn't matter if it hits him or not though, as once it gets close, it unleashes a huge BLAST OF LIGHT that rapidly expands. The explosion grows, quickly reaching down to engulf the intersection, surrounding streets, sidewalks and parts of the nearby buildings.     Finally the light dies down, revealing a crater where the spell had expanded down to street level. Nanoha herself is not far from the edge of it, having stopped the spell short of hitting her, still holding her staff in the position from which she had fired it. Large clouds of exhaust gas stream out of the staff head with a hiss before its ports close with a metallic thunk. As for Nanoha. Well, looking into her eyes, much of the fire is gone.     Having put almost everything she had into that last attack, Nanoha's legs give out beneath her. She collapses to the ground, the floating bits vanishing into sparkles of light. She rests her staff across her lap, unable to do much more than watch at this point and hope that she gave the others the edge they needed to wear Ruler down.
Muramasa	"So that's how it is, huh.." Muttering to himself, the red-haired observer purses his lips. Truthfully he'd made it to the scene much later than he'd anticipated, only just in time for the latest altercation. Every single person trying to fight Ruler was on their last leg or practically one foot in the grave. A pang of nostalgia wells up in his chest as he witnesses not only their desparation, but their resolve. After all, in Shirou Emiya's last moments, hadn't he been the same way? But, this was no time to wax in his memory. While neither of his lives had led particularly educated careers in thaumaturgy, he could tell instinctually that the spell circle forming above was trouble. The amount of magical energy condensing and transmuting within was incredible, rivaling the Blood Fortress that appeared over Homurahara Academy. It wasn't the same 'type' of weapon, but its method of deployment was similar. That was what he discerned. While undoubtably Saber's superior in magical combat, Ruler was already starting to wear down from the prolonged combat. Now was his chance to strike, as dishonorable as it was. The idea wrangled with his sense of yamato-damashii, but even so, failure to act now could end in mass destruction. His will steeled, and he drew his sword. " Trace On. " Magical energy flooded the crevices of his body, the small imperfections of physical form to begin a full-body reinforcement as he pushes himself forward, leaping from the ledge of the balcony he'd taken momentary residence of. "That spell, I won't let you use it, Ruler! Toh!" The released bloodlust from his cursed sword announced his prescence the moment he struck out with a flash of three lightning fast stabs, the first flowing into the second, into the third. It wasn't a killing blow, nor was it meant to be, but he fully intended to cripple Ruler's Staff wielding arm and disrupt his center of balance.         "NOW'S YOUR CHANCE, DO IT!" Shattering the master magician's guard and allowing for those that remained to throw their all was the best he could do on a moment's notice.
Sumiko	"I don't get to act like a girl my age," Mikoto says, trying her best to push back against the surge of power, only for it to knock her back slightly, but not enough to throw her to her butt.  "I made bad choices in terrible times too.  However, unlike you, well, you're a bit daft, but you have a good heart." "I...well, I'm not so good at that.  I'm selfish, insensitive, and far too impulsive for my good.  That's who I am, and anything to make me change will happen because I will it." She says, as from her something else surges.   "I made a deal with a rabbit devil and I'm going to show you what it will eventually cost me," She says, as SOMETHING appears behind her.  It connects to her from the waist down like a tail attached to her.  Its face is a mask of jade-crystal, with one side of a mouth turned up, and the other down.  Jems encrust its arms, while various faces appear in the arms and chest.  Animals of various shifting qualities appear on its hands.  The whole thing looks out of place like cardboard cutouts just appearing in reality.   "So what did your master forbid you from talking about?" She asks, staring at him as the thing behind her disappears.  Appearing behind Ruler, attempting to grapple him with its massive arms as she dashes right towards him with her flight.  The blade aiming to slice the Magus down the middle.
Solty Revant	Solty tries to hang on through the blast of force, but finally loses her grip on Nagi and gets sent flying back. However, rather than fall, she floats there. Apparently she can fly! But, instead of moving to hit him again, Solty blinks a few times. "Wait, you are trying to stop one of the distortions?" she asks, then looks around at the others. She looks at Touta in particular before back at Nagi. "Then...why are you keeping the secret? Touta is trying to stop these things, too! Are these distortions part of the war or something?" she asks, then her ears twitch as she considers. "If these distortions are dangerous, shouldn't we just evacuate the city and then get rid of it? It doesn't seem like there are many people left here anyway!"      She flies up and tries to grab Nagi's arms again, but more in an entreating way this time. "Can you just hold off for a bit? Let us get the people who might still be here to leave? Then, you and Touta can get rid of the distortion together!" She is starting to sound happy excited, like someone who expects two estranged family members will reconcile now.      She is going to be disappointed, it seems. Partially because she has to pull back when Nanoha starts unleashing that huge attack! "Woah!!" She can only watch in awe, eyes wide, at the massive blast of light. Until she realizes it is expanding! She flies away as fast as she can, barely avoiding getting caught in the blast herself by flying upward along one of the buildings.      And it is reinforced as an unknown swordsman intervenes to keep the spell from being cast, and Mikoto also goes all in with a creepy monster thing! Solty watches all of this, then her fists clench. "Why does everything have to be...fighting!!" she exclaims, that flowing yellow-orange aura surrounding her this time, rolling over her like water. If stopping him is the only way, then she is going to try! Once it is clear, she braces against the edge of the building, then kicks off hard, causing an explosion of debris to fly out behind her and a crater in the side of the building.      The android girl comes flying in like a comet, even leaving a trail behind her as she uses herself as a super-powered projectile to try and take out Nagi. Once again, the impact is increased by the aura, causing an pure force explosion of her own, but focused toward Nagi.
Touta Konoe	Rynith shows her resolve of their combined attack, even as Touta and Solty both end up supporting Nagi...How'd that happen? Well, not like they were trying to kill him still so it's not like they wouldn't do such a thing. Still when he sees what Rynith does he can't help but smile her way. He figures even she wanted to get a good hit against Ruler after their last fight. "Way to go, Rynith! That was crazy awesome! Noble Phantasms really are flashy!" Though before either him or Solty seem to be able to pin the guy down....He's already in the air and out of reach of the two flightless combatant.     Though even from the air...No even without a spell, Nagi finds himself able to inflict damage to the group in a way he never would have expected. With just sheer force of will, "Tch...This guy's ridiculous...What kind of cheat attack is this?" It's not that it's even the most powerful but just the amount of force he could inflict simply from exerting pressure was just well...It really was unfair.     That was the least of their problems though. Nagi after all this time finally tells him the situation...That there's an abnormality that's possibly the city and he's gonna blow it up. But he's more interested in what Nagi says before that, 'You wanna be taken seriously?' "Of course I do...The whole reason I ended up traveling the multiverse was because I wanted to become someone that could be taken seriously by people like you, gramps...And her...So if you think I'm gonna back down..."     Just as he's about to finish speaking Nanoha unleashes her devastating spell. Something so fierce that even Touta can feel the shockwave that comes from it. When compared to Nagi's own pressure it practically felt on equal terms. But it's enough power that it drains her of all she has left till her legs can't even support her anymore. She should be falling face first into the ground but...She's not. She can feel her body being supported in someway. She can feel the warmth of someone's hands that gently lay her to the ground. "...When my friends are giving their all...Then you're the one who better make sure you're not half-assing it."     Touta hears Mikoto tell him something at that point. Something that surprises him more than anything he's heard so far, but it'll wait. It'll have to. "Nanoha, Raising Heart, you guys really are awesome...We'll finish this here...Somehow." How exactly? Without Nanoha they really didn't have a way lock down Nagi. If this was the case, they were actually going to have to BEAT him?!     Touta plants his blade into the ground. He's got nothing powerful enough to deal with Nagi's spell. He knows that because he knows exactly what spells about to come out. So if that's the case he'd have to use his own firepower against him. So Touta starts to charge with his hoop still spinning around him, he uses all the strength he has left in his legs to get him into the air, but it's not enough to close the distance between the two and he can feel his legs feel like they're about to give out...Until he hears another man's words. A voice telling him a chance was arising... "Shimosa?!"     There's no time to ask when or how he made it here, but his words alone fill him with strength. Touta finds the power to grasp the world once more as he finds himself able to jump in mid-air to get him still higher but still just out of reach of Nagi...His left hand reaching out towards Nagi just as he's about to release his spell. Cause even if Shimosa disarmed him, he just has this feeling. This instinct that tells him that it'll still come. So if that's the case..."I'll take your gut check and give it right back to you!!!"     Touta would take in this town destroying spell into his body, and then use that power to close the distance in this final attack. This would be how Touta show Ruler he was serious, but not just dishing out an attack to finish this, but dealing with his own attack at the same time. "Better grit those teeth, old man!!!"
Eryl Fairfax	Nagi ascends. His body is rocked by the full force of Starlight Breaker. It almost knocks him from his staff as he is buffeted by it, but he grabs it mid-fall and holds on. But in that moment, Saber lunges at him, slashing that arm and maiming it. Ruler kicks up with his legs and grabs on, continuing his ascent. "God damn. She still had that in the tank, and you had one more in reserve? You're all smarter than I thought!"     Mikoto grapples him from behind, forcing Nagi to try and shove her off. "You were peeking?! Damn, that's bad manners!" he shouts, scowling as he is carved down the middle. He speeds up his ascent and barrel rolls to try and shake Mikoto off, while Solty comes barrelling down to slam into him. He cries out, but twists himself so that Solty peels Mikoto off him. "There's no one else here! Why do you think I've been hanging around so long?! I was making sure of that! What kind of psychopath do you take me for?!"     He ascends through the circle, now out of its firing range. "It's too late..." Rynith gasps. She spent everything on that last blow, and is now in no state to even cast a simple spell, let alone pursue Ruler. "We failed..." Ruler looks down with obvious conflict on his face, even as the city begins to /change./ It was run-down already, but all its ...identity start to fade. Everything extraneous, from faded artistic murals, to rusting playgrounds, to architectural flourishes begin to disappear. It all becomes brutal, utilitarian design, rectangular blocks and orderly streets.     And on the tallest building, a face appears. That of a moustached man, captioned with one phrase.                           BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU                               "Shit, I can't let it manifest! Don't die everyone!" Nagi shouts. "Noble Phantasm: Chiliaple Astrape!" A thousand thousand lightning bolts rain down from the massive magical circle, liquifying the steel and concrete of the city. The face on the mural seems to /scream/ as the city is obliterated.     But one section is not.     Touta absorbs that lightning, taking it into him, even as he protects his friends from the onslaught. And then, with the power of that lightning, he leaps, closing the gap between he and Ruler and punches. "The he-" Nagi starts to say, before his face is rocked. He plummets, falling towards the crater of slag where the abandoned city once stood.     He comes to a stop, just before falling into the molten ooze, and floats, rubbing his face. "God damn, that bitch slap nearly killed me," he exclaims, looking at everyone. "Well... I guess you passed the gut check." He lets out a long sigh, and stares pointedly at Mikoto. "There's some stuff I literally can't talk about, but I can try to talk around it. What do you all want to know?"
Sumiko	Mikoto, sighs, and lets out some relief with said sigh. Standing up she thinks for a moment... "You know I could just hit you with the Data Drain again?" she asks, holding her palm up. "I mean, if I hit you enough times I should get the answer..."
Muramasa	Saber breathes a small sigh of relief, sheathing his weapon. The headache that had been starting to form dissipates almost instantly as the bloodlust wafting off of the blade vanishes. They'd largely failed in stopping the city's destruction, but ... he'd helped save someone. It wasn't much of a consolation, but he made sure Touta and his friends survived as they clutched victory from the jaws of imminent defeat. He couldn't help but feel proud of him, for confronting Ruler like that. It was the kind of resolve that only showed itself when everything was down to the wire. "Ruler. This grail war is irregular, but .. the nature of that irregularity, you said it was this place. At best I could have been considered a hedge mage..but tell me something. This city is a reality marble of sorts, isn't it? Or rather, its nature is similar to one." In other words the city's bounds were intruding on the local reality; like a square trying to fit into a peg shaped hole. Or a chess piece on a checkers board.
Touta Konoe	There should not be this much satisfaction in punching your great-grandpa...And yet after all the dust settles and Touta finds himself smirking with such a huge smile. He's pretty sure that under any other circumstance he'd be dead on the floor right now, it's only thanks to his own cheat skill, his immortality that he's able to keep himself standing at the moment.     But the fight's over and that means that Touta's finally free to ask whatever he wants. He's got free reign to nag this annoying old man as much as he wants too! He should probably do it soon though before something stupid happens. Like the sky turns into a full formed person and starts warping people, or this mysterious person makes Ruler disappear. But there's simply one thing that Touta has to do before asking Nagi anything..."Hold that thought..."     Touta brings himself over to Rynith and Nanoha again. He tries to help support both of them back to their feet. In Rynith's case it just involves probably giving her more mana, but with Nanoha he makes sure that she's probably able to enjoy in the fruits of her labor as well.     "This wouldn't be possible without the two of ya, so like hell I'm gonna let you guys look like you lost after all that..." His head starts turning towards Solty, Mikoto, and Shimosa as well. "Actually, if it weren't for all of you, I'd probably have been the one that got bitch-slapped..." Still...Turning back towards Nagi last of all...Touta's not really sure where to begin. With all the things going on in the war, with the distortions, and with this unheard of Master. So when he sees Mikoto and Shimousa start up on Nagi first, he just shuts up and listens for now.
Solty Revant	Solty flails a bit as she ends up knocking Mikoto loose, and she tries to catch the other girl on the way back to the ground. Seems like Mikoto doesn't need any help though, and Solty skids to a stop in the air before she heads over to Nanoha quickly. She helps support Nanoha alongside Touta if she needs it, then looks toward Nagi. "So...we didn't even really have to fight? You were just...testing us?" Solty asks, a bit confused by all of this.      She listens to Saber, but doesn't really know anything about Servants or the Grail. "What's a reality marble?" she asks Touta quietly as they listen.
Nanoha Takamachi	Nanoha finds herself helped down to the ground, from where all she can do is watch. She's not sure who their unexpected ally is, but he seems to give them an edge. Unfortunately it's not enough.     Nanoha's eyes go a little wide, trying to summon what scrap of mana she has left to defend herself... But even if she succeeds, it's not going to be enough. The world around them changes, revealing itself? The distortion? And then Ruler unleashes his Noble Phantasm. All Nanoha can do is raise her arms above her to try and take the brunt of the eletrical blasts.     Blasts which don't come.     At least, not on Nanoha. Looking around in surprise, Nanoha spots Touta absorbing the energy closest to them. Harnessing it to deliver a strike back at Nagi.     The city has been destroyed... Nanoha hopes it truly was as abandoned as it seemed.     By the time Touta comes over to check on her, Nanoha has managed to recover a little strength. Enough to stand, with the help of Touta and Solty. Steadying herself by planting her staff into the ground, she says to the two of them, "Thanks. I'm just glad it worked... But..." Nanoha looks at her Device, "Are you alright, Raising Heart?"     The Device replies with a slightly distorted chime, <I am fine.>     Nanoha looks apologetically at her staff, "Sorry, I guess I put you under too much strain. Don't worry, I'll get you home and fixed up in no time." The Device simply responds with a chime in acknowledgment.     Nanoha then turns to look at Rynith, giving her a friendly smile, "I'm sure Fate would be proud of her mentor."     Nanoha slowly makes her way out of the small section that survived and over to Nagi. It seems they were able to prove themselves to him, to which Nanoha smiles in success.     But then comes the real issue. Nanoha looks at Saber as he speaks. She might not understand the specific details of the term reality marble... But from the name and what she saw, she's assuming they're dimensional pockets. Similar to some spells Mages in her own world know (though in comparison, they aren't nearly as powerful as a reality marble). She asks, "So the distortions are these reality marbles. To what end? Trying to override actual reality for some reason?"
Eryl Fairfax	Rynith takes the extra mana gratefully, standing once more and offering Touta a smile. "That was incredible Touta..." She smiles and bows to everyone once more. "You were all incredible. Thank you everyone."     Ruler looks to Saber and laughs. "Buddy, I'm a magic school dropout. I barely get the spells I use, let alone stuff like 'reality marbles.' But you're not too far off." He looks to everyone, and asks his own question. "What comes to mind when you think of 'potential?'"     He lets that question hang, before carrying on. "It can mean a person's potential, a potential event, potential energy. It's basically 'what could be.' And everyone and everything can have more or less of it. Someone might have greater potential as a fighter, a musician, an architect..."     He gestures around. Not at the ruined city, more at... everything. "How much potential do you think the Multiverse has? Worlds unify all the time, and those worlds might have all sorts of crazy rules. All sorts of possibilities, that add the Multiverse's potential. It's always growing. Anything could happen." He looks to everyone, dead serious. "And what happens when that potential /wants to be realised?/ Potential, after all, is just the first step towards 'actualisation.' Just like you can't have 'effect' without 'cause,' you can't have actualisation without potential."     He nods to Saber. "You're right, this War is unnatural. Because it's a Grail War in name only. It's borrowing the archetype without being limited by the core facets of that ritual. No 'Throne of Heroes' no 'Counter Force.' None of that. Potential without limit, running rampant. The distortions are-"     His jaw suddenly slams shut, and he struggles with it for a moment. It seems that he was encroaching on something he was forbidden to talk about. "Dammit, let me try that again. The dis-"     The robed figure Touta saw at the monastery has his hand on Ruler's shoulder.     They just... appeared out of nowhere. They raise their other hand, and hold it where their lips would be while looking at everyone. Clearly asking them 'don't spread this around.' And then they and Ruler both vanish.
Muramasa	Side-eyeing Nanoha, Saber considers her speculation. In his own world, Reality Marbles were rare. Truthfully most of his limited knowledge on the subject came from his encounter with a certain Avenger in the Shimousa Province rather than from his own internal world, at least at first. Of course, those 'rules' didn't necessarily apply to other realities and even if they did, there was an exception to every rule. That said, to manifest one on a large scale for an extended period of time was no easy task regardless of the world you came from. The energy required would be astronomical. Of course, there was a source of such an energy waiting for the victor of the Holy Grail War. The Holy Grail was not an omnipotent wish granter, rather, it was merely a machine to facilitate the process of wishcraft, the specialty of the Einzbern Alchemists. In simpler terms, the Holy Grail provided an unlimited source of energy that could then be used to brute-force a Mystery, bypassing all requirements by throwing enough energy into it. In the right hands it could power any arcane art for any amount of time. Yet this was not a Holy Grail War, not precisely. The energy was not being gathered within a Grail System, but rather .. Before he could finish digesting Ruler's information and respond, a figure appeared. "Wait, Ruler -- !!"
Sumiko	Mikoto's semi-serious threat to shoot Nagi again until the pieces came out seems to come to ahead.  The hand still extended as the situation was explained.  Using the potential of the multiverse...was that turning it towards Actualisation, or transforming it into /something/ else.   The distortions are connected to the grail war, that much is confirmed, but the specific thing...is, of course, the thing he can't talk about.  It was that moment the figure appeared to grab his servant on the arm.   Mikoto fires the Data drain without a second thought towards the man, attempting to catch him, and see what she could drain out of him.  This certainly will not backfire at all.
Touta Konoe	"I'll have to explain it later...For now we should just listen..." He looks to Solty for a moment before trying to keep with the flow of the conversation.     It seems like everything's going to finally be explained. All the pieces might come together before the group that worked so hard for this conclusion. The town might have been destroyed but at least none of them were dead, and being able to deal with Ruler was an accomplishment of its own. So Touta listens intently to everyone's piece, including Nagi's. The concepts of potential energy seem...Odd, especially in terms of a Grail War. "Wait...So if this isn't a grail war then what is thi-"     Touta tries asking his question but sees Nagi's lips seal themselves vodoo style. And again it happens. "Ugh, if you can't tell us what you're trying to say, at least tell us something we can work wi-" Touta's cut off again...Only it's not by Nagi's voice being silenced, but by the mysterious robed figures, "Wait...You were there when Rynith...Don't let him get close to Nagi!" He shouts to the others as he tries to use what little strength he's recovered to try and grab onto Nagi before this guy can disappear with him like he had vanished the first time. He's not sure he'll even get close but his hand still extends out towards his great-gramps in desperation.
Nanoha Takamachi	Nanoha nods a little as she follows along with Ruler's words. Some of it is a bit metaphysical and so requires a bit of an open mind. Thankfully Nanoha's experiences have left her mind pretty wide open! So it's a fake Grail War.     That's a lot to to wrap one's head around, "To think that these Servants have been fighting, suffering, for so long... For nothing." Nanoha looks upset at that. It's not right.     Still. There's one important question, "So, how do we stop this from escalating further?"     Nanoha clearly isn't going to get a response though as she blinks and suddenly there's a robed man. Huh? Before Nanoha can process what happened, Ruler is gone.     Nanoha is silent for a while... Before wondering out loud, "If this isn't a real Grail War... And the distortions are aspects of the Multiverse worlds trying to manifest... Who was that?"
Solty Revant	Solty really can't think of anything to say as the others talk. She doesn't have a vast well of experience to draw on, and hasn't had her horizons broadened that much. She just nods as Touta says to listen, and continues to listen until...that figure appears, and Touta shouts!      Solty has one trick up her sleeve, but given how that guy just suddenly appeared there she isn't sure even her trick will work. But, she tries it anyway. In the blink of an eye, she has suddenly moved from where she was with Nanoha and Touta to where Nagi and that figure are. She is already mid-grab, trying to catch Nagi before he is pulled away. "Wait!" she exclaims as she reaches.      But, even her Overclock isn't fast enough to beat what seems to be a similar effect. She blinks as she grabs empty air, then looks around quickly and her ears twitch as she tries to locate the pair with her super senses.
Eryl Fairfax	Mikoto's Data Drain flies at the robed figure, as does Touta as he lunges for them. But as they come close, they speak. "Through," they say, in a soft, masculine voice.     And then the Data Drain and Touta go right through them, as if he wasn't there at all.     At that moment, the two disappear. Leaving everyone with some questions answered, at least. But as long as that robed figure holds sway, they'll never fully understand this Paradox "Grail War."