The Pit of Corpses
"Hmm, this stone wall is about right, but breaking through it might be troublesome."
"Don't worry, leave it to me. It's still a bit difficult for you guys."
"No, Captain, let me handle it. Save your chakra. If our assumptions are correct, there could be a Jōnin inside. We can't afford to face one when you're already drained."
"But your technique has serious side effects. Are you sure it's fine?" Nakamura asked with a frown.
"Don't worry, Captain. This time, I'll use another method. The cost is smaller—within my tolerance."
"…Is that so? Then be careful."
"Understood."
Shirō raised his hand.
"Projection—begin."
Several sharp blades shimmered into existence above him. As his hand fell, the projected weapons shot toward the stone wall, embedding themselves deep into the rock.
"Is that all?" Tai Yi asked after a pause, staring at the wall that remained intact.
"No. Wait a moment." Shirō turned, snapped his fingers, and muttered, "Bang."
A thunderous explosion tore through the air. The ground shook, dust billowed, and a fierce wind roared past them.
Everyone turned to look at Shirō—who had flinched back, wide-eyed.
"…Wait. Wasn't that your own technique? You didn't know it would do that?" Tai Yi asked, stunned.
"Well… I expected something, but not that much power," Shirō admitted awkwardly. He had intended to show off, but ended up startling himself.
In truth, he should have realized it earlier. The suppressive force of this world wasn't strong, so the Noble Phantasms he projected manifested with far greater destructive power than he had accounted for. Even if his projections were a rank lower than the originals, the result in this world made them frighteningly close to the prototypes.
But Shirō's expectations were still based on what Archer (EMIYA) displayed in the Type-Moon world. Here, he had underestimated the consequences—and now, he was the first to be shaken by his own attack.
"Enough," Nakamura cut in sharply, seeing Tai Yi about to tease Shirō further. "The enemy has reacted. We're moving in."
"Right." Tai Yi swallowed back his grin as enemy movement stirred within the ruins. Rare as the chance to mock Shirō was, they had more pressing matters.
The group rushed forward. Nakamura darted in first, prepared to intercept any Jōnin-level opponent.
---
"What's going on?!" An elder slammed his palm against the table. He glared at the shinobi beside him—one wearing the headband of the Hidden Hot Water Village.
"Lord Kazama, I warned you—nothing is absolute. Especially not against Konoha shinobi. The best course now is to release the test subjects. They'll buy us time."
"Buy time? We can't win. They've sent a Jōnin."
"You don't need to remind me. The guard team has already gone, but they won't hold against Jōnin. This… will fall to you."
The subordinate stiffened. "My lord… I am not his match either."
"Hmph. I don't expect you to win. You only need to delay him. That is an order, Kawada."
"…Yes, my lord. Understood."
Kawada's heart sank, but he knew his fate. As a shinobi, duty outweighed survival. Even if it meant death, he would guard this place.
---
"Summoning Technique!"
Blue smoke burst forth as Shirō summoned his serpent.
"Blue Snake, they're yours. Hold them."
"As you command."
"Everyone else, move!" Shirō barked. "We need to get inside before they destroy their research."
"Yes!"
With Blue Snake intercepting the bulk of the enemy, the team advanced smoothly. Scattered stragglers were cut down in moments.
But suddenly, Shirō stopped at the mouth of a tunnel. His expression hardened.
"What is it—?" Tai Yi began, but then froze as he followed Shirō's gaze. His words choked off into silence.
"…No way… They… did all of this?!"
The others arrived behind them. Even Yuhi, usually calm, activated his Sharingan involuntarily at the sight.
Before them yawned a massive pit—filled with corpses. The excavation was deliberate; the pit was carved specifically to dispose of bodies. And it was almost full.
They had seen corpses before. In wartime, shinobi were surrounded by death—battlefields littered with the fallen, civilians caught in crossfire. But this… this was different.
This wasn't war. This was a slaughter.
Men, women, children—people of all ages had been thrown here like discarded tools. Victims, captured and sacrificed for experimentation.
Shirō's jaw tightened. So this is why human experimentation is forbidden… Just looking at it sickened him. Lives reduced to fodder.
"Let's go," he said coldly, forcing down the churn in his gut. "We can't let them escape."
"…Right," Yuhi muttered, his Sharingan burning crimson.
---
A group of enemy shinobi blocked the passage ahead.
"Well, well. More brats from Konoha. You're too late to turn back."
"Don't underestimate them," another hissed. "They're Leaf shinobi. Strong ones."
"Sorry," Shirō said flatly, stepping forward. "This road's one-way." He charged without hesitation.
"Tch. Arrogant brat! The three leading the charge are ours—take them down!"
"Perfect. We have three captains. Numbers are on our side."
Steel rang against steel as kunai clashed. Shirō engaged the weakest-looking of the three captains. His movements were sharp, but he couldn't deny it: Yuhi and Tai Yi still outclassed him. The Sharingan was too powerful an advantage, and they had more experience.
So Yuhi pressed the strongest enemy, while Tai Yi handled the second. Shirō, though paired with the weakest, pushed with everything he had.
"Oh? You really think you have the advantage?" Shirō smirked coldly, locking blades with his foe.