Wrought Iron Taimanin Chapter 9: Chaos Arena Part 2 (Patreon)

Beta read by Paragon of Awesomeness and GamerCrusher55

Fun fact...? I actually forgot that this story was supposed to be updated this month too and started it extreme late. Somehow managed to finish it...

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-Demon Capital Tokyo, Chaos Arena-

“Hah!” 

Two figures leaped from rooftop to rooftop, moving in almost perfect synchronization and with a surprising amount of agility. Managing to avoid slipping and falling from great heights as they performed what could only be described as superhuman feats of strength with how high they kept jumping. 

Several minutes later, both stopped on the empty rooftop of a warehouse, finally approaching their destination as the enormous silhouette of the Chaos Arena gradually filled more of the horizon.

Amongst the two, Sakura let out a huff of cold air through her mask. With the blonde finally coming to a stop several buildings away from the massive structure, landing so lightly that the tiles beneath her barely shifted. A heartbeat later, another figure touched down beside her. 

Although this was technically her first mission alongside Asagi, something she had imagined countless times over the years, the excitement she had always expected refused to make itself known. Instead, an uncomfortable knot settled deeper inside her stomach. Her palms had grown damp, her heartbeat refused to slow, and every breath made the surrounding air feel colder for some reason. If she allowed herself to dwell on those feelings any longer, she was certain she would start feeling sick.

Trying to force those thoughts aside, Sakura flashed a bright grin toward her older sister. "We've got this. It'll be over before we know it." The confidence in her voice sounded convincing enough, though she knew she was speaking as much to herself as she was to the woman beside her. The response she received was nothing more than a calm nod, the older Taimanin's attention never leaving the veritable fortress in front of them. 

Leaning slightly over the edge of the rooftop, Sakura studied the crowds below. "I wasn't expecting this many people. The place is crawling with the worst scum imaginable… and some demons aren't even bothering to hide what they are."

Only after clearing her throat did she finally pull the older woman's attention away from the arena. The crimson-eyed kunoichi looked over calmly, waiting for her to continue. "Are you actually nervous?" Sakura asked, genuine curiosity slipping through despite herself.

A faint smile appeared, barely visible through the mask. "Of course I am."

The answer caught her completely off guard. "Seriously? You? If anyone should be nervous, it should be me, not you, Onee-sama."

An amused chuckle escaped the elder sister. "I'm not a machine, Sakura. Being fearless all the time isn't what makes someone a good Taimanin. A little fear keeps you alert. It forces you to question your own plans, to notice details you might otherwise ignore. Overconfidence gets people killed far more often than caution ever will."

The younger girl puffed out her cheeks, already recognizing the familiar tone. "We're about to rescue Murasaki, and somehow this still turned into another lecture."

"It can be both." The reply came without missing a beat. "No matter how experienced someone becomes, there's always something left to learn. The moment you convince yourself you've reached the peak is the moment you stop improving."

Sakura let out an exaggerated sigh before waving dismissively. "Fine, fine. Mission first, lecture later." Despite the dry response, she had to admit the conversation had done exactly what her sister intended. The tension in her shoulders eased, and her breathing finally became more steady pace.

Her gaze drifted toward the unfamiliar sword wrapped carefully in cloth at Asagi's waist. It definitely wasn't the ninjato she normally carried — not to mention it happened to be long enough to be a katana. In fact, she couldn't remember ever seeing that weapon before. Had it always been there? Had she simply overlooked it? The thought lingered only briefly before she pushed it aside. There were far more important things to focus on. 

"So what's the plan?"

The answer came immediately. "You'll cover the upper levels. Nomad’s top officials and their important guests should be operating there. Your job is to keep watch and notify me immediately if anyone important moves, if someone tries to leave, or if anything unusual happens. I'll handle infiltrating the lower arena and getting Murasaki out."

Her expression immediately soured. "Since when did 'working together' become 'watch from the sidelines'? You're practically telling me not to participate."

"That's not what I'm saying." The older Taimanin met her gaze without the slightest hint of irritation. "Your role is just as important. Buying me even a few extra seconds could determine whether this operation succeeds or fails. Besides, I'm already familiar with the lower levels. Sending both of us there would only waste time and limit what we can cover. Splitting up gives us the best chance."

Although she still wasn't entirely happy about it, Sakura knew the reasoning was sound. She gave a reluctant nod before immediately carrying out her assignment. Crossing the remaining distance in a single leap, she landed silently atop the Chaos Arena before making her way toward one of the rooftop’s access points. Had it been Asagi in her place, a quick motion with the blade to sever both the lock and part of the wooden frame in one clean motion would have been enough. 

But for her, she slipped inside with ease. Her body sinking into the darkness and bypassing most security until she reappeared into the cramped space beneath the roof. The ventilation system provided countless tiny openings overlooking the corridors below, allowing her to observe everything without exposing herself.

The sight waiting beneath caused her body to stiffen almost immediately. A woman with long pink hair and a bizarre outfit walked calmly through the hallway, speaking with several guards and staff members gathered around her. One after another, they reported on patrol routes, security checkpoints, and the current state of the arena. Everything appeared orderly, every answer earning a satisfied nod from the blonde woman as she continued toward the central passage.

"What about Oboro's preparations?"

One of the guards bowed slightly before answering. "Everything has already been arranged. She'll be heading to the stage within moments."

"Good." Satisfaction crept into the woman’s voice. "As long as that woman does her part, I won't have anything to worry about." She took several more steps before stopping again, turning toward another group of security personnel. "Double the guards around the VIP section. Especially around VIP Room Five. If anyone tries to sneak in, I want them caught before they set so much as a toenail inside."

Hidden behind the ventilation grate, Sakura stared in complete disbelief. Recognition slowly spread across her face as she continued watching the woman issue orders with perfect confidence. Unable to stop herself, she lowered her voice to the faintest whisper. "Isn't… isn't that the same woman who keeps coming to the café?”

Sakura already knew she worked for Nomad, but that fact alone had never given her any reason to be suspicious. The organization employed thousands upon thousands of ordinary people. Secretaries, accountants, clerks, receptionists, janitors, maintenance workers. Most of them were simply trying to earn a living and had nothing to do with the ocean of darkness hiding beneath the company's polished exterior. Working for Nomad was not a crime by itself. Yet the woman walking those corridors was clearly no ordinary employee. The sword at her hip clearly wasn’t there for ceremonial purposes, and every guard she passed straightened instinctively in her presence, while the staff addressed her with unmistakable deference. 

That was not how people treated a mere office worker. That was how they treated someone with authority. Someone high enough in the hierarchy to command an entire section without question.

"…This isn't good." The whisper barely escaped Sakura's lips before another thought followed immediately after. “She's bad news.” 

Did Emiya know about this? She dismissed the possibility almost as quickly as it appeared. There was no way he could have known about her true identity, the former had no reason to suspect that someone who casually visited the café would also hold such an important position inside a place like the Chaos Arena. The more she pieced everything together, the less she liked it. That woman’s friendly attitude toward Emiya suddenly felt different in retrospect. 

Had she approached him by coincidence… or had there been a reason from the very beginning? Her grip tightened around the hilt at her waist. If that woman intended to use him somehow, then she represented a danger that extended far beyond today's rescue mission.

‘Next time… yeah, next time for sure. I need to calm down.’

Her narrowed gaze remained fixed on the retreating figure below. One decisive strike. That was all it would take. From this distance she could reach her before anyone realized what had happened. Someone with that much authority disappearing would surely save countless innocent lives, and might even remove whatever threat she posed to Emiya before it had the chance to grow. The temptation lingered for several long moments before the kunoichi slowly exhaled through clenched teeth and loosened her grip. 

No. Acting now would throw everything into chaos. Asagi had entrusted her with a specific role, and charging ahead because of personal feelings would only make the mission harder for her sister. Reluctantly, she slid the blade fully back into its sheath and forced herself to remain still until the pink-haired woman disappeared around the corner.

Only then did Sakura crawl back through the ventilation shaft before quietly lowering herself into the hallway below. The instant her boots touched the polished floor, her attention shifted toward several large televisions mounted along the walls. Every screen displayed the ongoing match inside the arena. Her breath caught the moment she recognized one of the fighters.

"…Murasaki."

For several seconds she simply stared. So much time had passed that the Taimanin who was her senior by a year and friend had changed almost beyond recognition. The confident girl she faintly remembered had grown into a woman, stronger, taller, and far more skilled than before. Pride swelled inside her chest, only to be drowned beneath a wave of anger as she watched the battle continue. 

Every wobbly movement, every grotesque display of physical strength reminded her exactly what Nomad had done. What they would do to any Taimanin who fell into their clutches. 

They had poisoned her. Experimented on her. Clearly twisted her body into something it was never meant to become. Her jaw tightened until it almost hurt, unable to forgive the people responsible for stealing so much from someone who deserved none of it.

The longer the fight dragged on, the more restless she became. Every exchange left Murasaki pushing herself harder, and every passing second made Sakura wonder why Asagi had not made her move yet. 

‘Has something gone wrong? Was she delayed?’ The urge to abandon her assignment grew stronger with every blow exchanged on the screens. Her feet shifted toward the direction of the arena before she stopped herself once more. No. She had to trust Asagi. That was the entire reason they had split up in the first place.

“Ah…”

Without warning, every light in the corridor flickered before dying all at once. Darkness swallowed the hallway so suddenly that even she blinked in surprise. ‘Did onee-sama finally begin to make her move?’ The blackout would certainly make infiltration easier. She was about to move when the door immediately beside her swung open. A large guard stepped out, his eyes landing on the unfamiliar figure standing in the darkness. 

“Shit, intruder!” Training kicked in instantly as his hand flew toward the radio clipped to his shoulder.

He never got the chance to turn it on.

Sakura exploded forward before the device even reached his lips. Her elbow slammed cleanly into his abdomen with terrifying precision, driving straight through his guard. “Oof!” Blood burst from the man's mouth as every bit of air escaped his lungs in one violent cough, along with several specks of blood. His feet left the floor entirely before his body crashed backward through the doorway.

Not wasting even a heartbeat, the kunoichi slipped inside after him and shut the door before anyone outside noticed the disturbance. She had barely turned around when an indignant voice echoed through the room.

"What is the meaning of this?!"

Her eyes immediately found the speaker. Recognition came almost instantly. She had seen him countless times on television standing behind podiums, giving speeches about diplomacy and foreign affairs. 

Yazaki Muneichi. 

A politician from the Minshin Party with enough influence that his face was known across the country. Seeing him inside one of Nomad's VIP rooms erased any remaining doubt about the organization's reach.

Rather than panicking, the politician narrowed his eyes and studied her as though evaluating an unexpected inconvenience. "I must admit, Nomad's security has disappointed me today — she was not kidding with the stretched thin part after all. Allowing a Taimanin to reach this room so easily is unacceptable." He folded his arms, already thinking aloud. "Were you hired by the Liberal National Party?" 

A brief pause followed before he dismissed the theory himself with a slight shake of his head. "No… that would be far too obvious. Someone inside my own faction must have decided to remove me instead. They sent you here to assassinate me. Quite bold of them, choosing to make their move in a place like this."

As the man continued constructing increasingly ridiculous theories, Sakura felt the corner of her right eye twitch. Every word coming out of his mouth sounded more self-important than the last, and she found herself caring less and less about his paranoid rambling. Still, one important fact remained impossible to ignore. Whether she liked it or not, he was a VIP. Someone valuable enough that Nomad would never leave him unprotected for long. That meant reinforcements would arrive sooner rather than later, and whatever happened next would need to happen quickly. 

Inwardly, Sakura offered a silent apology to her sister. This wasn't part of the plan, and she knew Asagi had entrusted her with observation and serving as a lookout rather than direct engagement. Even so, letting a man like Yazaki walk away simply because he happened to occupy the wrong place at the wrong time felt like a mistake that would haunt her later. If removing him now increased the odds of the mission succeeding, then she would accept whatever scolding awaited her afterward. Her fingers closed firmly around the hilt of one of her ninjatos before the blade slid free from its sheath in one smooth motion, the polished steel reflecting the room's lights as its tip settled squarely on the politician.

‘Tch, I should have brought my tantos instead.’ 

For cramped spaces like this, those blades would have worked better. But it was too late for regrets and against regular humans she didn't worry much.

The older man studied the drawn sword for only a second before his expression hardened. "I'm giving you one final opportunity to reconsider." His voice remained remarkably composed despite the weapon aimed directly at him. "Whatever someone paid you, I'll double it. Triple it, if necessary. I know how Gosha Village operates. Your missions remain confidential, don't they? Then let this become another secret. Walk away now, leave me alive, and I'll make sure no one ever learns you were here."

The masked kunoichi stared back without the slightest hint of hesitation. Only her eyes were visible above the cloth covering her face, yet the contempt within them spoke louder than any expression could have. "…You're an idiot."

The insult had barely left her lips before every bodyguard reacted at once. Rifles came up in perfect synchronization, fingers squeezed their triggers, and the room erupted into deafening gunfire. 

Bang!

Bang!

Bang!

Sakura disappeared from view the instant the first muzzle flashed. 

The opening pair of bullets met her blade head-on, the ninjato carving through solid metal with frightening precision. Both projectiles split cleanly in two before the separated halves screamed past either side of her body. Twisting through the remaining barrage, she threw herself behind a reinforced wall just as dozens more rounds hammered into it. Concrete burst apart beneath the relentless impacts, fragments exploding across the room, yet the thick barrier held long enough to deny them a clear shot.

Refusing to remain cornered, the girl dropped into a roll, the Taimanin slipped behind a heavy office desk before driving the sole of her foot into its side. 

Crash!

The enormous wooden table tore free from its position and shot across the room like a battering ram, smashing directly into one of the armed guards with enough force to send both man and furniture crashing across the floor.

Before anyone else could adjust, Sakura was already moving again, both blades now drawn. Her off-hand weapon flashed once through the dim room, drawing a precise crimson line across another guard's chest. Blood sprayed into the air as he collapsed backward, the rifle slipping uselessly from nerveless fingers before it ever had the chance to fire again.

Her gaze drifted back toward Yazaki. Killing him would undoubtedly solve one problem, yet this had never been her assigned objective. Asagi's instructions had been perfectly clear. Observe the executives. Watch the VIPs. Report anything suspicious. The older Taimanin had never ordered an assassination. 

For a brief moment, uncertainty crept into Sakura's thoughts before another idea quietly took its place. 

The corners of her mouth lifted beneath the mask. "Let's go pay our neighbor a little visit."

The surviving bodyguard had recovered more quickly than expected. Another gunshot rang through the room, but Sakura ducked beneath it before launching herself forward. Her momentum carried her directly onto the larger man's shoulders as both legs wrapped around his neck with practiced precision. A violent twist of her hips followed. His feet left the floor completely before the enormous body hurtled through the air and smashed straight through the adjoining wall in an explosion of shattered wood and plaster. 

Watching that display shattered whatever composure Yazaki had left. Fear finally overtook reason as he abandoned every ounce of dignity, scrambling toward the opening in a desperate attempt to escape.

She had no intention of giving him another opportunity to surprise her. The shadows around her feet rippled unnaturally before swallowing her entire body. Her form dissolved into the darkness itself, vanishing from the ruined office without a trace. Moments later, she emerged silently inside the neighboring room. Her attention immediately locked onto the corrupt politician, who had collapsed before another individual whose features remained obscured from her position. The terrified Minshin member was practically pleading for protection. Sakura had already predicted exactly how this conversation would end. Whoever occupied this room would either help Yazaki… or become another obstacle.

“Ha!” 

She attacked without hesitation.

The assumption that this unknown man would be easy to eliminate disappeared almost instantly, as her strike never connected. 

Somehow, the stranger reacted before she even completed her swing. Despite Sakura’s ninja  art concealing her presence within the surrounding shadows, he had pinpointed her approach with an unnerving accuracy. A single motion intercepted her attack, and with another she found herself being grabbed by the neck. 

‘How the hell—!?’ 

Sakura found herself thrown sideways as though she weighed nothing at all, skidding across the polished floor before managing to recover and settle into a crouch several meters away.

Slowly rising back to her feet, she narrowed her eyes. This opponent was nothing like the guards outside. 

More surprisingly, the first thing he did after intercepting her wasn't protecting Yazaki. Instead, he casually smacked the politician aside with enough force to send the rotund older man sprawling across the room, almost as though his existence was an annoyance rather than someone worth defending. 

‘If that didn't kill him, then that slap definitely snapped something.’ 

Whether they were allies or not ceased to matter. Anyone privileged enough to sit comfortably inside one of Nomad's VIP rooms while innocent people suffered below deserved no sympathy from her. Tightening her grip around her ninjatos, Sakura settled back into her stance.

She exploded forward again, covering the distance in a heartbeat. An overhead slash descended with enough force to split bone and steel alike.

The stranger didn't even bother drawing a weapon.

His hand drifted lazily toward the nearby dining table before picking up the first object within reach.

A butter knife.

Clang!

Metal collided with metal.

A deafening clang echoed throughout the room as brilliant sparks burst between both weapons. Sakura's eyes widened beneath the mask. 

Her ninjato had been stopped completely dead in its tracks. 

Not by another sword or by some hidden defensive technique… but by a fucking butter knife of all things!

Blue, circuit-like patterns pulsed across the utensil's surface, spreading outward like glowing veins as though reinforcing the cheap piece of cutlery into something capable of matching forged steel. The sight alone forced Sakura to spring backward, every instinct screaming that something was terribly wrong. Her heart pounded harder than before while she continued staring at the ordinary-looking knife.

"…What the hell was that?"

For the briefest moment she questioned whether her own eyes had deceived her. A kitchen utensil blocking a ninjato with enough strength to produce sparks belonged in a ridiculous story, not reality.

‘Unless… Could it be some demon magic, or maybe a ninja art? But he didn’t look anything like a Taimanin.’

As Sakura tried to mull this over, the mysterious man twirled the butter knife around his fingers as casually as someone idly playing with a coin. The relaxed motion carried an unmistakable hint of mockery.

"You think you're funny?"

He shrugged as a response.

That silent answer irritated Sakura far more than any insult could have. Her eye twitched beneath the mask as she drove herself forward once again, refusing to allow him another moment of leisure. 

Clang!

Clang!

Steel danced through the air in a seamless sequence of attacks. A horizontal slash cut toward his waist, immediately flowing into a rising diagonal aimed for the shoulder. 

Without the slightest pause, she transitioned into a direct thrust toward the center of his chest before pivoting on her heel, the motion carrying perfectly into a spinning backhand slash targeting his neck. Every strike linked flawlessly into the next as she pressed the attack hoping to not give her opponent even a single moment to breathe.

“Gah!” 

A groan of pain escaped her mouth, despite the near flawless move, her wrists already began to grow sore and ache at the slightest movement.

Clang!

Each strike Sakura unleashed was met by nothing more than an ordinary dinner utensil. Sparks burst through the air as steel scraped against cheap silverware, yet the strange man never took a single step away from where he had been standing since she burst into the room. 

Every slash, thrust, feint, and change in angle was intercepted with infuriating ease, the tiny utensil moving only as much as absolutely necessary. Just who the hell was this monster? Even demons she had fought before relied on overwhelming strength or supernatural abilities. Never had she heard of anyone capable of stopping a Taimanin’s weapon with a dull dining knife as though it were the most natural thing in the world.

“Aaah!” 

A frustrated scream escaped her as she lunged again, driving the blade toward his stomach twice in rapid succession. She already knew he would block it, but that wasn't the point. 

Needing to create an opening. Instead, her entire body froze. Rather than using the flat side of the knife this time, the man calmly rotated his wrist and presented only its pointed tip. Somehow, impossibly, that tiny point aligned perfectly with the edge of her ninjato. Both… ‘weapons’ without the slightest deviation. Every bit of strength she had committed to the thrust was halted completely. 

Then, at last, a faint crack echoed through the room. A sense of victory rose within her heart as the butter knife split cleanly in two, one half tumbling lazily onto the polished floor. Both glanced downward, a grin spread beneath her mask before she could stop it. "Hehehe, finally! Now you've got nothing left to defend yourself with."

The words had barely left her mouth before her triumph evaporated. Without the slightest hint of concern, the man reached toward the serving tray beside him, picked up another butter knife, and casually raised it into view. Thin blue lines immediately crawled across its surface. Sakura's eyelid twitched violently. "Oh come on! You've got to be kidding me! That's cheating!"

At that point she had completely convinced herself she was fighting some twisted demon amusing himself by humiliating her. There was no other explanation. Every passing second spent in this room was another second Asagi was facing danger below, and that thought gnawed at her more than anything else. She could not afford to waste time trading meaningless blows with someone who treated kitchen utensils like legendary weapons. Drawing in a slow breath, the young Taimanin reached a decision. One strike. She had to end this with one decisive attack.

Her arm snapped forward, sending the ninjato in her main hand hurtling across the room with every ounce of strength she possessed. 

The spinning blade screamed through the air, aimed directly at his head. Instead of raising the butter knife again, the mysterious man simply inclined his head to the side, clearly intending to dodge. 

That was exactly what she had been waiting for. Her shadow technique activated instantly, allowing Sakura to appear along the wall beside him before the weapon completed its flight. Fingers wrapped around the hilt midair, her body twisting as she redirected the slash in one smooth motion. The blade changed course completely, now racing toward his exposed neck.

It cut nothing but empty air.

Her pupils contracted as the space before her suddenly became vacant. Before her mind could process what had happened, powerful fingers wrapped around her face once again. “Mmmmm!” At the same time, his free hand ripped the ninjato from her grasp with such overwhelming force that her grip broke instantly. She struggled on instinct, but the resistance lasted only a fraction of a second before her body was hurled across the room.

Crash!

The first wall exploded behind her. Then the second. Then the third. Only the fourth wall finally robbed her of enough momentum to stop the flight. Fragments of wood and stone rained down around the battered Taimanin as she collapsed amid the wreckage. 

“Hn!” Every muscle screamed in protest. Her ribs burned, her vision blurred, and breathing itself became painful. It felt as though every bone inside her body had shattered, though years of experience told her the damage wasn't quite that catastrophic. A few fractures at most. Even so, getting back onto her feet felt like trying to lift an entire mountain.

Several broken walls separated them now, yet the dark figure had not moved an inch. He remained standing exactly where she had left him, posture unchanged, almost as though the exchange had been nothing more than a passing inconvenience. 

“Hah… hah…” The sight made Sakura grit her bloodstained teeth. He had possessed countless opportunities to kill her already. Instead, he simply watched. Even without seeing his expression, she could feel his gaze resting upon her, waiting to see what she would choose next. The humiliation stung almost more than the injuries themselves. She honestly couldn't remember the last time she had felt this helpless.

Only then did she realize her blades were no longer in her hands. The man held them both in one hand effortlessly while she remained armed with nothing except a handful of kunai, shuriken, and throwing knives. Against an opponent like this, those might as well have been toys. Running never even crossed her mind. This was her first mission beside Asagi, and there was no chance she would disgrace herself by retreating. If necessary, she would fight barehanded until every bone in her body finally gave out.

She couldn't allow this monster anywhere near her sister. Asagi stood a far better chance than she did, but even the strongest Taimanin would eventually be overwhelmed if forced to fight multiple powerful enemies at once. Sakura had promised herself she would help, not become another burden.

Just as she planted her feet, preparing to rush him with nothing but fists and kicks, his next action completely caught her off guard. The stranger calmly inspected the dual ninjatos for several seconds, turning them slightly beneath the light before flicking his wrist. 

“Eh?”

The weapons spun gracefully through the air, landed point-first on either side of her, buried into the floorboards with a metallic clang. The echo lingered throughout the shattered room. Her eyes shifted from the swords to the silent figure standing in the distance. Understanding slowly dawned on her.

He wasn't taking her seriously.

This entire fight had been nothing more than a game to him.

Her fingers wrapped tightly around both hilts once again as anger surged through every aching muscle. "What?" she spat. "Do you seriously think I'm going to beg? That I'll throw myself at your feet and ask you to spare me? That I'll just run away? To leave this place by myself!?"

The man answered with nothing more than a single nod.

A bitter laugh escaped Sakura before she tightened her grip until her knuckles turned white. "Even if I die here, I won't betray my sister! I'll bring you down even if it costs me my life!"

The only response she thought she heard was a tired sigh.

Before she could decide whether she had imagined it, something metallic bounced across the floor between them. Her attention snapped downward. A small cylindrical canister rolled to a stop before erupting into an enormous cloud of black smoke that swallowed the room within seconds. 

Visibility disappeared instantly. Sakura instinctively shifted into a defensive stance, expecting another attack. Instead, a silhouette burst from the smoke and rushed straight toward her. She tensed, ready to strike, but the moment the figure reached her, a familiar face emerged from the darkness. Rather than attacking, he caught her gently before she could lose her balance and pulled her upright.

A sharp sting suddenly shot through her thigh.

Looking down in alarm, Sakura saw a syringe embedded in her leg. Before she could react or swing her sword, the bald newcomer spoke in a calm, matter-of-fact tone. "Healing agent. Pain suppressor. It'll repair the worst of your injuries within seconds and keep the pain manageable."

Almost immediately, she felt the medicine working. Warmth spread through her body. The agony in her arm faded as fractured bones shifted back into place, followed by several other major injuries that rapidly mended themselves. 

Countless bruises and cuts still remained, but the worst damage was made to vanish right before her eyes. She barely had enough time to marvel at it before the man swept her into a princess carry and shot through the smoke at incredible speed. Getting a proper look at his face stirred something familiar in the back of her mind, though she couldn't place where she had seen him before. Then, almost to himself, he muttered under his breath, "Seriously… why the hell would Asagi bring you here?"

Her mind came to halt.

"You're… Murasaki's brother? Yatsu Kuro!"

She remembered her sister speaking about him several times in the past and had also seen this man from afar when she was still training to be a Taimanin at the academy. 

A crooked smirk answered her. "So you actually remember me. Glad to see you here too, brat."

"Why are you here?"

He looked at her as though she had asked the dumbest question imaginable. "To save my sister, obviously, you idiot! Now quit talking. We need to get as far away from that thing as possible. Now let's get out of here quickly before the charges detonate!"

Carried effortlessly through the smoke-filled corridors, Sakura glanced back over his shoulder. The dark figure still stood exactly where he had been from the very beginning. He made no attempt to pursue them. Somehow, that frightened her even more. Deep down, she knew with absolute certainty that if he had wanted to stop them, neither she nor Murasaki's brother would have escaped that room. His speed rivaled Asagi's, perhaps even surpassed it, yet he simply watched them leave.

‘Something about him… feels familiar.’ 

{Break}

(Few minutes earlier)

Asagi moved through the underground sections of the Chaos Arena, following the same route she had taken when she first infiltrated the facility. The familiarity of the path was useful, but it also made the changes immediately obvious. 

Security had been increased considerably since her previous visit, with several routes that had once been left open now sealed behind reinforced doors, additional locks, and other security measures designed to slow down anyone attempting to move through the lower levels. She had expected something like this after what happened the last time, which was why she had already abandoned any thought of quietly making her way through the entire facility. If she wanted a reliable escape route this time, the best way would be to create one herself before the situation became too chaotic. 

Her first priority was no longer simply reaching Murasaki. She needed to establish a path she could use to get out, giving herself an option that had not existed during her previous infiltration and preventing herself from being forced into another desperate improvisation.

The Taimanin prodigy reached the point where the first guard had attempted to stop her and retrieved her katana from where it remained embedded in his body. She pulled the blade free, wiped it clean against a piece of the man's clothing, and then dragged the body away from the main route before hiding it somewhere that would not immediately draw attention. 

She knew it would eventually be discovered, but every minute mattered. Before moving on, several small chips left her fingers and flew toward the cameras positioned throughout the corridor. Each one attached itself to a camera housing, allowing her to manipulate what was being recorded without actually disabling the surveillance system. Anyone monitoring the security feeds would continue seeing guards standing at their assigned positions, walking through the corridors, and carrying out their ordinary duties even after those same guards had already been dealt with. It would not fool anyone who physically checked the area, but it could buy her enough time to move deeper into the facility before anyone realized that the security footage no longer matched reality.

She continued forward, cutting through several metallic doors with her katana before following each slash with a powerful kick that sent the damaged sections crashing inward. The noise could not be avoided, but there was little reason to worry about subtlety anymore. She needed to move quickly before the absence of the guards became apparent, and every obstacle between her and the upper levels was another opportunity for someone to notice the disturbance. 

Passing one of the larger rooms, she heard voices and the sound of several people reacting excitedly to something happening nearby. Asagi slowed enough to peer inside and immediately recognized the room as some sort of lounge. Several members were gathered there, many of them apparently unaware of what was happening in the corridors outside. Their attention was focused entirely on the televisions mounted around the room, where the ongoing battle inside the arena was being displayed for spectators.

Then she saw Murasaki.

The sight made her stop for only a moment, but it was enough to change her understanding of the situation. There was no point searching through the lower levels for a cell when the girl she had come here to rescue was already somewhere above them, fighting in front of an audience. Her hands tightened around the sword in her grip as she watched the younger Taimanin on the screens, reminding herself that Murasaki was more than capable of surviving a fight and easily had sufficient strength to defend herself even after days of captivity. That did little to ease her concern. This was Nomad, and Asagi had already seen enough of what the organization was willing to do to know that she could not assume they would give Murasaki a fair fight.

"This time, I'll definitely save you. Just hang on a little longer."

She moved again, forcing her way through another section of the underground facility until she finally reached a route leading toward the sewer system beneath the arena. The opening gave her another possible route toward the outside, and she immediately began covering her tracks after passing through it. 

The work was quick and imperfect, nothing more than enough to make the area appear undisturbed at first glance. It would not withstand close inspection. Anyone who came through the same area several seconds later and actually looked for signs of interference would notice that something had been disturbed. That was a problem for later. For now, she needed to reach the arena itself before the fighting above became even more dangerous.

The route eventually brought her toward the upper levels, where a long corridor separated her from the interior of the arena. 

“—!”

Asagi stepped into it and immediately stopped when she noticed someone waiting in the middle of the passage. The woman was tall, with pink hair falling around her armored figure. Her armor had the appearance of a knight's equipment, and despite standing alone in the corridor. One hand rested near her red sword as she watched Asagi approach, completely calm despite the fact that the Taimanin had already cut her way through several layers of security.

"Humph, you came after all." The woman drew her sword and swung it into position before settling into a composed stance, her palm resting against the pommel while the blade pointed toward the floor. "I am Hell Knight Ingrid, right hand of Black-sama and current overseer of the Chaos Arena. It is almost an honor to meet such a deadly Taimanin as Igawa Asagi herself."

“...”

Asagi did not bother answering the introduction, however courteous. Her body blurred as she activated her ninja art and accelerated forward, crossing the distance between them in less than a second. Her sword came down with enough force to split through an ordinary opponent before they could even understand what was happening, yet Ingrid's sword moved at the last possible instant and caught the descending blade. 

Clang!

The collision sent sparks scattering across the corridor, the sudden burst of light illuminating both faces for a moment as Asagi's eyes widened. She had not held back, having committed herself to that first attack with the expectation that even someone extremely skilled would struggle to react in time. Yet the woman standing before her had done exactly that. Even Oboro, despite all her experience and speed, would have struggled to intercept an attack launched at that distance and velocity.

The pink-haired knight's expression showed genuine interest as she maintained the block. "You're faster than the rumors suggested. It makes sense now why everyone who confronted you in the past failed to stop you. Unfortunately for you, this is the point of no return. I will not allow you to pass, and I certainly won't allow you to leave."

"That's not for you to decide."

It was the first time Asagi had directly addressed her, and she immediately followed those words by twisting her blade and forcing the other woman's sword aside. 

The two fighters launched into a rapid exchange, their swords colliding repeatedly as they moved through the corridor. Ingrid fought from a firm stance, putting her strength behind each attack and relying on the force of her strikes to control the space around her. Asagi fought in almost the opposite manner, constantly shifting her position, changing angles, and relying on speed and flexibility to attack from places her opponent should not have been able to cover. The difference in their approaches became obvious almost immediately. The dark haired woman was the faster fighter, but Ingrid's reactions were good enough to keep her from simply overwhelming her with speed.

The Taimanin changed her approach and aimed a thrust toward Ingrid's side, trying to slip past her guard before the knight could reposition herself. Ingrid responded by rotating her sword and using its flat side to knock the katana away from its intended path. The opening lasted only an instant, but it was enough. 

Her free hand drove forward toward Asagi's stomach with enough force to break through her defense. Asagi reacted on instinct, bringing her knee up between them just before the fist could connect with her torso. The impact still sent a powerful shock through her body and forced her backward. She flew several meters before twisting in midair and landing on her feet, her boots sliding against the floor as she caught herself.

Her body trembled slightly from the force of the impact. The strike had been powerful enough that, had it landed directly against her ribs, she had little doubt that several bones would have broken. Instead, her knee had absorbed most of the attack, leaving her shaken but still capable of fighting. Asagi straightened herself and tightened her grip around the Ninjato, her eyes remaining fixed on the woman ahead of her as she reassessed the opponent standing between her and Murasaki.

Whoosh!

The air in front of Asagi suddenly became hot enough that she felt it against her face before she even understood what was happening. 

She raised her head just in time to see a column of fire racing toward her, the attack pouring directly from Ingrid's sword. The flames swallowed the corridor in an instant, spreading across the walls and floor as the surrounding metal began to glow and deform under the heat. 

Sections of the wall started melting almost immediately, liquid metal running down the surface while the temperature climbed high enough that an ordinary human being caught inside would have been burned beyond recognition. For a moment, there was nothing left to see except fire. The corridor disappeared behind the roaring flames, and even the distant lights were obscured as the attack consumed everything in its path.

Eventually, the flames began to subside, leaving behind a corridor covered in scorched surfaces and warped metal. Ingrid remained where she was, her sword still raised and her posture ready for another attack. The area ahead appeared empty, reduced to melted metal and blackened walls, while the lights farther down the corridor flickered faintly through the lingering heat. 

She did not lower her guard. Her eyes remained fixed on the devastation until a sharp cracking sound came from beside her. The wall next to her split open, fragments of damaged material falling away as a figure emerged from within it. Asagi stepped through the opening, her armor burned in several places but otherwise intact, with no major injuries visible across her body.

"As expected from someone like you."

The two immediately resumed their fight. Their blades collided repeatedly as they moved through the damaged corridor, each exchange forcing them to react to the other's movements almost immediately. Asagi accelerated again, slipping past one of Ingrid's attacks and leaving a shallow cut across the woman's face before withdrawing from her reach. The exchange happened so quickly that their bodies became little more than fleeting shapes moving through the corridor, with the sound of steel striking steel repeatedly cutting through the heat and destruction around them.

Asagi was beginning to realize that she could not afford for this fight to continue. She was frustrated by the difference between what her body could do now and what it had once been capable of. Her speed and strength were still considerable, but neither was what they had been before she retired, and the strain was already beginning to spread through her muscles. 

‘If I continue like this, my body will eventually fail before her.’ The realization became even more obvious when the Hell Knight pressed forward, her red sword came down and cleaved through a section of hardened metal as though it were nothing, the blade immediately melting through the damaged surface as another layer of fire coated its edge. Asagi shifted away from the attack, but Ingrid followed by twisting her body and driving a powerful kick into her stomach. 

“Gah!” 

The impact forced her backward, and her knees buckled slightly when she caught herself.

"For someone who was once known as the ‘Almighty’ Taimanin Asagi, you're not showing much of what those reports described. All I'm seeing is an exceptionally skilled Taimanin. The records made you sound like something considerably more dangerous, something beyond that. I suppose years of retirement can dull even the finest warrior's edge."

The knight settled into a new stance and drew a deep breath, and Asagi immediately noticed that something had changed. The temperature around them began rising again, but this time there was no immediate burst of flame. Instead, the fire already covering sections of the corridor began dying down one patch at a time. Strange markings appeared across Ingrid's body as the amount of demonic energy surrounding her began increasing at an extraordinary rate. The pressure of that energy was enough to make Asagi's instincts react before she could fully understand what her opponent was preparing.

"I don't want to waste any more time on pointless exchanges. If this needs to end in one strike, then so be it. I'm not taking the chance that you'll somehow slip past me and escape."

Every instinct in Asagi's body told her that she could not allow whatever was coming to hit her. Her hand moved toward the second sword at her hip, the weapon she had been given before entering the arena. Her fingers wrapped around its hilt as she made her decision. She could feel every instinct urging her toward the same conclusion, and this time she would have to trust it.

Then half the lights throughout the Chaos Arena went out.

The electrical systems powering large sections of the facility failed almost simultaneously, and even much of the background noise disappeared as the arena was plunged into darkness. The sudden change caught Ingrid off guard for an instant. Her concentration broke as she turned her head toward the disturbance, trying to determine what had caused it. Asagi did not need an explanation. She knew exactly who was responsible.

Sakura.

Before Ingrid could recover, Asagi was already moving. She drew the second sword and rushed forward with the same opening attack she had used during their first clash, closing the distance with her blade held ready. This time, however, the weapon in her hand was the white-bladed sword. Ingrid recovered quickly, living up to the title she carried as she broke away from her momentary distraction and repositioned herself before the attack could reach her. 

Clang!

Another impact reverberated through the walls. Their swords collided with enough force to send sparks through the darkness, but this time Asagi did not allow herself to be pushed back. She forced Taima particles through her body, reinforcing her physical strength as she pushed herself as far as she could.

A crisp crack cut through the corridor.

Both fighters looked toward the red sword. A thin fracture had appeared across the weapon, barely visible but unmistakable. The blade had not broken, yet the sight was enough to shock Ingrid. Asagi immediately used that moment. She pulled her sword back, shifted her grip, and drove the white blade forward before the Hell Knight could fully recover. 

“Ah!” The weapon pierced through Ingrid's stomach, forcing the pink-haired woman to stagger backward. She jumped away from the attack, pulling the sword free as she landed heavily on her knees and immediately clutched the wound in an attempt to slow the bleeding.

Asagi did not stay to see whether she would recover. There was no time for that. Murasaki was still inside the arena, Oboro was somewhere nearby, and every second spent fighting another opponent increased the chance that something would happen to either of them. She continued down the corridor toward the central arena entrance, keeping her attention focused on the path ahead rather than the wounded knight behind her.

Another woman stepped into her way.

"This is as far as you go."

Before Asagi could respond, the woman's body began changing. Her human form twisted into something unmistakably demonic, her lower body transforming into a long serpentine shape as scales spread across her skin. The transformation continued until the creature standing before her no longer resembled an ordinary human being. An immense amount of demonic energy radiated from her body, filling the corridor as she faced the approaching Taimanin with confidence.

Asagi did not hesitate, her speed grew again and the woman accelerated forward once again, closing the distance before the creature could properly react. The white sword flashed through the darkness as she swung it directly toward her opponent.

"It's futile. Nothing can penetrate my scales, no matter how much Taima particles you put into that blad—argh! W-What!?”"

The claim ended the moment the sword struck. A black gust erupted around the blade as it cut through the creature's defense, piercing directly through her palm and continuing along her arm. The weapon sliced through the limb with enough force to sever it completely, cutting through until it emerged near the shoulder. The severed arm fell away as the demon screamed, staggering backward and clutching the ruined limb. “This is… this is not possible!”

Asagi did not even spare her a glance. Her attention had already shifted beyond the wounded demon, toward the center of the arena where she had finally found what she had been searching for.

Oboro.

And beside her was Murasaki.

"Asagi!"

The familiar voice reached her just as she broke through the final stretch of the arena, and Murasaki turned toward the sound. Recognition immediately flashed across her face. She stared in disbelief as she saw the woman she had been waiting for, and her lips parted as though she were about to call her name. 

Asagi did not give her the opportunity. She crossed the remaining distance in an instant and struck the back of Murasaki's head with the hilt of her sword, putting enough force behind the blow to render her unconscious without causing unnecessary damage. The younger Taimanin’s body went limp immediately, but the older woman caught her before she could hit the ground and lowered her carefully into her arms.

"Sorry about that," she murmured, looking down at the unconscious girl. "I can't take any chances with you being mind-controlled again."

Asagi adjusted her grip and prepared to move, only for the sound of slow clapping to reach her from farther down the arena. She turned toward it and found Oboro standing there, her expression twisted by anger and frustration while she nevertheless forced a small smile onto her face. The sight of the woman who had caused so much suffering was enough to make Asagi's expression harden, especially after everything that had happened to Kyousuke.

"You've got some guts coming back here after everything you did," Oboro called out, her forced smile becoming increasingly strained. "Do you have any idea what this is going to do to the trust Black-sama placed in me? You walk into my event, disrupt everything, kill my people, and now you're taking one of my star fighters right out from under me."

"It doesn't matter."

Asagi placed Murasaki down on the floor nearby, making sure she was out of the immediate line of fire before turning back toward the woman responsible for the arena. Her fingers tightened around the sword in her hand as memories of Kyousuke's death came rushing back. "I killed the people who stood in my way, and I'll kill you for what you did to Kyousuke."

The next movement happened so quickly that Oboro barely had time to react. Asagi flashed forward, covering the distance between them in an instant, and swung her sword. Unlike her earlier exchanges with Ingrid, there was no clash of steel and no resistance from her opponent's weapon. The blade simply tore through it as though it had been made from soft butter, cutting straight through the defense Oboro had raised. The attack continued across her body, followed by another and then another, Asagi moving around her with such speed that the individual strikes became difficult to distinguish. Cuts opened across Oboro's body, blood spilling from each wound as she staggered under the assault, unable to mount a meaningful defense.

Rather than using the sword she had been given by the unknown man, Asagi reached for the weapon she had carried with her for this purpose, the same blade that had been used to kill Kyousuke. She drew it without hesitation and drove it directly into Oboro's chest. The blade sank deep, leaving the other woman struggling to remain standing as blood ran down her body and onto the floor. Asagi's grip tightened around the hilt as she prepared to finish it by taking her head.

Then something struck her from the side.

The kick crashed into her ribs with enough force to send her flying backward. Asagi's body spun through the air before she crashed back down near Murasaki, rolling several times before finally stopping. Pain tore through her side, and she immediately knew something was wrong. She pressed a hand against her ribs and felt the unmistakable sensation of a broken bone beneath her skin. She clenched her teeth against the pain and looked up.

Ingrid had returned.

The cut across the woman's stomach was still visible, but it had already been reduced to a much smaller wound. The regeneration was far faster than Asagi had expected, and the realization immediately changed her assessment of the knight she had fought earlier. Even after taking a wound like that, Ingrid was already back on her feet and capable of delivering an attack strong enough to send her flying.

"Fast regeneration?" Asagi muttered, forcing herself upright despite the pain.

The answer came in the form of footsteps and the sound of weapons being raised. Several security members rushed into the area, surrounding her from multiple directions with guns pointed directly at her. The formation was painfully familiar. Once again, she found herself trapped with enemies on every side, except this time Murasaki was unconscious beside her and her own body had already suffered another injury. The soldiers kept their distance while maintaining their aim, clearly waiting for an opportunity to fire without risking their own people.

Ingrid looked toward Oboro, who was still barely standing with the sword buried in her chest. Despite everything, she had somehow survived the assault, although speaking was already becoming difficult with the weapon still lodged inside her. The knight's attention shifted back toward Asagi, and whatever intention she had possessed before was gone.

"Change of plans. After everything you've done here, I won't even attempt to capture you for Black-sama anymore. You're too great a threat to this organization. You need to be killed immediately."

Asagi tightened her grip around her sword and prepared herself for another fight, but before Ingrid could make her move, the entire arena shook.

A rumble began beneath their feet.

Boom!

The floor beneath them trembled violently, followed by a deafening explosion somewhere deeper inside the facility. The ceiling rattled, dust and pieces of debris falling around them as another explosion erupted in the distance. Then another followed, and another, until the entire Chaos Arena seemed to erupt at once. Explosions tore through sections of the facility, flames bursting through corridors and rooms as the sound of panicked screaming rose from the crowds. Thousands of spectators began scrambling in every direction, trampling over one another as they desperately searched for exits. Parts of the arena started collapsing under the repeated blasts, pieces of the ceiling breaking loose and crashing into the viewing areas while fire spread through the structure.

Asagi looked around in disbelief. She had expected resistance from Nomad, but nothing like this.

Ingrid's attention immediately shifted away from her. The knight looked upward toward the viewing stage where the important guests and officials had been watching the event. Horror spread across her face as she realized what was happening above them.

"No!"

Another explosion detonated before she could do anything else. Fire erupted across the arena, consuming sections of the structure as the shockwave ripped through the surrounding area. Ingrid immediately leapt toward one of the rooms above, completely abandoning Asagi in favor of reaching whoever was inside. For the moment, the Taimanin no longer mattered to her.

Asagi seized the opportunity. She grabbed Murasaki and immediately began moving, forcing her way through the security personnel whose formation had collapsed in the chaos. Several had been thrown from their positions by the explosions, while others were too busy trying to escape to pay attention to her. 

Reaching the route she had created earlier and began moving downward, carrying the unconscious girl as flames spread rapidly behind them. The explosions continued to shake the facility, each one sending another wave of heat and debris through the corridors.

The fire was catching up.

Asagi pushed herself harder, coughing as smoke filled her lungs. The shockwaves rattled her injured ribs, and she felt blood rise into her throat before spilling from her mouth. She wiped it away and continued forward, refusing to slow down. Another explosion thundered behind her, close enough to send debris flying through the passage and force her to stumble. With the flames closing in, she knew she had only one chance left.

She activated her ninja art one last time.

Her body became a blur as she accelerated through the final stretch, carrying Murasaki toward the outer edge of the arena. The pair burst through a massive window, glass exploding outward as they escaped into open air just as another blast erupted behind them. The shockwave struck far too close, catching Asagi before she could properly control her movement. Her grip on Murasaki broke, and both women began falling through the air with nothing beneath them to stop their descent.

Two figures suddenly appeared.

One caught Murasaki before she could fall any farther, while the other intercepted Asagi and brought her safely down. Sakura landed beside her, immediately securing her footing before looking at her sister with an expression of overwhelming relief.

"Got you!"

Nearby, the bald man landed safely with Murasaki in his arms. Neither of them wasted time questioning what had happened. With the arena still erupting behind them, they immediately began racing away from the collapsing structure.

Asagi looked back one final time.

The Chaos Arena was engulfed in fire, smoke, and collapsing debris. Flames climbed across the structure while explosions continued to tear through the facility. She closed her eyes, her exhausted body finally allowing itself a moment to breathe.

"I finally avenged you, my love."

.

.

.

Within the arena itself.

The Chaos Arena had become an inferno. Fire spread through the corridors, viewing areas, underground passages, and surrounding sections of the structure, consuming everything left in its path. Anyone who had failed to escape was caught within the devastation, their bodies left behind among the wreckage as both humans and demons were swallowed by the flames. The screams that had filled the arena earlier had disappeared beneath the constant roar of fire and collapsing stone, leaving only the crackling of burning material and the thunder of explosions still tearing through the ruins.

Rubble covered the ground while thick smoke filled the air, obscuring much of what remained of the arena. Fires continued burning throughout the wreckage, surrounding shattered walls and broken sections of the facility with towering flames. In the middle of it all, among the debris and burning remains of the Chaos Arena, a single figure was still alive.

“Urgh!” But amongst the carnage, one individual stubbornly clanged to life and refused to let go. “Cough! Cough!” 

Her coughs drowned out by the raging flames and any sort of movement proving to be filled with pain and dread. The presence of death lingering in her mind, Oboro could feel her breathing becoming shallower by the second and her strength draining away. “I… I refuse to die here!” 

She hated her, she despised that woman with every fiber of her being. With death being a mercy, and no matter what, she would not let her know peace. 

“Uhn!” 

With what's little strength she had left, the woman kept crawling away bit by bit, gritting teeth, she only needed to make her way to Kiryu’s office and use that madman's serums to save herself. She knew he was working on something like that lately. 

“You're a tenacious one.” Out of nowhere, a dry voice reached her ears. 

And there she saw it, from the flames first echoed the sound of foodsteps. Clear despite all the chaos around her. Calmly walking closer and closer. From the wall of flames, faint she saw as a humanoid shadow outlined itself, growing fuller until a shape came into view of a hooded man who passed through, it without even getting burned. His hand grabbing on the piece of rebar that had fallen from the ceiling before swiftly breaking it off from the giant piece of concrete. 

“You… who are…” 

Powerful headaches then fell upon her, images flashing before her eyes of the entire demon city Tokyo in ruins. A site of the sky filled with what resembled as a descending star that would blow up everything it touched upon impact approached. Flattening grounds and killing everything and everyone within it's radius. An inferno like nothing else, hell on Earth where both humans and demons run away in fear from what was basically their death. 

In the middle of it all, alone some figure stood at the epicenter. Holding onto a dark bow as big as a person on one hand and on the other arrows powerful enough to detonate as if there were bombs. Piercing the air at speed that made them know different through artillery rounds and a level of destruction she had never seen in her life. 

If that was not the most shocking part, she remembered seeing not just one time but several times blades that pierced and cut off the limbs of the one she deemed to be no different to a god. She remembers the fear that mirrored in his eyes, just like herself in every single… reset.

“You… you killed B-Black-sama…” 

For a brief moment, the man stopped in his tracks before continuing on. “Interesting… a full recovery of the memories. Is it because of the fire or because of the trauma that you regained these memories? Is it because you saw me walking amongst the flames? Did it trigger something?” 

“D-Don’t… no… please…” 

At this point, any thought of revenge or recovery had disappeared. Nothing but pure despair and the desire to survive filled her being. Yet the man did not stop and continued on casually until he stood right in front of her. The wind picked up speed until for a brief moment, his hood moved and she finally got to put a face to the monster that had been haunting her and Black-sama for so long.

And seeing the white hair and the clear steel gray eyes bearing no emotion whatsoever, Oboro was at a complete loss, for she recognized him. 

“You… you… the owner of the c—”

Her speech came to an end, the rebar getting positioned above her head like the sword of Damocles before ultimately impaling right through her head. Her body spasmed for a brief moment, until it ultimately came to a stop. 

“…”

The last vestige of life disappeared from her eyes. EMIYA observed her one last time before turning around and walking away in silence. 

His figure disappearing from the fire he left the Chaos Arena to burn to the ground. As it had many times before amidst these numerous resets.