Jayr POV - Nasuverse, Moon, SE.RA.PH, Tsukumihara Academy - 2030 AD
After the brief exchange between Nero and me, the chapel suddenly fell into a pregnant silence where, for a brief moment, no one else spoke.
The whole chapel is silent except for the faint hum of stabilizing code and magic.
Aoko and Touko Aozaki stand on opposite sides of the altar, both staring at me as if I had just rewritten the laws of the Moon Cell and even reality itself, something that, to be fair, I actually did.
They have caught a glimpse of what happened, the way the Moon Cell's automatic safeguards tried to abort the ritual of the Alteration of the Soul mid-process with shimmering barriers flickering into being around me, then vanishing just as fast when I pushed back.
The entire digital world had trembled for a second, and even the system interface had briefly glitched with warnings that made no sense, until I stabilized the whole structure.
Aoko is the one who recovered first, as she folds her arms and comments in a half-amused, half-exasperated tone, "...Okay. That shouldn't be possible."
On the other side, Touko's expression is worse, sharp, analytical, almost feverish with disbelief, making her comment, "You forced the Moon Cell's system core to obey a manual override. A Master shouldn't have that kind of access."
I meet her eyes calmly and casually reply, "I just reinforced the bond between myself and my Servant. Nothing more."
In response to that, Aoko drags a hand through her hair while muttering, "'Nothing more,' he says... You practically kicked the server in the face."
At the same time, Touko murmurs, "His Servant's mana signature changed mid-process... Drastically. You rewrote the connection code between human and Heroic Spirit, didn't you? Do you have any idea what kind of risk that carries?"
At this point, I say softly but with authority, "Enough. It worked. That's what matters." But neither of them looks convinced.
Meanwhile, Nero, her form radiant in the lingering afterglow of the whole process she just went through, smiles faintly and comments, "Praetor, it seems we've impressed even magi of legend. How rare."
Her tone carries quiet amusement, but I can clearly feel her pride burning beneath it, in addition to the new powers humming within her core.
Hearing that, I smile wryly and murmur back, "More like alarmed. They don't know what to make of us."
This makes Nero's smile wider as she says lightly, "Let them wonder. Mystery suits us."
After saying that, her form shimmers, collapsing into golden motes of light as she returns to Spirit Form.
Seeing that, I turn to the Aozaki sisters, bowing slightly and say, "Thank you for your assistance, Miss Aozaki. Both of you. I'll take it from here."
Touko looks like she wants to interrogate me further, but Aoko simply sighs and waved me off while saying, "Fine, fine. Just don't break the Moon again, alright?"
Half-smiling, I wave back and say, "No promises." Before I head toward the exit, leaving them behind with Touko already launching into a rapid-fire analysis of mana and code feedback while Aoko mutters about "stupid, reckless monsters."
However, their voices quickly fade as the chapel doors close behind me, once again confirming the enclosed nature of the chapel.
As soon as I step outside the chapel, I notice that the artificial sun and sky have gone through some changes, taking the usual but charming orange hue that marks the dusk, still perfectly serene despite everything that had just happened within the chapel.
While I'm taking in the familiar but still enchanting sight, Nero's voice echoes softly in my mind, unseen but vividly present, [Praetor. You look unsettled.]
Hearing that, I sigh softly and reply, [I just took a big risk and bent the Moon Cell's security like wet paper. Forgive me if I feel a little uneasy.]
Her laugh is quiet and warm, [Then take solace... You've done what even emperors could not. You've defied a god made of codes and light.]
I chuckly and say dryly, [Yeah... That's not the first time I've done something like that. What worries me is that I may have caught the attention of other Champions with that stunt. Sure, I made sure to quickly fix everything, but for sure a few things have slipped through the gaps...]
Then, Nero replies with a tone full of confidence, [Whatever happens, we will face it and overcome it together... Rome won't fall with us taking charge.]
Hearing those words, I focus back on the present and mutter a quiet, "Yes... We will..."
Then, as I make my way down the chapel steps, voices drift from the courtyard below, and I recognize one of them instantly, making me mutter, "Shinji... again..."
Sure enough, the boy is standing near the fountain, gesturing wildly as he argues with an elderly gentleman with pure white hair and a face weathered with the marks of aging.
He is dressed in a bright green tunic with a grid pattern, accented with gold trim and brass buttons that add a touch of regality to the outfit. A white belt with a large gold buckle cinches the tunic at the waist.
Below the tunic, he wears patterned leggings in a black and white houndstooth design.
His arms are covered in long black sleeves decorated with geometric patterns at the shoulders, and his black boots are knee-high with subtle gold detailing at the ankles and toes.
He is another notable Masterof this reality, Dan Blackmore, a decorated soldier from England who is allied with the Harwey Plutocracy. He was formerly a sniper, but he is currently retired.
(Image Here - Dan Blackmore)
He was bestowed the title of "Sir" by the Queen, and he is considered a close confidant of the Queen.
The Queen was displeased with the allied Harwey organization. Thus, he was ordered by the Queen to win the Holy Grail, and he believes the Queen picked him so that no young soldier needed to be sacrificed in the process.
Despite his aged appearance, he does not seem the slightest bit frail, and rather than the mark of weakness, the way he wears his years is more like the way a tree's rings mark its growth.
His scars over the years have become a solid core and tough bark that makes it impossible to see his age as a weakness.
It appears that Shinji is being kept out of the chapel after angering Dan Blackmore, who is calmly chiding him, "A chapel is for quiet reflection. I do not know who your god is, but you should know that much."
He is without any doubt one of the more composed Masters, and the contrast between them is almost comical, even more so when Shinji replies, "Sorry, my bad! I'm an atheist... swear to god!"
Hearing Shinji's response, Dan snorts and evenly comments, "... Hmph. I have always believed that the Japanese were polite. I guess I was misled. Leave this place at once. The gates of heaven will remain closed to the unbeliever. It appears that in your haste to learn how to fight, you forgot to learn dignity and respect."
After saying that, Dan simply turns around and starts to walk toward the main building while Shinji grunts out loud and says, "I really hate old geezers like you, always talking down on me! When it comes time to fight, you can bet your ass I'll be teaching you a thing or two!"
While watching this scene play out, I can't help but shake my head a little before I hear Nero's voice as she hums in mild amusement, [That boy seems to exist solely to trip over his own pride.]
Hearing that, I almost snort before I reply, [Pretty much. He still thinks this is all some kind of game. For him, the Holy Grail War is… just entertainment.] Making Nero coldly comment, [A tragic delusion.] Something I wholeheartedly agree with, [Yeah.]
I watch Shinji storm off in frustration while a hollow feeling settles in my chest, a sense of pity mixed with quiet anger, 'How many people like him would die here? Children who jumped in this competition never realized it wasn't a game until it was too late?'
At this point, I make a silent promise again, 'When all this ends, I'll bring them back. Every single one who didn't deserve to vanish in this merciless competition. As long as I can survive till the end...'
After that small event, the walk back to the main building is uneventful, though my mind is anything but still.
The link between Nero and me pulses with new strength, almost alive, like a second heartbeat.
The gains we received from the ritual of the Alteration of the Soul were massive.
For one, Nero gained the ability to unlock her Origin and take the Mythological Mystic Code of Emperor form, which allows Nero to unleash a level of power that is very close to the limits of this reality for a brief period of time.
But she also gained the ability to unleash the power of the Beast Class connected to her Saint Graph, taking yet another form, even more powerful than her Mythological Mystic Code of Emperor.
However, to unleash the power of the Beast Class hidden within her, Nero must first fully consume the power of the Skill Invictus Spiritus: Thrice, Though I Welcome the Setting Sun.
A Skill that is used to revive oneself when falling in battle up to three times per activation, which is similar in nature to Heracles' God Hand, but it must be prepared beforehand. It is a Skill born from Emperor Nero's final anecdote.
Basically, after Nero activates the Skill Invictus Spiritus: Thrice, Though I Welcome the Setting Sun, if she is killed three times, she is revived one last time, but with the power of her Beast Class manifesting as an impossible Nero who overcame the thrice-setting sun.
While my mind continues to wander, we enter the main building, and right at this moment, my portable terminal buzzes sharply, snapping me out of my thoughts.
I calmly pull out the portable terminal from my pocket and take a look at the words displayed on the screen.
[The second cipher key has been generated on the second floor.]
I immediately understand that the Secondary Trigger has been created and that I need to get it before the Elimination Match three days from now.
I'm not the only one who takes notice of it as I hear Nero's voice, whose tone brightened instantly, [At last! The next act of our saga awaits. Let us see if this new stage is worthy of Rome's splendor.]
Hearing that, I smile and say, [Let's go and grab that Secondary Trigger.] Making Nero reply, [Umu!]
Shortly after that, I don't waste any time and immediately move toward the Arena's entrance.
As I head toward the Arena, I bump into Run Ru and her Servant at the doorway; most likely, she was also about to jump into the Arena to search for the Secondary Trigger.
For a moment, I wonder if I will have to fight them and stand at ready, but Run Ru doesn't seem interested in a tussle as she giggles and says in her usual broken and eerie tone, "EhEHeh... wE meeT AGaiN, YOu And mE... i was WAtchiNg you, WHICh MADe me HuNgRy. OH So VErY hUnGrY... cOndiMenTs, ConDiMenTs... BRiGHT reD kEtchUp anD suNsHine-y YeLLoW mUsTard, yuMMY."
As expected, she has the conversational prowess of a broken child's toy to the point that I hear Nero's voice in my head as she wonders, [Why did someone like her even enter such a tournament?]
As if replying to Nero's question, Run Ru continues by saying, "I eNtERed 'cUz... 'CuZ... It'S 'CUz Lil' rOnNie LoVeS yuMMy ThiNgs. bUT aLL tHe yuMMy tHiNgS aRe ALwaYs HIDing... LiL' ROnNie dOeSn't eAt ANYTHING thAt's NoT yUmMY. bUt!!! Lil'RoNNie is sUPeR dUper hAPPy with HaPpy sPrinKles! 'cuZ aFTer THRee yEars LiL' RONNiE mIGht FuNaLLy gEt to EAt sOmetHing YuMMy."
Naturally, there isn't any sense in telling her that she's incomprehensible; I know she'll just keep talking anyway.
In the end, she wants the Holy Grail to make all humanity like her, so that she won't be lonely anymore and will have more people to love and eat.
Problematic as her motive is, it actually does make a twisted kind of sense. Insane fanaticism and desperation are what drive her.
Suddenly, Elizabeth Báthory twirls her lance like a microphone, giggling loudly, "Hehehe! Perfect timing! I was just saying how boring this place is without a proper audience. Isn't my Master lovely, Master of Rider? By all that is beautiful, what a pure, untainted love this woman has. Who dares mock it? Hahaha, salivate in anticipation, my partner! Soon, there will be meat in your unsatisfied cavity."
Hearing that last bit, I can't help but groan and mutter in an almost exasperated tone, "Phrasing... Please be mindful of what words you use."
Then, Run Ru claps her hands once, the sound of it is very sharp and resounds loudly among the walls of the hallway before she says, "iT isN't MEal TImE yEt... nOT yEt... tOo sooN... I nEEd SoMeThiNg tO distRACT mYselF... WhaT abouT A frIenDilY CoMPEtiTion?"
Hearing that, I frown and repeat, "A Competition?" Making Elizabeth lean forward with gleaming eyes before she winks cutely and exclaims, "Yes! It's going to be so much fun! Let's see who can clear more of those ugly data monsters in there. Whoever scores higher gets a little prize, of course!"
For a moment, I hesitate. Everything about this screams trap, but the tone, the playful, unpredictable tone of their every action, doesn't fit an ambush. Run Ru and Elizabeth want something else, and to figure that out, I decide to directly ask, "What's the prize?"
Immediately, Run Ru's body twitches, and probably her grin widens behind that clown mask while Elizabeth chuckles and replies, "Hehehe... The only thing that truly matters in this kind of Holy Grail War. Information. Any kind of useful information... about yourself, your Servant, even other Masters and Servants is fine... Anything goes as long as the information is truthful. As a little extra, the loser will also leave the Arena, allowing the winner to freely explore it for the rest of the day."
Hearing that, I exhale through my nose before agreeing and setting a few other conditions, "Fine. No direct combat, no sabotage, no interference."
In response to that, Elizabeth smiles sweetly and says, "Of course. Only music, only data. The perfect kind of appetizer before a grand spectacle. Naturally, the stage is going to be the newly opened floor."
After saying that, Elizabeth raises her lance in salute and, winking at us, she says, "Try to keep up, darling~ Ah, and don't worry, we already asked SE.RA.PH to keep the score. So go wild~."
And before I can say anything else, they both turn around and walk through the door leading to the Arena, vanishing into the portal with Elizabeth's laughter trailing behind.
Nero's voice is a mixture of irritation and curiosity as she comments, "A contest of slaughter. Crude, but… oddly enticing. And they did play their cards well enough... for such unhinged people. Basically, they put themselves in a situation where they have a lot to gain and nothing much to lose..."
Hearing that, I let out a sigh and admit, "I'm not thrilled about it either. But we can't risk provoking them too much, after all, Run Ru and Elizabeth can be pretty unpredictable. Best play along. As long as they focus their attention on us, it is less likely that they will do something to harm other people."
At this point, Nero materializes beside me, and as we walk through the door leading to the Arena, she says, "Then let us show them what a true performance looks like..."
As soon as I cross the door, a prompt appears in front of me asking which floor I want to explore, and without any hesitation on my part, I chose the Second Floor, and the next moment, we find ourselves there.
The Second Floor of the Arena is even more breathtaking than the First Floor.
If before we looked at the underwater ruins from a distance, now we are truly within that bizarre, gravity-defying, underwater ruined city full of interconnected buildings and pathways.
The structures are primarily medieval-looking buildings, including towers and houses, which appear to be floating underwater.
A network of glowing blue grid corridors and halls connects the structures, providing a sense of path through the cityscape.
In the distance, I also notice a floating, large, fragmented orbital structure looming in the background that slightly reminds me of the Colosseum, more specifically, the Flavian Amphitheatre.
Enemy Programs prowls the corridors, larger, faster, and more organized than before.
Nero is right beside me, her crimson dress gleaming with the reflected light; the new power coursing through her is obvious to me, but well hidden from everyone else.
She glances around for a few moments and says, "Beautiful... A stage worthy of our returning performance. It even gives me a somewhat nostalgic feeling..."
At this point, I take a deep breath and say, "Focus on the Enemy Programs. We'll take the eastern route first."
After saying that, I sneakily summon Behemoth while Nero, with her usual theatrical flair, moves along, making it look like she did summon the digital bike to once again play the part of the Rider Class Servant to deceive our enemies.
We get on Behemoth, and Nero drives it toward the easter route, splitting paths from Run Ru and Elizabeth, who have already darted west route as their laughter echoes across the corridors like warped bells.
The first wave of the Enemy Programs emerges almost immediately, all kinds of constructs of gleaming data, weapons, claws, and fangs forming from raw light.
Without any hesitation, Nero tightened her grip on the handle and accelerate making Behemoth produce a Sonic Boom as it instantly breaks trough the sound barrier before directly crashing through all the Enemy Programs in our path, breaking them apart and making them dissolve into motes of light.
At the same time, Nero laughs joyfully while commenting, "Hahaha! This magnificent steed on wheels is quickly becoming my favorite! In such thight space like these corridors, I can crush all opposition without even drawing my blade! With Behemoth, no one can stop our advance! We will surely win this competition!"
Like that, we continue to ride Behemoth across the corridors and rooms of the second floor of the First Chimeric Lunar Sea.
I calmly enjoy the chaotic ride when suddenly a swarm of Enemy Programs appears within the room in front of us, forcing Nero to activate her Imperial Privilege and tilt the handlebars, making Behemoth swerve with impossible grace.
Then as the tires screech she takes advantage of the speed and centrifugal force accumulated until now to deliver a devastanting blow using Behemoth's bulky tail to the enemy in the front row, hitting it square in the chest, sending it crashing through the other Enemy Programs causing them all to break into pieces that quickly disperse into motes of light before haughly declaring with imperial disdain, "Feel the might of the steed of this emperor!"
Right at this moment, a few more Enemy Programs take advantage of this brief opening to attack, but Nero twists the throttle, surging forward once more, and at the last instant, she pulls her scarlet blade, Aestus Estus, from her side, striking with a wide arc.
Sparks explode as steel meets steel, her momentum carrying her past, slicing the enemy's weapons and the Enemy Programs in half while she exclaims between cheerful laughs, "Hahaha! I can go even faster! My flames are burning hotter the faster we move!"
Looking at the enemies emerging from the corridor ahead, Nero grins and leans forward.
Then, Behemoth's engine howls, clearly enjoying the mayhem and destruction we are causing, tires blazing crimson as it is fueled by her own prana while she launches upward off a nearby transparent wall, and soon Behemoth starts to drive along the walls, ceiling, and floor in a spiral pattern leaving behind a trail of fire that incenerates all the powerless Enemy Programs in our path that didn't get crushed under Behemoth's wheels.
After we have cleared the whole area, Nero swiftly breaks, stopping Behemoth's relentless advance and takes a moment to admire her handiwork with eyes alight before she softly says, "Magnificent. It's as though my body remembers dances I've never performed before. I feel so much strength surging within me."
In response to that, I smile slightly and explain, "That's the result of the Alteration of the Soul we performed. Your spirit's at full sync with mine now, allowing you to instantly access my basically limitless well of energy."
Hearing that, Nero grins before stating, "Then let us fully test its limits."
With that, wave after wave of Enemy Programs fall while Nero drives Behemoth and fights like music made metal and flesh, every strike part of a grand performance only she can hear.
Even the Enemy Programs seem to falter at her momentum.
I calmly enjoy the ride sitting behind her, merely limiting myself to keeping watch of our surroundings, mentally mapping the area, and pointing out our next wave of enemies while Nero enjoys her experience in driving the digital motorbike like a character from the Grand Theft Auto games, driving as wildly as possible while running over every "pedestrian" in our way.
I also keep an eye on the area far across the Arena, where flashes of pink and red announce Run Ru and Elizabeth's progress.
Her voice, distant yet piercing, rings out in what could only be described as an impromptu, deadly concert.
"♪ Take this! RAAAHHH! ♪"
Hearing that loud, amplified shriek of destruction, I can't help but wince in pain a little even from this distance while commenting, "She's… enthusiastic."
Nero snorts and shoots back with a tone full of disdain, "Call it what it is, Praetor. Noise." Which makes me nod and say, "Still, she's efficient. Her sonic attacks do cover a very vast area and are incredibly devastating."
But again, Nero simply pouts and says, "So is a collapsing volcano. But there is no art in such a brute and crude display."
Hearing that last part, I can't help but remember about a certain pair of artistic ninja bickering among themselves, and with a chuckle, I say with a grin on my face, "Well, that is true... But I also know of some who would appreciate such a performance. For those people... Art... Is an explosion." Which makes Nero snort loudly.
After that, we focus back on the competition and press on, deeper into the labyrinth.
After what felt like hours, the final wave of Enemy Programs disintegrates before Nero's blade, scattering like dying stars.
Suddenly, a solemn silence falls into the Arena that gets quickly broken when my portable terminal beeps loudly.
I calmly pull it out and take a look at the words appearing on the display that say. [Master's competition concluded. Performance Logged. The winner is Master Jayr Pucci with a score of 569 against Master Run Ru's 522.]
Seeing that, my lips turn into a smile as I look at the eager Nero and say, "We won."
A pleased grin appears on Nero's face as she nods and says, "Umu! This is the natural conclusion..."
Soon, Run Ru and Elizabeth appear on the other side of this massive room, which is located at the center of the labyrinth.
Elizabeth is twirling her lance, while Run Ru's applause echoes in the now-empty area before Elizabeth says, "Not bad! You two actually kept pace."
Nero sheathes her sword with a flourish and says, "This was a forgone conclusion. No obstacle can stop our advance."
Run Ru tilts her head, before she says in her usual eerie and dreamy tone, "sO coNFIdenT. I liKe THat. HeRE..."
She, then, flicks her wrist, tossing a fragment of shimmering data my way, which I catch instinctively before asking, "What's this?"
Run Ru turns around and starts to walk toward the exit in her usual gait that reminds me of a broken puppet, while Elizabeth, who is following after her, cheerfully replies while waving us off with her spear, "Your prize. A little hint about a few interesting Master's we took notice of. My master told me that they all feel kinda off... Just like you. Bye! Try not to die before the show."
With that, both of them dissolved into red mist, vanishing from sight. Elizabeth's laughter fades, but the data fragment in my hand pulses like a heartbeat.
Whatever game they are playing, we are already pieces on the board; however, I'm still confident I can overcome everything they may throw at us.