A/N:I apologize for the longer-than-usual delay in continuing the story. This start to the year hasn't been kind to me, and because of that, I lost the will to write for a while. To make matters worse, just when I had regained the will to write, that bitch of a neighbor of mine had the brilliant idea of cutting my internet cable!!!
I was without internet for many days just because of her nonsense. I never had a problem with that tramp, and she never complained about my TV's audio (the reason she cut the cable). Only now, after she's slept with a drug addict and had a daughter, is she suddenly worried about the TV's audio.
The thing is, the day this happened, my TV wasn't even loud; I just left it on for a while because I fell asleep, and then I turned it off. And she sees that as reason enough to cause a headache for my whole family!
The whole neighborhood is noisy, but for some reason, she has a problem with my sound!
Finally, these are the reasons why I took so long to come back. Yes, I'm aware of the "continuation" of FGO that Nasu made, but I'll keep my opinions about it to myself.
Another thing, this Valentine's Day event where Andromeda was released, and I have to admit that I can't stop comparing her to Marin Kitagawa, and I was lucky enough to get her using a golden ticket.
Perseus really is a man of good taste because the first time I saw her appearance in the Second Ascension, I had a terrible thought of creating a story just to steal her.
I don't like NTR, just like most other people, but damn, Andromeda is a dangerous temptation for my heart, which is attracted to Gyaru girls.
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Continuing where we left off...
Ritsuka's perspective...
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- Who are you?
The moment those words left my mouth, the unknown girl I was talking to raised an eyebrow in doubt.
- Huh? What do you mean you don't know me? Hehehe, you must be trying to catch me off guard, Ritsuka-senpai, but I've heard I'm completely immune to your jokes and pranks. I'm not the best Valkyrie in the world for anything, so I won't fall for your traps anymore! - Said the unknown girl with a cute, silly smile that gave me a quick urge to pinch her cheeks.
Fortunately, I had the strength to suppress that desire considering the bizarre and strange situation I'm in at the moment.
To make matters worse, I'm starting to feel a strange sensation in my mind. It wasn't hurting, but it was making me a little dizzy, as if my mind was short-circuiting trying to understand the girl in front of me.
"She said she's a Valkyrie? Impossible. If that girl were truly a Valkyrie, I would immediately know upon sensing her presence, which didn't happen. Besides, most of the Valkyries I know act like androids learning human contact. Unlike this girl, who clearly isn't a creation of the old Odin.
Even though I managed to endure the strange sensation in my head, the unknown girl could precisely perceive my subtle change in expression.
- Hmm? Something wrong, Ritsuka-senpai? Could something bad have happened on your return? - The girl said, still with a calm and casual atmosphere, but with a slight tone of concern.
However, before I could answer, the voice of my other "self" alerted me again.
Alter: Master! Now is not the time for you to fall into your weakness for your type of woman, you need to destroy this illusion immediately before your mind collapses!
The insult and warning from my other "self" immediately brought me back to reality, but before I could act another person joins the conversation.
- Tell me your name. Where did you come from? And why are you acting like him?" says a new girl who I also have no idea who she is.
The moment I look at the new girl who entered the scene, I'm paralyzed in surprise for a few seconds for some reason I don't know.
The girl in question has purple hair and purple eyes, but she has an air of a calm storm that initially seems serene, but hides a ferocity that is even charming.
Besides, of course, I have a huge strange feeling that I've seen this woman somewhere before, I just can't say why.
"Tch! This bizarre dizziness is getting annoying..."
It's like I'm hearing subtle noises in my head, but at the same time they're very irritating and bothersome. It's like something is trying to get into my head, but even without success, it's very persistent.
Even though my mind isn't in a good state, I can feel the tension rising, judging by the serious expression of the purple-haired girl.
- Ah! Mei-Senpai! Look! Our dear Ritsuka-senpai is back! Sooner than I expected. - The unknown Valkyrie replied to the girl called Mei.
- Look, I have no idea where I am, but I can be sure I'm not the 'Ritsuka' you're talking about. - I say this after realizing how silly I am talking about an illusion.
Alter: Focus! Master! This illusion is affecting your perception of things too much!
"Tch! Shit, I know!" "But it's really hard to concentrate with these two girls talking to me, and it's like my body and mind are in conflict with each other!"
While I'm arguing with my Alter Ego, the tension between Mei and me worsened, and any moment of dialogue between us ended at that exact moment.
- Hmm? I imagine so. - Mei said, quickly appearing in front of me without a second passing.
"She's fast!"
Mei starts by launching several attacks at me, one aimed at my head, another at my neck and chest, but I fluidly dodge all of them.
"Li Shuwen and Chiron's combat teachings have been very helpful now."
Even though I was able to predict Mei's attacks, she decides to try a kick to the side of my head, but I dodge the attack again.
"Hmm?!"
However, Mei used the moment I dodged her first kick to launch a second kick, forcing me to defend it.
The impact of Mei's blow was strong enough to throw me out of the area I was in, placing me in a place I never expected to be.
I hear the sound of breaking glass and realize that the place I was in was a large and incredibly beautiful spaceship, a sight to behold for a moment, but a name suddenly comes to mind as I see the aircraft from the outside.
"Hyperion..."
I didn't have time to try and figure out how I knew the name of that beautiful spacecraft because I had another big surprise the moment my feet touched the ground.
"Wait a minute... Is that Earth?! If I can see my planet... I'm on the Moon?!"
I look at the ground and see that I'm not on a sidewalk or in a forest, but on the surface of the Moon in space.
Unfortunately, I didn't have time to worry about my location since Mei immediately exited the Hyperion and landed on the lunar surface.
Without missing a beat, she starts running at high speed towards me like thunder, unfocused.
In a few seconds, Mei is already close to me with her thunder katana ready to cut me.
I dodge the first attacks, analyzing her fighting style, which for some reason is very familiar to me, but I ignore that feeling in the middle of the battle.
After a brief analysis and preparation, I summon Black Barrel (in shield form) and block Mei's attack, making a loud impact sound.
The moment Mei's sword connected with my shield caused her to lose her balance and her attack momentum, leaving her completely open for me to attack.
Just as I was about to attack Mei using the front part of the shield on her chest, my body freezes and then my mind is assaulted by images from an unknown memory of mine.
The memory flashed through my head for a moment as if my brain had short-circuited with the information it had just received.
What I saw in my memory was myself clashing swords against someone in a violent storm. Fortunately, I manage to regain control of my body and composure.
Alter: Master! Your mental defenses are weakening with the passage of time! I'm not sure I'll be able to protect you if you continue to hesitate in this pathetic way!
"I know that, damn it! You don't need to remind me!"
I make the Black Barrel disappear in my right hand and then summon Excalibur in the same hand.
(A/N: After the information revealed about the 'essence,' or rather the diagram of Excalibur that Artoria Avalon gave to Ritsuka, and considering that Mash technically used the full power of Excalibur without the seals to destroy the entire planet Chaldeas in Lostbelt Zero! Knowing this, Ritsuka's Excalibur in this story is more or less the same form that Mash used, only in different ways and circumstances. It still impresses me that it was in FGO that the full power of Excalibur without the seals was shown.)
Excalibur manifested in my hands with just the silhouette of the sword; I can manifest it since I can't obtain its physical form.
(A/N: It's basically Excalibur in a light form. Basically, Ritsuka only possesses the concept of Excalibur, except for the actual sword. Note that Excalibur's form is the same as Lord Lorgres's.)
Taking advantage of Mei's still-off guard, I use Artoria's 'Mana Burst' ability plus Richard Lionheart's 'Godspeed' ability.
Using these two abilities simultaneously, I leap at high speed and land above Mei, the hot golden glow of Excalibur shining like a vengeful star of destruction.
- Ahh!!!
The moment I swing the sword on the ground where Mei is, the imaginary energy of Destruction, including my mana, collides with Mei's sword, but the sheer power of my attack is too much for her.
A large explosion of light and flames occurs, and after a few seconds the smoke dissipates, and I no longer see any trace of Mei's life.
"What the hell was that?!"
I put a hand to my forehead, only now registering the sheer bizarreness of that brief combat.
Alter:You need to use the power of Destruction to end this illusion; the longer you're exposed here, the riskier it is.
"Yes, yes, Mom, I know that!"
- Wow... You really showed no mercy to her. Poor Mei, if she knew that her fiancé's darling did this to this version of her, she would be devastated. -
I hear the same strange and unknown girl's voice from before behind me again. No longer listening to the nonsense she's spouting, I point Excalibur at her.
- Who are you really? Why did you put me in this illusion? - I say this with a serious expression and my right eye turning golden.
The girl was surprised for a second until she started laughing, and during her laughter she changed form, no longer appearing as the girl I call 'Kiana,' and I saw her true appearance.
And the moment I saw the fox mask on the corner of her head, I immediately understood that this girl is a follower of Aha.
"Great. That's all I needed, I fell for a Masked Fool's game."
- Awwww, what a pity. I thought it would take you a little longer to figure out the truth, but it seems I underestimated your mental defenses. Tell me, in your brief fight with Mei, did you remember anything? Or were you able to remember the face I was using before? - said the Masked Fool with a very cheerful smile, eager for my answer.
- I have no idea who those two girls are. I've never seen them in my entire life. - I said without hesitation, and the girl looked at me, tilting her head slightly to the side.
- Huh? That would be impossible. You must have remembered something unless... Ah! So the old man's words were correct after all, you really did seal your memories. - Said the Masked Fool, revealing something that surprised me.
"What?! I sealed my own memories? Impossible! She must be lying."
- Tch. That's no fun. It's not fun to participate in a show without at least having the script in hand! Sparkle won't doubt that old man's words anymore, I came here completely for nothing! - The girl called Sparkle starts throwing a tantrum like a child, and I'm totally confused and perplexed.
- Wait a minute. Is the reason you're attacking me just to provoke a reaction from me? - I say this trying to understand why she's here.
- Ding! Ding! Correct answer! But unfortunately I ended up rushing my plans a little, but now that I'm here I'd better go all in, I don't like starting things and finishing them incompletely. - Sparkle said, making a black card appear with a symbol of a city in a storm in the middle.
Then she throws the card into the air, causing the black card to expand and become large. Immediately the surface of the Moon begins to tremble and the ground I'm standing on begins to crack, causing me to fall into the abyss.
"This is beyond a simple illusion..."
Alter:It's a combination of two important factors: the first is that this illusion is placing us in the dream world inside our minds, and the second factor is that this illusion is in accordance with our memories, or rather, with our sealed memories.
"So she wasn't lying?! But how is that possible? I can't see a logical reason for me to have the stupid idea of sealing my own memories!"
After a few seconds of falling, I see that I'm no longer on the Moon and am now on planet Earth in the middle of a strong storm in a city I have no idea where it is.
"Is this Japan? No. I don't see any district or region that I recognize."
After briefly analyzing my new place, I land on the rooftop of a high school.
- Even if you don't have the script, Ritsuka-kun, the show must go on! Do you recognize this city? This school? Probably not, which is a shame, you had so many significant memories here. So many important memories, some good, others much, much worse, hehehe. Aren't you curious to know why your past self did this? Hmm? Why did he choose to abandon everything that happened in Nagazora? - I hear Sparkle's voice echoing throughout the world as if she were everywhere.
"Nagazora..."
For some reason, the city's name leaves me with a strong melancholic feeling, but I keep it to myself and remain silent.
- Hmm? The silent treatment? Hehehe, that serves as an answer too. You know, Ritsuka-kun, you're the kind of fool who, even without a future, still persists against Destiny. Your true role was supposed to be at least the supporting or secondary character of the story's protagonist, but here you are in the main stage along with other protagonists from two stories... A fool like you doesn't come along every day, you know? That's why Aha loves you! You weren't supposed to be in this story with the Astral Express, nor in the story of this city you're in now! Hahaha... You're a true fool, body and soul. - Sparkle's voice gets loud and very excited to the point where I think she's gone crazy.
- I have absolutely no interest in participating in Aha!'s little games. Besides, I have nothing to do with you Masked Fools! - I shout this, looking up at the sky where Sparkle's voice is coming from.
- You still don't understand, Ritsuka-kun. Just by being present in this story, you're already playing the fool; you just haven't realized it yet. Want proof? How about you relive your first failed breakup? With the darling Goddess of Thunder. - The moment I heard this from Sparkle, a huge lightning bolt struck behind me, and after looking back, I saw Mei again, but she was drastically different.
"Mei... Again?! What kind of outfit is she wearing? Wait a minute... Is that a large samurai hand with a large katana in it? That's so cool... Another thing, she has horns now?! I even want to hold those horns."
Alter:Focus, Master!!!
"I know! I'm focused, damn it! It was just an observation; it doesn't mean I'm suddenly going to put my hands on her horns, however tempting the idea may be."
Ignoring and setting aside the ridiculous and tempting thought I had about Mei's horns, I pay more attention to Mei's new appearance.
"Sparkle said she's a Thunder Goddess? Like the Storm God Susanoo? I can see certain similarities..."
- You probably don't remember this, but that was one of those moments that honestly could be called a bad breakup between two stubborn and protective people. It's a shame I wasn't there at the time; I would have prepared some special popcorn to watch that drama. Hahaha!!! - I hear Sparkle's voice echoing in the sky again, and for some reason, the way she described the situation irritated me a little.
The sound of lightning echoes again, and a heavy rain begins to fall on both of us. Soon after, I see Mei summoning a katana in her hands, and I hold Excalibur with both hands, ready to fight Mei again.
Neither of us spoke a word; it was as if words were unnecessary for this battle.
*Clank*
*Clank*
*Clank*
Our swords clashed, making a loud impact sound with each collision. We both increased the intensity of our attacks, causing destruction around us on the school rooftop.
At the same time, I began to hear voices in my ears, both mine and Mei's.
(A/N: The words in bold are the memories)
So your best solution was to join Kev@# along with the rest of the World Serpent?! You made that decision without even telling me, Mei! What's the point of me being the Captain if you're going to make such a drastic decision alone?!
I did it to save you and Kiana... I didn't have time to think about anything else...
So you decided to be selfish at this moment without thinking about the consequences?!
Hmph. That's very rich coming from you, of all people, judging me for bieng selfish.
*Clank*
*Clank*
Mei steps away from me and draws her giant katana, making a horizontal slash, which I dodge by jumping upwards.
What do you think Kiana will feel the moment she finds out you're gone?! Did you think about that too?!
Yes. I did. But she'll have you by her side. You'll both be safe and protect each other. That's all that matters to me. You have to understand the reasons why I'm doing this!
Just because I understand your reason doesn't mean I approve of your decision, Raiden Mei!
*Clank!*
Mei takes advantage of the moment I'm in the air and makes a vertical attack, forcing me to defend in mid-air. The impact of the attack was strong enough to throw me into the air, making me fall onto the floor of a soccer field.
However, after a few seconds I return to the rooftop, walking in the air, creating void floors in the air I'm stepping on.
Ever since we met, you've always been like this...
Even when you're weak, you always manage to move forward... You manage to keep a smile.
You're always there to protect us, to keep us safe!
Yet every time I look at you, you're carrying the burden of the whole world, putting your life closer to death each time!
Do you think I wanted this, Mei?! Everything I've done and do, everything I sacrifice, is to guarantee a future for you, Kiana, and the others!
I refuse! The future of this world means nothing to me... I won't live in a future without you in it!!!
With the storm's rain getting stronger than usual, Mei and I began to fight in the air at high speed, causing much destruction to buildings and houses affected by our attacks.
*Clank*
*Clank*
*Clank*
It got to a point where I managed to kick Mei in the chest, sending her flying upwards very quickly. However, she quickly recovered, hovering in the air, and then I could see lightning enveloping Mei.
I don't need to be a genius to guess that she's about to use her strongest attack. I look at Mei, who is preparing her attack while standing in the air.
- Time to destroy this damn Illusion once and for all. - I say, preparing to use my Noble Phantasm.
My right eye begins to glow brightly, and the energy of Destruction begins to envelop Excalibur, covering it in a scorching golden flame with a huge pillar of hot light, becoming extremely visible throughout the world.
- EXCALIBUR!!! - bom I let out a shout and unleash the Noble Phantasm towards Mei, who countered with her own attack.
*BOOM!!!!*
However, the end was inevitable. Mei lost, and Excalibur's lightning reached the sky, piercing the illusion of reality. Immediately afterward, a massive explosion of destruction engulfed the entire city, sparing no one, not even me.
(A/N: Basically, Ritsuka did what Acheron did in her PV when she used her scarlet sword.)
However, even after that illusion was shattered, I can still hear one last voice, mine and Mei's.
That day, your arms stopped me from falling to my end. You changed my destiny the moment we met. You are someone I can never allow myself to lose in my life.
If keeping you safe is a sin, then I will gladly become a sinner.
I have nothing more to say to you, Mei... Go. Face the consequences of your decision with yourself, while I face mine.
Goodbye, Ritsuka/Mei.
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To be continued... Next chapter: Bite Down! Ritsuka vs. Gudako!
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