Berserker (Fate/Crossover - William Adams)

**Berserker** (バーサーカー, *Bāsākā*) is the servant of ??? in the ??? Holy Grail War.

*"So you want to fight? Then come."* - William Adams

## Profile

### Identity

Berserker's true identity is **William Adams**, an Irish born, English navigator who served under the Tokugawa regime after being shipwrecked in Japan. He helped propagate trading throughout the country and became one of the few known foreign samurai.

Growing up in a remote Irish village, he meets a guardian spirit called Saoirse who was born from human prayers. Saoirse saved him from death and now prevents him from dying and gifted him with the ability to see the normally invisible spirits. He was originally a pirate hired by Elizabeth I to find Amrita, powerful spiritual stones, to help fuel the war efforts to defeat Spain. William is held prisoner in the Tower of London. Escaping thanks to Saoirse, he confronts the alchemist Edward Kelley. Kelley captures Saoirse and flees to Japan, intending to gather the country's Amrita.

William pursues him and eventually lands in Japan. He encounters Hanzō, who explains the country's political situation and proposes an alliance - Hanzō will help William to track Kelley, if William will help with the fight against the Oni. William agrees and goes to Kyushu, where he saves Nagamasa from yokai. He is aided in this battle by Nekomata, a cat spirit. Soon, William's exploits are noticed by Ieyasu who then decides to meet the man.

Meanwhile, tensions between Ieyasu and Mitsunari continue to rise, leading to the battle at Sekigahara. During the battle, William confronts Yoshitsugu, Sakon, and Mitsunari himself, learning that Kelley seeks to resurrect Nobunaga. William pursues Kelley into the reconstructed Azuchi Castle, where he fights and defeats Yasuke.

When he reaches Kelley, Nobunaga has been brought back from the dead. After Nobunaga decides to spare William and die again, Kelley is incensed to use Saoirse's energy to summon Yamata no Orochi. William slays it and kills Kelley. Before his death, the alchemist reveals that he was working for John Dee, the Queen's adviser. William travels back to the England and confronts the man. After defeating him, William receives a vision of Hanzō dying at Ōsaka Castle and decides to come back to Japan, and manage to save him in time.

After learning that a Spanish woman named Maria had been manipulating entire events using Amrita stones, such as using Masamune Date and enacting the Battle of Osaka, William and his allies begin to hunt and arrest her. He is later aided by one of Toyotomi’s warrior Yukimura Sanada, whom William fought before learning Maria’s manipulation and had Sasuke Sarutobi as a body double to aid William. After he and Yukimura stops an out of control Lady Yodo, who was transformed into a Kyūbi by Maria, William was told by Yukimura, so the latter can die peacefully with Lady Yodo under the burning castle. Knowing that Maria still on the loose, William tells Hanzō that their mission to arrest her is still not over.

Continue to a near end chapters of Nioh 2, William and Saiorse helps the player protagonist nicknamed Hide from Otakemaru’s possession, splitting the ghostly demon apart from the half-yokai protagonist. As Maria lures Otakemaru to possess what appears to be Hideyoshi Toyotomi’s corpse, Hide let himself/herself being possessed by the evil ghost demon once more to destroy it from inside, at the same time Hideyoshi fully revived as his purified-self and recovers Hide, but prefers to return to the afterlife, while William manages to arrest Maria in time. By the end of the story, it reveals that William is married to Okatsu and gives birth to English-Japanese son, who now inherits his mother’s guardian spirit.

### Appearance

William is a physically well built man of European descent with white hair and blue eyes, characteristics that stand out to his Japanese comrades. He initially is shown with stubbles on his chin and his hair tied up.

### Personality

William is a stalwart warrior who rarely shows fear. He faces any adversity with unflinching tenacity. When not in battle, he is observant, thoughtful and soft-spoken in his foreign surroundings. Though William starts his quest in Japan fighting for his survival, his ensuing adventures fosters an unwavering heart of righteousness. He hopes to save victims within the human and spiritual realm.

## Abilities

A very experienced hunter of demons, and he is an incredibly quick learner being capable of surpassing the best of the best in any sort of field in a very short period of time so long as it involves combat; however, this does not extend to things outside of combat. His Japanese is known to be crude, and this even with the nekomata's aid.

### Skills

#### Class Skills

* Madness Enhancement (E Rank): Madness enhancement placed upon Berserker at the lowest level. Retains normal capacity for thought in exchange for lacking other benefits. Seems to manifest solely as an incredible tenacity towards his goal that cannot be explained in a rational way.

#### Personal Skills

* Host of the Guardian Spirit (A++ Rank): Berserker is a man that in life was bound to a Guardian Spirit. An ethereal being which manifests using the power called ‘Amrita’, a form of magical energy that manifests from the clash of spirits and from the sentiments held by people, capable of crystalizing into something call ‘spirit stones’ which are said to be able to ‘grant wishes in exchange for ones humanity’.

His specific Guardian Spirit is named Saoirse, named for Freedom, which resembles the Merrow of Celtic legend. It has been with William all his life, and its incredible abilities are part of the reason for his success as a pirate. Specifically Saoirse has incredible power when it comes to the detection of Amrita, and can even safeguard William’s spirit and reconstruct his body from the same energy. However, when summoned with William, Saoirse is incapable of the latter.

Additionally, Saoirse is capable of manifesting in various ways, from usage of specific magical talismans to bring it forth with its impressive control of water and Amrita, or to invoke it within his weapons, granting them incredible power and protecting William from harm for a time.

Saoirse is more than just family to William, and the two have bond that cannot be described with mere words. Because of this, should Saoirse be separated from William by the mechanization of a cruel magus, he will stop at nothing to bring them together once more.

And pray for any soul that stands in his way.

* Eye of the Mind (True) (B+ Rank): The ability to see a path to victory which is forged through experience. Berserker in life died countless times, and each time was brought back to life by the blessing of his Guardian Spirit. Because of this, his combat experience far outstrips even those that have lived far longer. He is one who experienced loss, victory, death and life, and has continued onward ever improving. For Berserker, So long there is even a 1% chance of a victory, this ability will allow him to see it within his mind’s eye.

* Expert of Many Specializations (B Rank):William, in his quest though the lands of Japan, encountered many enemies, both of human and monster. And yet, each time he encounter a foe, he had learned more. Sword, duel blades, spear, axes, hammers, kusarigama, odachi, tonfa, bow, rifles, hand cannons, ninjutsu and Onmyo magic.

He learned all he could about the arts of combat of this land, all to push him to his goal. However, when compared to sole masters of the arts he might be seen as wanting, specifically in the ninja arts or magics of this land. But do not be fooled, while his lacks the inhuman skill and talent that many servants possess, he is certainly, without a doubt, someone who is to be feared and respected.

* Mystery Slayer (A Rank): During the period of unification of Japan, William worked in the shadows. While he was known to many as a peerless warrior, he was far more respected for his strength against Yokai. This knowledge, while not wide spread, was held within the hearts of nearly all the lords of this era. Slaying recreations of legendary monsters, the Yamada no Orochi and Nine Tailed Fox formed by magic fueled by Amrita, by his own hand, he carved away the darkness that dwelled in japan. Because of this, he boosts incredible effectiveness against beings that dwell within mystery.

### Noble Phantasm

#### **Nioh; "One who Slays Evil"**

William traveled though the lands of Japan, all in search of his dear Saoirse whom was taken from him. Known to all as the anjin, he fought and slayed his way though not only the dens of monsters, but battlefields. And in the end, when his task was finally complete, he dedicated himself to protecting that land he traveled, guarding it from monsters within its borders… and those from beyond.

Because of this, he was given another name. Not one truly spoken to his face, but in words between lords and warriors. Nioh, the righteous guardians of the Gautama Buddha that slay evil. This is what he is, the manifestation of his legends. A Noble Phantasm that has no activation, but rather is represented by William’s continued existence.

Protection from evil, power against those with dark hearts, and an endless arsenal of weapons and tools to do what is needed. He collects curses, carried within Amrita, and purifies them to enhance his own strength. The more he fights, the greater his power becomes. His skin becomes as mountain stones, his blades carve steel and rock. The more he clashes, the more he truly becomes less like a man and more what he was whispered to be.

When the process is complete his powers grow tremendously. And perhaps, most amazingly of all, he can call upon the kongōsho, the Vajra itself shaped into a blade. With it, he strikes down evil, for he is Nioh.

## References

https://koei.fandom.com/wiki/William\_Adams

https://hero.fandom.com/wiki/William\_Adams

https://outskirtsbattledomewiki.com/index.php/wiki-rules?view=article&id=5314:character-profile-william-adams&catid=8

https://forums.spacebattles.com/threads/summon-a-servant-mark-vi-the-dark-six-f-sn-crossover-servants.370875/page-327?post=64802930#post-64802930