Yubel's face was a mask of frustration. Even through the features of her host, Black Archer, her eyes twitched with the shock of her failed attack.
The monster's effect hadn't worked.
To Yubel, there was only one possibility. Her opponent possessed a form of passive immunity that allowed her to ignore monster effects entirely. In the world of Duel Monsters, such a trait was an incredibly powerful advantage. She even began to wonder if this woman's resistance was a higher tier of protection,something that made her immune to all card effects besides his own. If it was the latter, it would be a catastrophic realization for Yubel. It meant she would have to pull a very specific counter-measure from her deck just to stand a chance.
The difficulty of her victory had just skyrocketed.
"Hmm?"
Artoria didn't give Yubel a chance to recover. The moment her scabbard's protection receded, she lunged forward, blade poised to strike.
"Tch!"
Glancing at her damaged Duel Disk, Yubel didn't hesitate to activate her facedown card. Her plan had been proceeding smoothly until these unexpected variables began to interfere. Whether it was the Black Faction or the White Faction, there were always elements she hadn't accounted for.
A red card manifested in the air, its glow catching Artoria's eye and causing her to brace for another magical shift.
"[Malevolent Catastrophe]!"
The trap card's effect rippled through the air. As a monster declared an attack, it triggered a wave of destructive energy that targeted every spell and trap on the field.
CRA-ACK!!
Red Archer and Miyuverse Shirou looked up as the wind began to howl across the snowy wasteland. Huge tornadoes and streaks of lightning erupted from the center of the Reality Marble, tearing through the false reality. Space itself seemed to warp and crack like glass. Within seconds, the World of Blades dissolved into shattered fragments. The snowy field was swallowed by a void, and the group suddenly found themselves standing back in the narrow alleys of the real city.
"You certainly surpassed my expectations," Yubel's voice echoed from the shadows as she pulled back into the darkness. "I'll admit defeat for this round. But don't think for a moment that it will be this simple next time!"
She disappeared into the labyrinthine alleys, her silhouette fading rapidly. She had taken a significant blow, but she had also gained invaluable information about her opponents' strengths.
"Wait!"
Artoria wouldn't let her prey escape so easily. She immediately gave chase, her figure blurring as she vanished into the same alleyway.
"Did she really just break a Reality Marble that easily?"
Red Archer frowned as he recalled the way the world had shattered. It was a troubling development. [Unlimited Blade Works] was the ultimate tool for any version of Shirou Emiya, providing them with a massive tactical advantage. If the enemy possessed a reliable way to shatter such a conceptual world, they were in serious danger.
"I thought so... If I want to project that device, I'll need to get a closer look at it."
Beside him, Miyuverse Shirou was focused on a different aspect of the battle. He had been studying Yubel's Duel Disk for the entire fight. Given his level of projection magic, he could replicate almost any Noble Phantasm he laid eyes on. Yubel's strength was channeled through that device. If he could project a functional version of it for their own use, it might provide them with an unexpected advantage.
The main issue was that he needed to understand the underlying structure. Simply projecting the exterior would result in a useless shell. More importantly, he had to determine if the Duel Disk fell under the concept of a "blade." If it did, he was confident he could produce a near-perfect replica.
"We can discuss that later. We need to help Saber!"
"Right."
The two Archers paused for only a fraction of a second before sprinting after Artoria.
"I'll leave the three of them to handle this," Muramasa said, placing a hand on his Shirou's shoulder to stop him from following. "We need to regroup with the others."
Shirou nodded, understanding Muramasa's concern. They couldn't afford to let the group become separated, especially with Sakura and the others still waiting back at the mansion.
***
'Why won't you answer me?'
'Are you beginning to hate me?'
'Maybe it's because you aren't recognized as a true magus after all.'
'No... that's not it.'
Sakura sat alone in the mansion's main hall, her hands clasped tightly in her lap. She hadn't followed the others into the night, but she felt a strange, restless energy prickling at her skin. She had worked harder than anyone else for the past ten years. She had poured everything into her training, more than anyone could imagine.
'If you die like this, you'll never see your hero again.'
'CRACK.'
Her teacup hit the table with a sharp sound, the hot liquid spills across the wood.
'What's the point of all that effort? You still haven't seen him, have you?'
'Even though you took that book back from Shirou and carried it with you everywhere... even though you used it as a catalyst to summon him... the person who appeared was just a stranger.'
'Wake up. You aren't important to him.'
Sakura lowered her head, the whispers echoing in her mind like a malevolent chant.
"No..."
"That's not true!"
She cried out in a sudden, hysterical burst, her hands gripping her head as she struggled against the voices. A distorted, shadowy figure began to manifest around her, its features a grotesque mask of demonic hatred.
'Wait,'
'What is this?!'
'Where is this light coming from?!'
The shadowy figure's expression shifted to one of pure terror as a brilliant white light erupted from within Sakura.
"It feels... so warm..."
The familiar glow acted as a balm to Sakura's fractured mind, and the dark whispers slowly began to fade. She had felt this sensation before. For the past ten years, she had been protected by a light exactly like this,a barrier that had kept the shadows at bay.
'A Protection of Light? How is this possible?!'
'How can such a light exist in this world?!'
AAGH!!!
The malevolent shadows were driven back by the radiant white aura until they vanished into nothingness.
"Phew..."
Sakura's breathing slowed as the dark thoughts and desires receded. The nagging voices were gone, and she finally understood what had just happened. She had been on the verge of losing herself to that malevolent, enticing light. She had nearly been turned into a puppet. The thought sent a shiver down her spine. If she had fallen, it could have jeopardized her sister, Illya, and the entire group. At the very least, it would have torn the team apart. At worst, the enemy would have used her to destroy them from within.
The intruder likely used a similar method on the other Archer to bend him to her will. But the fact that the enemy could reach out and touch her while she was under the protection of so many Servants was proof of just how dangerous their methods were.
"But... did you save me again?"
The points of light in her palms seemed to offer a silent message of comfort. Unlike the evil glow she had felt before, this one made her feel safe. As the light faded into her skin, Sakura felt a sense of peace. She closed her eyes and could still see the silhouette of the hero she admired. If she could, she wanted to tell him everything that had happened over the last ten years face-to-face. She was no longer some helpless bystander. She was a magus he could be proud of.
[Translated and Rewritten by Shika_Kagura]