The two walked side by side beneath the shimmering neon lights, in a silent harmony that mirrored the calm before the whirlpool of energy around them. With each step, the true meaning of the phrase they had often heard became clearer: "The city that never sleeps."
It wasn't just poetic exaggeration — it was a living reality pulsing through the entertainment district of Itogami Island, where human life intertwined with the presence of demons in a delicate balance. While humans ruled the daylight, the world of the Demons thrived in the shadows of the night, creating a never-ending cycle of life without pause or fatigue.
The city glowed as if drawing its energy directly from the moon. Loud laughter, drunken giggles, the pounding music spilling from bars and nightclubs, mixed with the clatter of slot machines, the cries of gamers in arcade halls, and the chatter of pedestrians moving from street to street — as if sleep was a foreign concept.
The aroma of grilled food and fresh sweets filled the air, wafting from food carts lined along the roadside. Light steam mingled with the salty sea breeze blowing in from the nearby port. Girls in glittering outfits, men in long coats, and mysterious nocturnal creatures with glowing eyes — all moved in a chaotic symphony of vitality and strangeness.
And within this enchanting chaos, there was neither a true night nor a defined morning — time itself felt frozen in an eternal moment of celebration.
"So, is this a Master and Servant situation happening here?" asked Yuri, staring at the tranquil park on the edge of the bustling city.
"Kind of," Akira replied quietly, placing his hand gently on the ground. "I discovered them because of the recent disappearance of demons in the city. It seems they're using them to siphon off magical energy, likely because this Master doesn't have enough mana to support their Servant… or their Servant's Noble Phantasm."
"And from what my senses are picking up, this Servant possesses a very powerful Noble Phantasm — one that requires an immense amount of mana to operate," Akira added as a magical barrier began forming over the island like a dome, clearly to defend against any aerial assaults — suggesting the Servant had either a flying fortress or castle.
Dark violet threads of light rose from the island's edges, interweaving high above until they formed a semi-transparent dome that pulsed slowly, like a living being breathing. The air subtly trembled under the surge of mana, and everyone in the city — whether human or demon — felt the odd vibrations deep in their souls. Some even paused, looking up at the sky with unease, unable to explain why.
"Interesting… I wonder which is stronger: the Workshop's Ship or that Flying Fortress," said Yuri, her battle intent peaking.
"That flying fortress is directly above us. The barrier doesn't stop anyone from entering or leaving, but it blocks projectiles or any strikes that might reach the island," Akira said while brushing dust from his hands. "Since you're fired up, I'll let you play with the Servant. I'll handle their Master."
"Hah?! You always take the boring parts!" Yuri muttered lightly, but her wide grin and gleaming eyes couldn't hide the excitement boiling within her. Suddenly, a black and green sword appeared in her hands — Black March and Green April — as if responding to her thirst for battle. "Alright then… Let's see what this Servant can do."
BOOM!!
The ground beneath Yuri cracked with a muffled explosion as she shot into the sky at a speed faster than light, aiming to pierce through the barrier Akira had erected — and she did, effortlessly.
Upon breaking through and reaching the sea of clouds above, a floating fortress or castle lay ahead. But it wasn't just a castle — it was an inverted palace, an eerie blend of beauty and grotesqueness.
"Hanging Gardens of Babylon…" Akira murmured quietly, his eyes glinting slightly. He owned one in his vault, though it required a colossal amount of magical power to sustain — and it was unthinkable for Semiramis to build one voluntarily in a normal Holy Grail War.
"Did you use a Command Spell to force her to build it?" Akira asked, staring toward the nearby forest — this park hadn't been chosen randomly; he knew the Master's magical workshop was hidden there.
Within the forest, a pair of glowing blue eyes watched him intently.
"Of course. There's no way I'd ever trust the first person in history to use poison," echoed a deep male voice as the glowing eyes shifted calmly toward Akira.
Moonlight spilled over the figure emerging from the trees, revealing his features: black hair tied in a high, short ponytail, a pair of stunning blue eyes, multiple earrings — even on his lip — and modern clothing that contrasted with most Magi, making it clear he was a young man.
"Miyamura Izumi… or should I say, the one reincarnated as Miyamura Izumi?" asked Akira, studying the man in front of him — a man whose aura and essence clearly differed from the original Miyamura Izumi known in his past life. Further investigation revealed him to be a reincarnate.
"It's fine. I am Izumi now, so I'd prefer if you call me that," Izumi replied calmly, eyeing Akira from head to toe. "So… should I call you King of Heroes, Gilgamesh, or will you tell me the name you've taken in this form?"
"Akira. Nifuji Akira," he replied indifferently, his gaze cool and unbothered — as if staring at an insect he could crush at any moment.
...
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