The golden rays of the lights filtered through the high windows of Chaldea's summoning chamber, casting long shadows across the polished floor. Gudako, having swapped her uniform for a breezy white tank top and black booty shorts, padded barefoot into the room. The cool tiles felt refreshing under her feet, grounding her as she approached the heart of the facility. Dr. Roman stood near the summoning altar, his clipboard tucked under one arm, while Da Vinci leaned casually against a console, her usual confident smile in place.
"There you are, Gudako!" Roman greeted, adjusting his glasses with a smile. "We're ready to get started. Time to summon your first Servant."
Da Vinci, her vibrant presence filling the room, stepped forward with a flourish. "The process is straightforward, really. We use Saint Quartz as a catalyst to summon a Heroic Spirit from the Throne of Heroes. It's a bit like pulling a card from a deck—chance plays a big role, though compatibility between you and the Servant can tip the scales. We can also tweak the system sometimes for better odds at specific results, but that's advanced stuff for later."
She handed Gudako a small pouch of glowing Saint Quartz, their surfaces shimmering with an otherworldly light. Gudako turned the stones over in her hands, her eyes narrowing as she studied them. "So… this is basically a gacha game?"
Roman scratched the back of his head, chuckling awkwardly. "Well, yeah, I guess you could say that. Don't ask me why Chaldea's summoning system works like a mobile game. I didn't design it!"
"Gacha…" Gudako muttered, her voice trailing off as her gaze grew distant. The word seemed to spark something in her, a glint of manic excitement flickering in her eyes.
Da Vinci raised an eyebrow, her curiosity piqued. "You okay there, Gudako?"
"Gacha… GACHA?!" Gudako's voice rose, her grin widening to an almost unsettling degree. "GACHA!!"
Before either of them could react, she bolted toward the summoning altar, clutching the Saint Quartz like a kid with a new toy. "GACHA! I GET TO ROLL MORE GACHA! YAY, GACHA! ROLL ALL THE GACHA!!"
Roman and Da Vinci exchanged a bewildered glance as Gudako practically vibrated with enthusiasm. "What… just came over her?" Roman muttered, scratching his chin.
At the altar, Gudako carefully placed the Saint Quartz into the summoning array. The intricate glyphs carved into the floor pulsed with a soft blue light, spinning faster as energy crackled in the air. With a brilliant flash, the light coalesced, and a figure emerged from the glow.
She was a tall woman with striking silver hair cascading down her back, her piercing blue eyes scanning the room. Her tanned skin contrasted with the scant attire she wore—a revealing outfit adorned with delicate chains and a crown-like ornament atop her head. Despite the shackles around her, she carried herself with regal confidence.
"I am Queen Zenobia of Palmyra, Archer-class Servant," she declared, her voice calm yet commanding. Her gaze softened as it landed on Gudako. "You must be my Master. As for my attire…" She glanced down at herself. "I, too, find it perplexing. But rest assured, these shackles do not hinder my combat prowess. I am here to serve and fight for you."
Gudako's jaw dropped, a faint trail of drool escaping before she hastily wiped it away. "My first Servant!" she exclaimed, bouncing on her toes. "Not a 5-star, but a 4-star still works! And you're smoking hot!"
Zenobia's blush deepened, though she maintained her composure. "T-Thank you, Master. I am… honored to meet your standards."
Eager to learn more, Gudako summoned a holographic stat sheet, her fingers dancing across the interface. Zenobia's combat profile appeared, detailing her abilities: [In battle, Zenobia wields floating bow-like constructs that unleash barrages of flaming arrows with deadly precision. For close combat, she employs an unnamed sword and spear, complemented by agile kicks. She can summon an ancient ballista for long-range devastation or conjure a spiraling array of light-forged chains for mid-range assaults.]
Gudako's eyes sparkled. "Oh, I'm loving this! You're gonna be my ranged fighter, Zenobia. And Mash—she'll be my trusty bodyguard. Not that I need one, but it's more fun this way. Plus, I want Mash to feel needed, you know? She's very important to me." Her voice gushed, a faint blush creeping onto her cheeks as she mentioned Mash.
Roman approached, clapping his hands together. "Not a bad first summon, Gudako! Zenobia's a solid—"
"Not done yet!" Gudako interrupted, her grin returning with renewed intensity. "I've got two more summons to go!"
Da Vinci's eyes widened as Gudako produced another handful of Saint Quartz—seemingly out of thin air. "Wait, you can make more Quartz?" she asked, her tone a mix of awe and concern.
Gudako winked. "Yup! Means I can have ALL THE SERVANTS! But don't worry, I'm pacing myself. Also I only want the ones I desire anyways. And since I've already met a few Servants, I can tweak the system to summon specific ones I've encountered before."
Roman blinked, clearly out of his depth. "Wait, what—"
Ignoring him, Gudako poured her energy into the summoning array, her hands glowing faintly as she adjusted the parameters. "GACHA BABY! I CONTROL THE GACHA NOW!"
The altar flared again, and a new figure materialized. He was a lean man with striking blue hair, clad in a form-fitting blue suit. A crimson spear rested casually against his shoulder, and his easy grin radiated confidence.
"Lancer-class Servant, at your service!" he announced, giving Gudako a playful salute. "Name's Cú Chulainn. Let's take this easy, Master!"
"Cu, my boy!" Gudako cheered, practically tackling him with a hug. "Good to have you back!"
Cú's grin widened as a flicker of recognition crossed his face. "Well, damn, didn't expect to see you again so soon. Thanks for calling me up as a Lancer this time. Let's make some trouble, yeah?"
"Welcome aboard!" Gudako said, already turning back to the altar. "One more to go!"
The array hummed with energy as she initiated her final summon. This time, a woman clad in black armor emerged, her blonde hair tied back and her golden eyes sharp with intensity. A dark aura clung to her, and the dark sword by her hip pulsed with ominous energy.
"I have come in response to your summons," she said, her voice low and measured. "Are you my Master?"
"Salter!" Gudako squealed, launching herself at the Saber-class Servant and peppering her face with enthusiastic kisses. "Good to have you aboard!"
"W-What—unhand me!" Salter shoved Gudako back, her expression a mix of outrage and confusion. Her hand twitched toward her sword, but then her eyes relaxed a tad as memories of Singularity F surfaced. "I see… it's you. You defeated me, and now you've summoned me. Why?"
Gudako puffed out her chest, undeterred. "Because you're cool! I had to have you on my team. Plus, I dunno, there's something about you that's just… sexier than the regular Artoria."
Salter's eyes narrowed. "I… see. Very well. As your Servant, I will serve you loyally. But do not hold me back."
Gudako beamed, turning to Roman and Da Vinci. "Alright, I'm done for now! Time to go bond with my new Servants—and find Mash!" She strode out of the chamber, her trio of Servants trailing behind her, each adjusting to their new Master's 'special' personality.
Da Vinci chuckled, shaking her head. "She's a force of nature, isn't she? With that kind of power I'm glad she's on our side."
Roman sighed, rubbing his temples. "For now, anyway."
---
The training room in Chaldea buzzed with latent energy, its vast, reinforced walls gleaming under the sterile glow of overhead lights. The air carried a faint reminder of the countless battles simulated within these walls. Gudako stood at the center of the room, her feet planted firmly on the smooth floor, surrounded by her newly summoned Servants—Zenobia, Cú Chulainn, and Saber Alter—along with her ever-loyal Mash. Fou, the little fluffy white creature, perched atop Gudako's head, his tiny paws kneading her hair.
"Alright, team!" Gudako clapped her hands. "Time for a test run. We've got a Singularity coming up, so I need to see how you all work together. Let's make this fun!"
She raised her hand as she channeled her unique essence. At the edge of her 100-meter range, the air shimmered, and a horde of grotesque, B-movie-style monsters materialized—hulking creatures with jagged claws, glowing red eyes, and exaggerated, toothy maws. They looked like they'd stumbled out of a low-budget horror flick, but their snarls were convincingly menacing.
"Show me what you've got!" Gudako commanded, grinning as she leaned against a nearby tree she created, arms crossed.
Saber Alter cracked her neck, her golden eyes narrowing as she drew Excalibur Morgan, its dark blade pulsing with malevolent energy. "Hmph. Let's make this quick."
Cú Chulainn twirled his crimson spear, Gáe Bolg, with a roguish grin. "Time to have some fun!" The two charged forward in a blur of motion, tearing into the monstrous horde with ruthless precision. Salter's sword cleaved through enemies in wide, devastating arcs, each swing unleashing bursts of dark mana that reduced the creatures to ash. Cú danced through the fray, his spear a whirlwind of strikes that pierced vital points with surgical accuracy.
Zenobia, standing her ground near Gudako, summoned up her floating bow constructs. With a graceful flick of her wrist, she unleashed a barrage of flaming arrows that streaked across the battlefield like miniature comets. The projectiles struck the distant monsters with pinpoint accuracy, piercing them in bursts of fire that lit up the training room.
Gudako's eyes gleamed as she watched the chaos unfold. Wanting to test her team's awareness, she subtly conjured a skeletal warrior behind her. Its bony fingers clutched a rusted sword, poised to strike.
"Senpai!" Mash reacted instantly, her massive shield swinging as she leaped between Gudako and the skeleton. The creature's blade clanged harmlessly against the shield, and with a powerful bash, Mash sent the skeleton crashing to the ground, its bones scattering like broken pottery.
"Nice work, Mash!" Gudako cheered, clapping her hands. "You're always on point."
"Fou!" the little creature chirped from atop Gudako's head, his tail flicking proudly.
Gudako laughed, reaching up to scratch Fou's chin. "Fou, I need to put a bell on you or work on my own awareness." She let him stay perched on her head, his soft weight a comforting presence.
As the battle intensified, a larger group of monsters emerged, including a towering, ogre-like beast with gnarled horns. Cú grinned, his eyes alight with excitement. "Alright, Master, time to show off! Gáe Bolg!" He thrust his spear forward, and a crimson wave of energy erupted, homing in on the massive creature's heart. The beast roared before collapsing, its body disintegrating in a flash of light.
Zenobia followed suit, her voice calm but commanding. "Witness the might of Palmyra! Septem Colles!" Her chains temporarily vanished as light spiraled into a radiant vortex before bursting and raining down, sweeping through the remaining monsters. Essentially nuking the creatures in a dazzling display of power before fading into embers.
Gudako clapped wildly, bouncing on her toes. "Awesome! I hadn't seen those Noble Phantasms yet—great job, you two! I've already seen Salter's and Mash's, but you're all killing it!"
As the dust settled, Cú leaned on his spear, laughing. "That was a blast, Master! You gotta make us some tougher targets next time—maybe a dragon or two."
Salter sheathed her sword, about to speak, when Gudako snapped her fingers. A steaming hamburger materialized in her hand, the scent of grilled meat and melted cheese wafting through the air. She held it out to Salter. "For you. Awesome performance out there."
Salter blinked, eyeing the burger suspiciously before grabbing it and taking a tentative bite. Her eyes widened, pupils dilating as the flavors hit her. In an instant, she was scarfing down the burger, devouring it with an intensity that rivaled her combat ferocity. She licked her fingers clean, then froze, realizing everyone was staring.
"…It was… satisfactory," she muttered, her cheeks faintly pink as she averted her gaze.
Gudako grinned, undeterred by Salter's attempt at nonchalance. Without warning, she scooped Mash up in a bridal carry, eliciting a startled squeak from the Shielder.
"S-Senpai?!" Mash's face flushed bright red, her hands flailing slightly.
"Come on, Mash!" Gudako declared, already striding toward the exit. "We're having cuddles until Olga needs us!"
Mash sputtered but couldn't muster a protest as Gudako carried her off, Fou still perched contentedly on her head. Just before leaving, Gudako glanced back at Zenobia, her lips curling into a playful smirk. She mouthed, "I'd like to see you in my bedroom later."
Zenobia's tan cheeks flushed, her blue eyes widening slightly. As Gudako and Mash disappeared through the door, she turned to Cú, her voice hesitant. "Cú… is it… improper for a Servant to be… intimate with their Master?"
Cú raised an eyebrow, his grin turning mischievous. "Improper? Nah, Master's a prize. If she's got her sights on you, good luck."
Salter, still recovering from her burger, looked up sharply. "…Eh?"
---
The bedroom had become Gudako's personal playground, its space now littered with the remnants of her latest experiments. At the center of the room, Gudako lounged on a conjured beanbag chair, Mash nestled comfortably in her lap. Fou, ever the opportunist, sprawled across Gudako's shoulder, purring softly as she absentmindedly scratched his fluffy ears.
Moments ago, Gudako had been testing her reality-bending powers. First, she tried creating a replica of Thor's hammer, Mjölnir, based off memories of its capabilities. It's weighty head crackling with arcs of lightning as she swung it playfully, sending a gust of wind through the room. Next came Poseidon's trident, its prongs gleaming with an oceanic sheen; when she tapped it against the floor, a small wave of water splashed outward, startling Fou into a surprised hop. Then, in a whimsical turn, she conjured a living jack-o'-lantern, its carved face glowing with an eerie orange light. "Oi, Master, put me in the next fight—I'll scare the pants off those demons!" it cackled, bobbing in the air before she dismissed it with a laugh. Finally, she'd toyed with a freeze ray gun, its icy blasts coating a training dummy she made earlier in a layer of glittering frost before it crumbled under its own weight.
"Alright, that's enough showing off for now," Gudako said with a grin, waving her hand to dismiss her creations. The hammer, trident and freeze ray vanished in a shimmer of light, leaving the room quiet once more. She turned her attention back to Mash, her fingers gently stroking the Shielder's soft hair. Mash's cheeks were faintly pink, her eyes half-closed in contentment as she leaned into Gudako's touch.
"Senpai…" Mash murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. "This is… nice."
Gudako chuckled, pulling Mash closer until their foreheads nearly touched. "Told you cuddles would feel good with me."
"Fou!" the little creature agreed, nuzzling Mash's cheek.
The serene moment was interrupted by the sharp click of boots against the training room floor. Director Olga Marie Animusphere strode in, her coat billowing slightly as she carried a tablet glowing with mission data. Her sharp gaze swept the room, taking in the faint traces of frost and the lingering scent of ozone from Gudako's earlier antics. She froze mid-step, her white hair catching the light as her eyes landed on Gudako and Mash's cozy scene.
"G-Gudako!" Olga stammered, her usual composure faltering. "What is the meaning of this? And what happened to your room? It looks like a storm passed through!"
Gudako flashed a mischievous grin, unfazed by Olga's exasperation. "Just testing my powers, Director! Gotta try things out. Oh, and Mash deserves some TLC, don't you think?"
Mash squeaked, her blush deepening as she sat up slightly. "S-Senpai, please…"
Olga cleared her throat, regaining some of her authoritative demeanor. "Be that as it may, we have serious matters to discuss. Tomorrow, we're deploying to the first Singularity. I expect you and your Servants to be fully prepared."
"Got it, Director!" Gudako said, giving a mock salute. Then, in a flash of impulsiveness, she sprang to her feet, gently setting Mash aside. Before Olga could react, Gudako closed the distance and pulled the Director into a quick hug, planting a playful kiss on her cheek.
Olga's face turned a brilliant shade of red, her eyes wide with shock. "W-What are you doing?!" she sputtered, stumbling back as she clutched her tablet like a lifeline. "This is highly inappropriate behavior for a Master!"
Gudako laughed, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Relax, Olga! Just giving you some TLC too. We're gonna crush that Singularity tomorrow, so don't stress too much, okay?"
Olga's mouth opened and closed, her flustered expression betraying her usually stern facade. "I—I expect professionalism tomorrow!" she managed, turning on her heel to storm out, though her hurried steps betrayed some embarrassment.
Mash, still recovering from her own blush, tugged at Gudako's sleeve. "Senpai, you really shouldn't tease the Director like that…"
Gudako winked, scooping Mash back into her arms. "Oh, she'll be fine. Besides, I've got my favorite Shielder right here to keep me grounded. Ready for more?"
"Fou!" Fou chirped, hopping back onto Gudako's head as Mash let out a resigned but happy sigh.
As the trio settled back into their cozy moment, the training room's lights dimmed slightly, casting a warm glow over them.