Beta read by Shigiya, FabledLife, Paragon of Awesomeness and GamerCrusher55
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-Demon Capital Tokyo-
Why was she there? What was someone like Oboro even doing at the cafe? That question continued to play in Asagi's mind again and again the moment the two of them crossed eyes. It was as if the world around her had turned quiet, and rather than standing in a busy cafe, she was back in her house, where the demons surrounded her along with the transformed corpse of her lover. She barely heard the conversation or even Sakura calling her name, and made a decision upon realising what Oboro was trying to do. Talking to the owner of the cafe so casually in front of her, presenting a clear threat that could not be ignored and one she would not let linger any longer. For the moment the vile woman left, she wasted no time following her.
The chase itself was quite short and she managed to pursue her target without losing sight of her.
She went deeper and deeper into the area until no one could be found around her.
Asagi sprinted through the narrow alleyway, weaving around overflowing trash bins and stacks of old wooden crates without slowing for even a heartbeat. Only moments earlier, she had caught sight of a familiar shadow slipping between the buildings before disappearing from view. That single glimpse had been enough. There was no mistaking that figure. Every instinct sharpened as she pushed harder, boots striking the damp pavement in quick succession while her eyes searched every rooftop, doorway, and intersection for the woman she had hunted for so long.
Then she saw her.
Standing calmly at the opposite end of the alley, framed by the afternoon light, was a woman with violet hair. The distance between them vanished almost instantly. Asagi launched herself forward without hesitation, her hand slipping beneath the folds of her dress to retrieve the slim dagger hidden there. The blade flashed as she closed the final few meters, twisting her body into a swift horizontal slash aimed straight across Oboro's neck.
The strike passed clean through.
There was no resistance.
The woman's body dissolved into a cloud of dark smoke that scattered into the air before her eyes.
"Hehehe… Did you truly think it would be that easy?"
The mocking laughter echoed from every direction at once, making it impossible to pinpoint its source.
"You haven't changed at all, Asagi. I could feel your killing intent from halfway across the district." The voice lingered between the buildings, carrying the same smug amusement it always had. "You want to murder me, don't you? Tear me apart piece by piece… rip off my limbs… crush my skull until nothing remains but paste. Isn't that what you've been dreaming about every single day?" A soft chuckle followed. "Unfortunately for you, none of that is going to happen. I've grown rather tired of indulging you. From here on out, you can consider me as being officially done playing with kid gloves."
The Taimanin remained silent, dagger still held at the ready while her gaze swept across every rooftop and patch of shadow. Not a single unnecessary movement betrayed her emotions, yet her grip around the weapon tightened until her knuckles turned pale.
"You won't be alive by then," she replied at last, every word calmly spoken, but did not hide the venom in them. "You're going to die. Here and now."
Another laugh drifted through the alley, louder this time.
"My, my… still so confident." The unseen woman allowed the silence to linger for a moment before continuing. "That cafe owner is quite an interesting man, isn't he?"
For the first time since arriving, Asagi's composure cracked.
"He has nothing to do with this!" The words came out immediately. "He's just an ordinary civilian."
"Oh?" Oboro's amusement only deepened. "Since when has being an ordinary civilian ever stopped anyone from getting caught in the middle of our affairs? Besides, a mere shopkeeper somehow manages to attract the attention of one remarkable individual after another. I'd say that's a rather unusual talent. Whether he understands that himself… well, I suppose I'll find out eventually."
The voice shifted again, impossible to locate as it drifted lazily through the empty passage.
"And now I've learned something else." Another quiet laugh echoed around her. "Your little sister works there as well. How convenient. Perhaps I'll stop by later. We can sit down, have a pleasant conversation… maybe even enjoy a nice cup of coffee together."
No reply came.
The dagger remained raised while murderous intent spread through the narrow alley, but there was nothing to strike. Every doorway stood empty. Every rooftop remained still. The laughter gradually faded until only silence remained.
Several more seconds passed before Asagi finally lowered her weapon. One last glance swept across the abandoned passage, confirming what she already knew. Oboro had vanished completely.
Turning away, she quietly left the alley, hands clenched tightly.
"I'll kill you before you lay another finger on the people around me," she whispered into the empty street. "That's a promise."
…
"Onee-sama!"
Pulled out of her musing as she stepped out of the alley, the dark-haired Taimanin whipped her head around to see Sakura run over, her face etched with worry. Asagi stared at her little sister, emotions churning in her mind, all of which she did her best to control as Sakura eventually caught up.
"That woman… was she…"
At that moment, she knew that she had made a mistake, acting far too rashly when she saw Oboro.
"Yeah, she's the one who attacked our house. That was Oboro." Asagi said, feeling her strength suddenly leave her as if her legs turned to jelly. Not even caring about the dirty roads or the puddles on the ground, she gently leaned herself against the nearby alley wall for support and sat down, dirtying her clothes.
The moment of utter fury she had just experienced had grown so intense that it momentarily blinded her as her body raged, forced to follow Oboro. It was nothing short of shell shock that she had not acted in the cafe, and before her mind caught up, her body had exploded with force.
But now, she was so tired and wired up at the same time — she could feel her hands shaking from the turmoil of emotions, not even bothering to hide how she felt about what happened, forgetting how she wanted to keep Sakura out of the loop.
"It was her; she's the one who killed Kyousuke, wasn't she…?" Sakura whispered under her breath with a more somber voice finally beginning to connect the dots, her face growing dark as she stared at the floor.
Asagi wanted to deny it, but felt a deep sickening guilt to the very pit of her stomach as she tried to get the words out about what truly happened — for it was not Oboro who killed him but rather herself. No matter who plotted what in the background to orchestrate what happened at that house, at the end of the day, the one who had ended his life was her and no one else.
"This is not good. What was she even doing here?"
"It could have been a coincidence, but knowing Oboro… No, I refuse to believe that, and even if it was, it probably doesn't matter anymore. She is either after you or Emiya-san."
"WHAT!? Why? He has nothing to do with this, and was the one least involved even after he got caught in the crossfire—"
"—It's most likely to torture us, committing the same act as she had with…. I still can't believe how far she's fallen since leaving Gosha Village… She seems obsessed with torturing me and anyone and anything connected to me. She's just a sadistic monster."
"You've got to be kidding me. I've heard of corrupt assholes the Taimanin have hunted, but for one to become a deranged homicidal sadistic stalker is just…"
"I guess she never got over how I killed her, or I guess, wounded her. Maybe she's trying to make you suffer also, since she knows it will hurt me. Either way, it can't be a good thing that she knows Emiya-san is connected to us; his life is in danger."
"Is that why you suddenly accepted the offer to work there? To protect him?"
Asagi stared in the direction Oboro had vanished, answering her sister, "I'm going to kill her if it's the last thing I do. Knowing where she might appear is more than I can ask for, but now that Oboro also knows about his cafe and that you work there, it will be prime ground for her to make a move. She's probably already calling her subordinates to scout the place. Now I have to protect you both on top of killing her. To be honest, getting you both underground is probably the better bet if we could help it, but…"
Then she'd miss her chance to lure her in and kill her.
This just sealed the deal, Asagi thought. That woman could not be allowed to live any longer, feeling her mind already unable to let this matter go. She knew she had to deal with that bitch one way or the other, or else the peace Kyousuke had wished for her would for sure never find her.
"…That day when you left and got hurt, you went out to kill her, didn't you?" Sakura asked as she helped her sister get back up. Staring back at those clear sky blue eyes so pure and full of concern for her, it became harder to think of a lie to stop Sakura from digging further. She knew that if she were to keep any more hidden, then the trust her sister had in her would get so damaged that a rift could possibly form between them.
Even though it would most likely keep her safe, she just did not want to betray her any more ways. "Sakura, I'm sorry that I haven't been fully honest with you. I just… if you did something foolish and acted too quickly, then things could have been much worse."
"Why are you so certain that I'd go too far? Do you really not trust me at all?"
She had to say, "No, it's not that, but that day I left… I-I was actually trying to save someone, not just kill Oboro."
"What?"
"Do you remember Murasaki?"
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-Igawa Residence-
Several days passed before the day of the chaos arena even finally came, Asagi's goal being set into motion and there being no point of return.
Long enough for Sakura to process Murasaki's capture, be shocked, and hopefully enough to convince her not to ask rashly.
Deep into the night at the Igawa house, the room she once shared with Kyousuke was lit only by a single lamp resting on the bedside table. Its faint glow stretched across the neatly arranged equipment covering the bed. Throwing stars had been sorted into small groups, smoke bombs rested beside coils of wire, daggers were lined up by size, while several spare battle outfits had been folded. The black-haired Taimanin moved from one item to the next without rushing, inspecting every weapon for chips, loose fittings, or anything that might fail her once the fighting began.
Eventually, her attention settled on her usual combat suit. Carefully lifting it from the bed, she ran her fingers across the torn sections left behind by her encounter with Oboro. The damage was obvious, but thankfully limited to only a few areas where the fabric had been sliced apart. After examining every seam, she released a quiet sigh.
"It doesn't look that bad. Another layer over it should be enough."
She folded the suit back into place. Unlike previous missions, very few of her throwable weapons had actually been used during the escape. The pouches remained well stocked, leaving her with more than enough equipment for another infiltration.
Silence returned to the room.
For several long moments, she simply stared toward a small wooden box resting near the edge of the bed. Reaching for it with both hands, the lid was slowly lifted, revealing a familiar blade inside. Dark, dried blood from repeated uses over the years still stained portions of the steel despite repeated attempts to clean it. The sight alone caused her movements to slow. Her fingertips gently traced along the flat of the blade, stopping well before the sharpened edge.
"…I missed you."
The whisper barely left her lips.
Closing her eyes, she remained there for several slow breaths before wrapping her hand firmly around the weapon's hilt and lifting it from the box. The hesitation that had briefly appeared disappeared just as quickly.
"I'll kill her tonight… even if it's the last thing I do."
"You won't be doing it alone."
The unexpected voice came from behind.
Turning toward the doorway, Asagi found Sakura standing there already dressed for battle. The familiar yellow combat suit fit perfectly, its armored sections secured tightly around her limbs while the rest of the outfit remained flexible enough for a Taimanin's movements. Judging by the determined look in the younger woman's eyes, this was not an impulsive decision made moments ago.
Her gaze lingered on the outfit for a second before narrowing slightly.
"Where did you get that?"
"I've had it for quite a while." Sakura stepped fully into the room, showing off her outfit consisting of a latex-like fabric similar to her own combat gear, but this one more in the shape of a leotard. With bright orange add-ons similar to a skirt and white metal leg guards that did little to tone down the overall in-your-face design. "I ordered it from the village last year and had it delivered here."
The answer confirmed exactly what Asagi had expected. While the bright colours were a bit too much, they aligned with her little sister's personality. Rather than argue immediately, the older sister quietly turned back toward the bed and resumed checking her equipment, hoping the conversation would end there.
"It isn't a good idea."
"I don't want to have this discussion again."
The conviction in Sakura's voice made it obvious she had no plans on backing away from this mission or getting involved.
"I already made myself clear before. Kyousuke wasn't your family alone. He was mine too. I want to avenge him just as much as you do. Don't even try to stop me from going by using the excuse of me not unlocking my shadow art yet. Because I guess that I have done so already. It's speed-related like yours, and it will be useful for stealth. I am ready, onee-san."
"Your shadow art? When did you—no, I'll ask for the details later. The people waiting for us aren't ordinary demons anymore." Without looking back, Asagi secured another pouch onto her belt before continuing. "They're monsters capable of killing us before we even realize what's happening. I barely managed to escape the last time."
"If I'd been there, both of us would've had a much easier time getting Murasaki out."
For a brief moment, thoughts drifted back to the mysterious man who had intervened during her escape. The encounter had left behind far more questions than answers. Even now, she still couldn't determine who he truly was or why he had helped her. One conclusion, however, remained impossible to ignore.
Even if Sakura had been there…
…neither of them would've stood a chance against him.
But he wasn't their enemy, at least she hoped so. Yet fear continued to dominate her thoughts whenever she thought about that man. "Hah." After several long seconds of silence, she finally fastened the last pouch onto her belt before turning to face her younger sister once more. "…Fine."
Relief immediately appeared across Sakura's face, though it disappeared just as quickly when Asagi raised a finger.
"But you'll follow every order I give. No hesitation. No arguments. If I tell you to retreat, you retreat. If I tell you to stay hidden, you stay hidden. The moment you ignore me, you're going back."
A nod followed.
"I understand. I'll remember every word." A faint smile appeared across the blonde's face. "And I'll prove to you that I'm more than capable of taking care of myself."
For the first time since the conversation had begun, Asagi returned the gesture with a small nod. She still wasn't convinced that bringing Sakura along was the right decision, but it had become obvious there was no changing the younger woman's mind. Arguing any further would only waste valuable time. What mattered now was making sure they were as prepared as possible before stepping into another place where a single mistake could cost them everything.
After several moments of quiet thought, the elder Taimanin finally spoke. "We'll see. This isn't the time to prove ourselves or settle personal feelings. Our only priority is rescuing Murasaki. Nothing else comes before that." The thought of what the young woman might have endured during her captivity made her stomach tighten. Every possibility that crossed her mind was worse than the last. If something irreversible had already happened to her old friend, she wasn't sure she would ever be able to forgive herself. Then there was the matter of Oboro's control over her.
Even if they succeeded in rescuing Murasaki, the curse controlling her would remain. It did not seem to be as advanced as the one on Kyousuke or even the same kind… but she still couldn't be sure. Asagi silently considered every possibility before arriving at the same conclusion she had reached countless times already. The only realistic way to free her was to either kill Oboro or capture her alive. Holding on to that objective, she looked toward Sakura once more. "Get yourself ready. The Chaos Arena event begins in a few hours, but I don't intend to be scrambling at the last minute."
"I'll be ready!"
Asagi slipped out of the room and pulled the door shut behind her. The apartment went quiet. She crossed to the wardrobe and changed without thinking about it, trading her clothes for the skin-tight purple bodysuit, the latex pulling snug across her shoulders and waist the way it always had when she had first worn it. Idly, she noted it was a bit snug in certain areas, mostly around her hips, breasts, and ass. On top of the dresser sat a framed photograph — her and her fiancé, both of them smiling without a care. She looked at it for a moment, then opened the drawer, put it inside face-down, and pushed the drawer closed.

Just as she reached for the door, a dull thud echoed somewhere behind her.
"—!?"
Ingrained instincts immediately took over.
Her katana was already in hand before conscious thought caught up, the polished blade stopping level with the open window. Expecting an intruder, Asagi carefully shifted her stance, eyes scanning every corner of the room. No one stood there. Only the curtains swayed gently as a cool breeze drifted inside. That alone was enough to make her expression harden. She distinctly remembered closing every window before speaking with Sakura. Someone had opened it without making enough noise for even her to notice. Remaining alert, she approached cautiously until something resting beyond the balcony caught her attention.
A katana.
The weapon had been placed leaning against the rails. Just from a glance, she could see the great care and craftsmanship in the weapon, its black metal surface contrasting against the stone floor, yet somehow possessed a strange hexagonal pattern that only briefly flashed before disappearing. The guard bore a distinctive yin-and-yang design surrounded by a hexagonal pattern unlike any sword she had ever handled. Tied near the hilt was a small handwritten note.
'Good luck. This sword will be your guide should you choose to take it.'
Recognition came almost immediately.
"…That man."
He had mentioned sending her something before they parted ways, yet she had never expected it to arrive like this. No footsteps. No messenger. No sign that anyone had even approached the apartment. Keeping one hand near her own sword, Asagi slowly reached toward the unfamiliar katana. The instant her fingers wrapped around the guard, the world lurched.
"—!?"
A torrent of fragmented images burst into her mind without warning like a storm.
Black and white blades.
Steel driving through her chest.
Her own head separating from her shoulders.
An ocean of fire swallowing everything in sight.
Demon City Tokyo collapsing beneath smoke and shattered concrete. Millions of lives gone just like that; nothing able to escape death whether they be human or demon. At the center of every vision stood a lone figure whose face remained hidden, where one time, a pair of twin swords was held in both hands as though every path inevitably led back to them.
The images vanished as abruptly as they had appeared, with the last one being of the black sword cleaving its way through her skull as if it were butter.
"A-Ah! Hah… hah… hah…!"
Her breathing became uneven. A wave of nausea struck so violently that she staggered backward across the balcony, nearly losing her footing. One hand immediately covered her mouth as she fought down the urge to vomit. Sweat rolled from her forehead despite the cool breeze, and her pulse refused to settle. After several strained breaths, her gaze slowly lowered toward the katana still resting in her hand.
"What is this…?"
The sword… Its surface remained perfectly still, showing no sign that anything had happened at all, yet the lingering weight of those visions refused to leave her mind. Whatever he had entrusted to her, it was far more than an ordinary weapon.
"This sword…"
That weapon, even though it looked different, she remembered it well, rather, somehow her body remembered it. The cold steel cleaving to her flesh in one single motion until darkness claimed her. This thing would kill her. This thing had killed her. How was it here? Why did it look different? Clenching her fists, she stepped forward and grabbed it.
{Break}
(Around the same time)
"That probably should be enough."
There were many possibilities of various weaponry or other types of different sort of aid that could have helped Asagi against Oboro. Black Keys could have been a good option; they worked very well against demons with their holy attributes, but their rigidity in the hands of someone like Asagi could shatter them against the other weapons at the Chaos Arena. So he just opted for a smoother option he knew would work best with her. Using alteration to change the blade's form so it wouldn't get recognized and would suit her better.
Whether she used it or not was none of his concern, honestly, as long as she made sure she did not die.
Aside from that, one of the biggest obstacles he had expected was simply attending the Chaos Arena without attracting attention. The facility was owned by Black, and with an operation of that scale came countless cameras, security checkpoints, and personnel. Although he doubted the vampire personally monitored every surveillance feed, assuming otherwise would have been careless. For all he knew, the man could be observing the entire venue himself. If that happened, it might present a rare opportunity to get close enough for a decisive strike before the reset ability was used. The thought crossed his mind only briefly before he dismissed it.
'He is not that careless, or at least… not anymore.' Black had survived this long for a reason. Someone that cautious would never expose himself so recklessly.
In the end, all of those concerns of being exposed became unnecessary. Of all things, Ingrid had arranged for a black-tinted limousine to pick him up.
According to her, it was a service reserved for high-ranking guests who preferred to keep both their identities and their movements private. Even so, the Counter Guardian refused to take her at her word. Before the vehicle moved an inch, a quick application of Structural Analysis was used to thoroughly inspect its interior, checking every inch for a hidden camera, listening device that might be concealed and so on. The search turned up nothing. Even the partition separating the driver from the passenger compartment prevented anyone in front from seeing inside. Once satisfied, he finally allowed himself to sit back as the vehicle quietly pulled away from the designated pickup point.
Traffic throughout the city was heavier than usual, filling nearly every street with civilians going about their day. Despite the crowds, something continued to bother him. Ever since arriving, not a single demon had openly revealed itself. Given everything he had learned about the city, that simply did not add up.
Either they had become remarkably careful about maintaining their disguises, or there existed entirely separate routes used by those connected to the underworld. Considering the destination, the latter seemed far more likely. The answer became apparent once the limousine reached the Chaos Arena. Rather than approaching the massive structure through its public entrance, the driver turned away from the main road and descended through a discreet underground access tunnel. After several turns, the vehicle rolled into a spacious parking area almost completely devoid of cars before coming to a smooth stop beside a lone figure who had clearly been waiting for his arrival.
Stepping out of the limousine, Emiya immediately recognized Ingrid. Unlike the previous occasions they had met, she was dressed in the familiar Hell Knight gear she was most often associated with, the dark latex-like material fitting closely underneath the long cape draped over her shoulders. Not exactly practical attire yet it suited her look surprisingly well.

"Now that's new," he remarked after giving her a brief glance. "That outfit suits you."
A faint smile appeared on her lips as she tilted her head innocently, almost wanting to pose for him, but resisted the urge. "Really? Has this shattered the image of a stern office lady in your mind?"
"I wouldn't say stern, but more so adorable, adding layers to your character."
She immediately coughed, looking uncertain about how to even react to that compliment as a slight blush coated her cheeks. "Y-You and your silver tongue, Emiya."
"If that is how you want to play it off, then I have no complaints." If there was one thing you learnt about this woman, then that would be her non-existent defence against compliments. "Also, I've never seen anything quite like this before. Is it one of the costumes the fighters wear here? Are you planning to participate in today's matches?"
Another cough escaped the Hell Knight before the playful expression disappeared. "It's a uniform," she admitted. "I've worn it for quite a long time, so changing into something else would've drawn more attention than simply arriving like this. Just… just think of it as a tradition." Quickly changing the subject, her expression became noticeably more serious. "More importantly, did anyone see you getting into the limousine?"
"No, the streets were pretty empty on my side of the cafe unlike before, and I made sure to stay hidden. Now I did find the secrecy a bit excessive. Would it really matter if people knew that I was curious to see what was going on here and attend the event?"
This made her sigh in relief. "It's more complicated than that. There are certain…individuals who take it in a bad way if they see you here and others who could potentially turn you into a target. Just know that there are a lot of people who possess bad faith in this event, so you do not want them to know about you."
"I'll keep that in mind."
"Good. Let's go; I'll get you to your suite."
Of course, he followed her, all while looking at his surroundings. This place was unfamiliar, as he had no recognition of using this path to head inside. Had he known about this, he could have used it for a stealthier approach, but then again, it wouldn't have mattered in the end.
He followed Ingrid around until they made their way onto an elevator and got inside as it hurried upwards. The elevator ride was a bit awkward as neither side said anything to the other. Emiya could see Ingrid was also stressed.
"Is there something on your mind?" he asked her.
"I remember telling you that you might see some things that might change your opinion on me, and I suppose I'm getting cold feet and rethinking letting you go in."
"That's awfully honest of you."
She chuckled. "I suppose you're right. I'm not sure why I'm saying it." She continued, "The suite I'm bringing you to will be at the very top where you'll get the best view and avoid unwanted attention. If you need anything, you'll be given a button that, upon pressing, I will come and join you."
"You're not joining me from the beginning?"
She offered an apologetic smile. "There are a lot of important people attending today's entertainment, and because of the recent emergency, I need to meet with them and handle business matters." Emiya nodded in understanding.
"While I would have preferred you stayed and enjoyed the show with me, I hope you won't overwork yourself. You can join me afterward and relax."
The Hell Knight's expression softened, shuffling a bit closer to him. "Thank you. If the offer still stands by then, I'll gladly take you up on it."
The elevator chimed and the doors slid open, revealing a broad corridor lined with red velvet carpet. She led the way with him following close behind until they arrived at a private room. After unlocking the door, she ushered him inside.
The suite was lavishly furnished, complete with plush sofas, a fully stocked bar, and all the luxuries one would expect from a VIP accommodation. Dominating the front wall was an enormous glass panel overlooking the arena below. As he approached it to examine the view, her voice came from behind him. "The glass is practically indestructible, bulletproof, and prevents anyone outside from seeing who's inside the suite."
A thoughtful hum escaped him before he glanced around the room. "This feels a little excessive, don't you think? I'm getting far too much for free."
A dismissive wave immediately followed. "Nonsense. It's a trivial matter. Technically, I'm allowed to bring a guest to the arena, and there's no rule preventing me from granting that guest access to a VIP suite." Moving toward the exit, she placed a hand on the door. "I'll be leaving for now. Enjoy yourself. The event should begin in a few minutes." Without waiting for a response, she stepped outside and disappeared into the corridor.
The moment the door shut behind her, the relaxed look vanished from Emiya's face. His attention immediately shifted to the room itself as he conducted a careful sweep for hidden surveillance devices, only to find none. The result was surprising, though not for the first time. After satisfying himself that the suite was clean, he returned his focus to the arena below. The venue had been restored to pristine condition, leaving little trace of the destruction he had caused only days earlier. "She works fast," he muttered.
Blue motes of light suddenly consumed his body as he disappeared from the spot. A moment later, he reappeared atop another private suite not that far away from his overlooking the arena. Before making any move, his gaze settled on a familiar figure conversing with a rotund middle-aged man dressed in an expensive suit. Recognition came immediately. The man's face had appeared often enough on campaign posters and television broadcasts. "Interesting." Choosing observation over action, he focused his attention on the exchange below.
"I'm grateful that the Chief Secretary of the Minshi Party was able to attend today's event." Ingrid offered a polite bow. "Have there been any difficulties with your visit?"
The man in question, Yazaki Toshiji, smiled pleasantly. "The accommodations have been superb as always. I expected nothing less from Nomad and Lady Ingrid. Though I am curious, why are you alone today? Where is Black?"
For a brief moment, her practiced smile almost fell, but only for a moment. "Black is currently handling difficulties that arose within our Chinese branch. Unfortunately, he won't be able to attend this event, but he sends his regards and has entrusted me with ensuring you and your associates are properly taken care of."
"Is that so?" He folded his arms thoughtfully. "I hope he's able to resolve the matter without issue. If assistance is needed, I'm more than willing to provide it."
"Your generosity is appreciated. More importantly, Nomad is grateful for the support your party provided regarding the additional security measures."
That earned a broad smile. "Of course. It's the least I could do after everything Nomad has done for me over the years, particularly during election periods." Leaning forward slightly, curiosity replaced the political pleasantries. "How are the new special-operations lens cyborgs performing? I've heard they're considered elite personnel, trained to standards rivaling the most dangerous soldiers in the Chinese Union."
"They have performed exceptionally well so far and remain fully compliant with orders."
"Excellent." Satisfaction flashed across his face. "It would hardly be worth deploying them otherwise if they weren't the very best." His curiosity lingered. "And this intruder everyone is talking about?"
A faint smile touched her lips. "You'll see soon enough. She has been invited to attend future events and will be granted access to our personnel. I'll provide you with her contact information in due time."
"Ah, Miss Ingrid, before you leave," As she turned to leave, another question stopped her. "I've heard rumors that Black may not be in the best of health." The politician's tone became noticeably more careful. "It may not be my place to ask, but I wanted confirmation. I've already made efforts to suppress those rumors before they spread further, though I would still like to know whether everything is truly all right."
She stopped immediately and turned back. Whatever warmth had been present in her expression disappeared. "Lord Black is healthy. There is nothing in this world capable of bringing him down, whether it be a person, a disease, or anything else. His workload has simply increased, requiring his direct attention elsewhere. The Chief Secretary need not concern himself with such matters." The firmness in her voice left little room for further discussion.
Yazaki inclined his head. "Of course. My apologies for the insensitive question." He remained where he was, watching her depart until she disappeared from view entirely.
Emiya, who had been listening to the entire exchange, considered the matter carefully. "Even Black's allies are starting to notice," he thought to himself. "That man won't be able to keep it hidden for too long." He wondered how long Black would continue to maintain this facade, doubting that Ingrid wasn't curious herself.
His body dissolved once again into motes of light before reappearing in his room as the arena started to get lively.
A spotlight suddenly illuminated the center stage where an announcer appeared. She was a striking woman with white hair cascading over her shoulders, wearing a mask that partially concealed her identity. Her outfit was skimpy, designed to accentuate her figure while maintaining an air of mystique.
"Welcome, distinguished guests!" her voice echoed through the arena. "Thank you for your presence and patronage tonight!" She paused as the crowd applauded. "The event is about to start! Tonight, we have a special guest. A certain someone tried to meddle in affairs that had nothing to do with her and ended up paying the price. But we couldn't just kill her and lose such a lovely and precious asset, so we decided to show her off to the audience!"
The arena roared with excitement as large doors opened. Emiya's eyes narrowed as he saw Murasaki appear, her hands bound by metal cuffs of some sort.
"Please welcome Murasaki!" the announcer shouted. "A Taimanin who just graduated from the mysterious Gosha Village!"
The crowd grew even more excited, and Emiya figured it must be because of her ninja background.
"Many of you have heard about Taimanins but never seen one in action," the announcer continued. "This is as good an opportunity as any!"
With a snap of her fingers, several holes opened in the stage floor. From them emerged a few demons, orc-like creatures with green skin and tusks. At the same time, the cuffs binding Murasaki's hands dissolved into the ground. An axe materialized and landed at her feet.
The announcer had wisely retreated behind the reinforced barrier surrounding the arena, though her excitement had not diminished in the slightest. Leaning toward the enchanted microphone, she spread both arms toward the battlefield below. "Ladies and gentlemen! Before our challenger stand monsters capable of crushing a grown man with a single swing and biting through any armor, flesh, and bone alike! They have slaughtered countless opponents inside this very arena! Will she overcome them... or become their newest plaything?"
Watching from the stands, Emiya remained expressionless, though his thoughts were anything but calm. His attention never left the blue-haired ninja standing alone in the center of the arena. If Asagi truly intended to rescue her companion, she would have to move soon. If she failed or waited too long, then remaining a spectator would no longer be an option. Revealing himself carried its own risks, but he had already begun considering another approach that might let him intervene without exposing everything at once.
Before that train of thought could continue, the match began.
The nearest orc charged first, its heavy footsteps shaking the stone beneath it. One massive arm reached forward, fingers spread wide as it attempted to seize her whole body. Rather than retreating, Murasaki shifted one step to the side, letting the creature's swing pass harmlessly beside her.
She lifted the axe.
Swoosh!
The axe came around in a clean horizontal swing, burying itself deep into the monster's abdomen. Flesh split open instantly. A spray of blood burst across the arena floor as torn intestines spilled from the wound. The beast released a deafening howl, staggering several steps before collapsing onto one knee. She gave it no opportunity to recover. Pulling the axe free in one motion, the ninja raised it overhead before bringing it straight down. Steel split the creature's skull from crown to jaw, silencing the roar as the enormous body crashed lifelessly onto the stone.
The crowd roared.
One eyebrow rose slightly.
"Strong," Emiya murmured. "Her physical ability is impressive... but she still isn't on Asagi's level."
The death of their companion drove the remaining orcs into a frenzy. Several rushed her together instead of attacking one by one, their coordination far better than mindless beasts had any right to possess.
The young woman immediately gave ground, weaving between grasping hands and sweeping clubs with quick footwork while searching for an opening. Finding one, she drove the axe into another orc's shoulder. The blade bit the beast deep, but before she could wrench it free, the wounded creature wrapped one enormous hand around the weapon's handle. Muscles bulged as it refused to let go.
Surprise briefly crossed her face. That single moment proved enough. A heavy fist slammed into her ribs with enough force to lift her off the ground. Before she could regain her balance, another orc stepped in from the side and swung a powerful kick into her midsection.
"GAH!"
The impact launched her across the arena. Her body skipped once against the stone before crashing through part of the arena floor, fragments of rock flying in every direction as a cloud of dust swallowed the point of impact.
Cheers erupted throughout the stadium. Many spectators leaped to their feet, laughing and shouting while placing wagers on how long she would last. The noise barely registered with the white-haired magus. His gaze remained fixed on the settling dust, immediately noticing something that everyone else had overlooked.
As the cloud thinned, Murasaki slowly pushed herself upright.
One forearm had been almost completely destroyed while blocking the kick. Flesh had split open from wrist to elbow. Bone protruded through the mangled limb, blood pouring freely onto the broken stone beneath her. Yet despite the severity of the injury, no scream escaped her lips. Her breathing grew heavier, but the expression on her face barely changed.
Then the wound began to move.
The exposed bone slowly slid back beneath torn muscle and flesh. Tendons reconnected before the spectators' eyes, followed by shredded skin knitting itself together. Blood flow diminished with every passing second until only red stains remained on the arm. The healing was not perfect, and traces of the injury still lingered, but the difference between the broken limb from moments earlier and the one now gripping the axe was enough to leave many staring in disbelief.
The announcer's excitement immediately reached another level.
"Ladies and gentlemen, now you see why this particular ninja is so valuable!" She pointed dramatically toward the recovering fighter below. "This is her unique ninja art! An immortal body that continues to regenerate no matter how badly it's torn apart! Break her bones, they'll mend! Rip apart her flesh, it'll heal! The perfect warrior and the ultimate toy all in one! Isn't this absolutely magnificent!?"
This immediately made the crowd grow even louder.
Emiya, on the other hand, stared at the regeneration carefully. "How impressive," he thought. "The speed is no different from regeneration showcased by Caster whenever they were inside her territory." But then he considered the possible weaknesses. "Is this regeneration absolute? Maybe it stops working if the user dies when the brain ends up being destroyed or her head sliced apart." He asked himself if in his prior attacks, he had actually failed to kill her when destroying the city.
Before he could think any further, Murasaki moved. She managed to avoid the orcs' attacks before cutting the arm of the first one and using the flat side of the axe to crush the head of another, leaving only a single orc alive, who she killed by slicing him apart after several quick movements. Before she made the last move though, the remaining orc had managed to slice through her front side, making her bleed once more, but then her stomach and chest healed immediately.
The commotion grew louder and louder, and it was clear that despite being in possession of an immortal body, it did not mean she had infinite stamina. Emiya began to see signs of tiredness. Not exhaustion yet, but she was clearly not in her top form.
"Their fighter, Murasaki, managed to kill all orcs in record time!" the announcer started saying. "No one in the arena has managed to beat them, let alone do so in such a short amount of time! Truly, she is a genius and a prodigy!
"Now, does the crowd want to see more?" she asked, a question that got answered rather quickly with another roar.
The girl chuckled. "We have another surprise prepared for them for just this case. It would be a waste to just bring out another group of demons and have her kill them with ease due to that unfair ability of hers. The crowd surely wants something more durable or maybe someone who could even give her a challenge?"
As soon as the host said that, the light began to shift and focus on one spot in the arena. The host pointed to the middle. "Please, everyone, welcome our champion, Power Lady!"
From the ground, a woman with blonde hair appeared, bulging with defined muscles, wearing an outfit that resembled a V-string bikini mixed with a wrestling outfit that also circled around her eyes. She started waving her hand as everyone cheered for her.

"In the last five years, she has never lost a single match!" the host continued.
Power Lady roared with excitement before looking at Murasaki in the distance with a grin on her face. The latter just raised her axe, preparing for the fight.
"I'll make sure to have some fun with Murasaki before breaking her completely!" Power Lady shouted at the top of her lungs. "I'll give the crowd a good show they can enjoy for the night, and I don't mean the fighting."
Murasaki stayed quiet with a frustrated expression.
The Taimanin rushed ahead in a similar start as she did against the orcs, raising her axe. The fight with Power Lady began, showcasing the champion being rather skillful. Despite her size, she managed to dodge the first few attacks before momentarily locking the axe to the ground with her foot and smacking the blue-haired girl on the face with a punch.
"Ah!"
As soon as the punch landed, the Taimanin flew backward as blood started to leak from her nose, the attack having broken it to the point that part of her face practically looked flattened. Enough to make several onlookers shiver with dread while others just rejoiced at the bloody exchange.
But in the next second, it went back into place. Flesh mending, bones going back to their usual place in a matter of seconds. No matter how many times he saw it, such a Ninja Art could be highly deadly in the right hands. Her regeneration worked to her advantage and made any damage sustained by Power Lady practically useless. The muscular woman seemed to have expected this, smirking as she spoke. "For a pretty face, you're a tough gal. I was expecting you to break like a twig after a few more punches. Hehehe~! I've got myself a nice little punching bag. I always wanted a toy like this."
"Shut up!" Murasaki responded before rushing at her and attacking. A small exchange followed with the ninja swinging her axe around while Power Lady somehow managed to use a high level of dodging, showing how flexible she was despite her size. With a spin kick, the blonde powerhouse struck Murasaki on the face. Rather than flying backward, the ninja used the momentum of the kick to spin around and slash the halberd across Power Lady's face, which the latter protected with her hand.
"Shit!"
The weapon sliced her forearm.
Both were separated, with her panting heavily while Power Lady looked at her bleeding arm. Rather than showing pain, she grinned and raised the wounded limb, earning the crowd's cheers, completely unbothered by the injury. Perhaps for showmanship or even to get inside her opponent's mind, she then licked some of the blood before declaring, "All right, time to get serious."
Without warning, intricate markings spread across Power Lady's body, glowing brightly beneath her skin.
The symbols pulsed as though something had been unleashed inside her. The floor beneath her boots fractured with a loud crack as she launched forward, the burst of force leaving broken stone in her wake.
"Buckle up!"
The distance separating the two women disappeared in an instant. A single punch shot straight toward Murasaki. Instinct took over. The halberd came up to intercept the strike, but the reinforced fist smashed straight through the weapon.
Crack!
"—!?"
The shaft splintered apart, the blade was thrown spinning across the room, and the remaining half never even slowed the attack. The blow buried itself into the Taimanin's abdomen before hurling her across the chamber. "Oof!" She slammed through the floor, fragments of stone erupting around the impact before her body skipped across the ground and finally rolled to a stop.
"Aargh!"
Power Lady threw her head back and roared, the glowing markings continuing to pulse across her body as if feeding even more strength into her muscles.
Watching from the sidelines, Emiya narrowed his eyes. It looked remarkably similar to some form of reinforcement, one that dramatically increased physical ability rather than relying on complicated skills. If that enhancement could be maintained for any meaningful length of time, Murasaki would struggle to match her in a direct confrontation. Even so, another thought immediately followed. Raw power alone would not be enough to finish someone with regenerative abilities like hers. Eventually, that enhancement would end, and unless the regeneration had limits, this battle would simply become a contest of endurance. The real question was not whether Murasaki could recover, but how many times she could continue doing so before her body finally reached its limit.
'I hope Asagi won't do something stupid, like jump into the Chaos Arena like last time. Even with Kanshou, that will only do so much to protect her and won't guarantee success. At most, she would be able to defend her own life, but not necessarily that of her friend there.'
Dust gradually settled where the impact had occurred. A silhouette emerged from within the cloud as the kunoichi slowly stepped back into view.
Every visible injury had already disappeared, confirming that the regeneration was still functioning.
Something, however, immediately struck Emiya as wrong.
The moment she attempted another step, her movement became unsteady. Her legs buckled beneath her without warning, forcing her to catch herself before collapsing altogether. Another attempt produced the same result. The normally composed warrior visibly struggled just to remain standing, the act of breathing becoming uneven as her body refused to respond properly. At first glance, it resembled poison, but a closer look revealed something else entirely. A clear substance clung to one of her legs, running down as her face continued to redden as she tried to focus on her opponent.
"You can't be serious, an aphrodisiac?" Disbelief on his face. "In the middle of a fight? Tch, she was never given the option to win in the first place, just made to give a good show."
The strongwoman clearly understood exactly what was happening. A confident grin spread across her face as she watched the effect take hold. "It's finally kicking in, ain't it? I had a whiff of that stuff before, so I know that crap hits hard the longer you ignore it. Making you want to jump the nearest thing to scratch that itch. Heh, still, you managed to last longer than most people, but I can tell that you're losing focus. No more hopping around like a rabbit." Another step carried her directly into striking range before she smirked while licking her lips. "Come on! Let's give these demons a real show!"
There was no opportunity to evade. Her impaired condition robbed Murasaki of the speed she normally relied upon, leaving her unable to retreat before her opponent reached her. Rather than throwing another punch, Power Lady seized the front of the damaged combat suit with both hands.
Riiiiip!
A violent pull followed. The latex-like material stretched for only a brief moment before tearing apart with a loud rip, the reinforced fabric splitting from top to bottom and leaving the shredded pieces hanging loosely before they were ripped completely away and exposing her everything.
At that moment, Emiya closed his eyes. 'Alright, I have waited long enough for those two. Hah.'
Disappointment filled him, having expected much better from those two. But in the end, he'd have to take care of this on his own 'once again.' He got up as his clothes vanished, replaced by his usual cloak along with another one that kept most of his features hidden with layers of cloth around his face, making sure no one would see him. He doubted it would do much if Black were there, as he would immediately recognize him purely based on his weapons.
Logically, he needed to avoid everything and anything to garner attention to himself—
But still, just sitting back and doing nothing was not an option when faced with such a sight.
Broken promises were not a new experience for him, but they were not an aspect he wished to get used to and turn into a frequent matter. It made him feel like apologizing to Kyousuke since he was throwing away all his hard work, but even if he had to go through another reset — it was nothing new. So be it.
A bow appeared in one hand while, in the other, a spiral sword materialized, its blade slowly twisting in on itself as though alive. A surge of energy rushed within the blade itself, infusing every inch with an enormous amount of magical energy to the point that the Noble Phantasm began releasing faint red light with cracks beginning to form.
"Hm?" A distant disturbance reached his ears, a commotion somewhere beyond the VIP section. Raised voices, the muffled sound of impacts, something large being thrown. Curiosity drew his attention toward it, but the moment he turned his head, the entire power grid of the Chaos Arena abruptly died. Every light vanished at once: neon signs, displays, spotlights, all snuffed out in an instant, plunging the venue into absolute darkness.
"Oh?"
The wall beside him exploded inward before the echo of the blackout had even faded.
Bang!
Concrete fractured violently, chunks of stone and metal supports tearing free as dust billowed through the room. "Ah!" Two figures were launched through the breach, skidding across the floor before crashing hard into the sofa he had occupied moments earlier, the furniture buckling under the impact. A third body slammed into the bar with enough force to splinter wood and send rows of expensive bottles tumbling. Glass shattered across the floor like crystal rain.
Nearby, two heavily augmented bodyguards staggered upright. Red warning lights flickered across exposed cybernetic components embedded in their arms and necks as servos whined under strain. Instinctively, they moved to protect their employer. Behind them, a rotund man stumbled backward until his legs struck a table, sending him sprawling.
"No, don't hurt me!"
The pair immediately stepped in front of him, reaching for their firearms. They never got the chance.
Two streaks cut through the darkness like falling stars, brief flashes of silver that crossed the room in an instant and struck both men squarely between the eyes. Their heads snapped backward, sharp metal stabbing their skulls and brain. Before either could collapse, a kunai followed from the shadows, one punching clean through a throat while the other buried itself inside an open mouth. Thin cords attached to the weapons suddenly went taut. With a violent pull, both bodies were dragged backward through the ruined wall and disappeared into the darkness beyond.
Silence returned just as quickly.
Rather than react, he simply watched.
Dust drifted through the room, illuminated only by the faint glow of emergency indicators embedded in various pieces of equipment. Broken glass crunched softly as debris settled. Somewhere in the distance, screams and combat still echoed through the arena.
Then his bow dissolved into motes of light.
His left hand shot outward without warning and seized the corner of the room itself. Fingers closed around something hidden there, a shape that should not have existed. The thing looked as though it had emerged directly from the wall, its body blending seamlessly with the surrounding darkness like liquid ink given form.
"Ugh!"
The captive struggled immediately.
Shadows peeled away from her body in thick, sludging layers as she fought against his grip. The more she resisted, the more her true form emerged from beneath the darkness concealing it. One arm remained thrust forward, a kunai clenched tightly in hand. The blade hovered mere inches from his throat, having nearly completed its strike before he intercepted her.
No matter how she twisted or pulled, his grip around her neck never loosened. "Hn-gah! L-Let… go!"
Gradually, the last traces of darkness slipped away.
Blonde hair spilled free first, followed by familiar features. The young maid's identity became impossible to mistake. She wore attire nearly identical to Asagi's ninja outfit, though hers carried brighter accents and a more vibrant design that suited her energetic personality far better than the darker uniform of her counterpart.
'I see.'
The realization came easily as she kept trying to break his hold with a series of kicks and even tried to break his arm with a surprising amount of strength in a small frame like that. But none of them had any effect, and he just ignored it for the most part. If she was as noisy here compared to the cafe, best to keep an eye on her. 'I can use her to get Ingrid's attention… where is that woman?'
It was clear to him that the Igawa sisters were using the blackout as a distraction. 'Interesting Ninja Art, Sakura may have unlocked it recently for all I know. She can either turn into a shadow and use another shadow to move around or use it as a sort of portal. Perhaps not the second one; she would have escaped my grasp by now.'
While he observed the girl in his hold, the third person in the room began trying to regain his composure. "A-Are you a member of Nomad? Good! Kill that one now and escort me back to my transport!" Yazaki shouted from nearby, at most earning a slight glance from the Counter Guardian, who ignored him soon after. But unfortunately, he kept trying to persist. "H-Hey, did you hear me!? Do you know why I a—argh!"
Trying to grab his shoulder wasn't a good idea; a single backhanded slap sent the overweight man flying across the room and getting smashed against the nearby wall. Blood smeared the impact on the wall as he collapsed on the ground, fully unconscious and no longer the nuisance he was.
Clang!
The loud sound of metal striking metal echoed from the arena beyond, loud enough to cut through the chaos outside. His gaze shifted briefly toward the source.
A third figure had already arrived near Murasaki.
Even from this distance, the newcomer's presence was obvious. The exchange of blows was fast enough to produce showers of sparks with every collision. Despite the darkness, he could see everything going on down there. The white-haired announcer had already fallen at the edge of the arena, one of her arms completely cut off and a nasty gash across her front.
Hidden beneath his cloak, a faint smirk tugged at his lips.
"Took you all long enough."
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The next 5 chapters of Snafu, and my other Fate fics (Fate Coiling Sword with 3 chapters, A Fake Familiar Reborn with 3 chapters, Steel Eyed Faker soon to be 3 chapters, Taimanin with 3, Hound having 3 and To love a sword having 4 chapters) are already available on my P@treon. With 4 more Broly chapters at /NimtheWriter. Also, I post commissioned arts on each story, already posted a few on an Archer's Promise, Broly and Snafu.