[Disclaimer: I do not own Fate/ Stay Night and Shakugan no Shana. I also do not own any of the characters from their respective series.]

Prologue: Crimson Encounter

***/~unknown location~/***

{Day 1, Monday – Morning, unspecific time}

(…'s point of view)

The moment I open my eyes, a wooden ceiling comes into view.

"…"

Instinctively, I knew it is morning.

"I fell asleep in the shed again."

It's not the first time I've done this.

In fact, I've lost count...

I stand up and stretch my body.

"Yosh…! It's time for my morning routine. But before that—"

My eyes spot the mess I made last night.

"Hmm… I guess I should clean up."

***/~outside~/***

I cover my eyes upon exiting the shed.

I was expecting intense sunlight but apparently, it's still dark.

"…"

I think I forgot something…

"Ah, school…! I—"

Then, I pause for a sec.

I walk across my courtyard to reach the living room.

Upon reaching the porch, I poke my head to see the clock.

It's only 4.48 a.m.

"… It's still too early to go to school…" I muse.

Speaking of school—

"Oh, right… It's the first day of high school."

I'm fifteen this year.

Time sure flies…

And speaking of time, I can extend a little longer for my daily workout.

"Breakfast can wait."

I am waiting for someone anyway.

***/~an hour later~/***

After doing some pushups and sit-ups, I decide to take my bath.

[Water running]

Ever since Kiritsugu passing, I live alone in this rather huge Japanese styled house.

Therefore, I had to fend for myself.

I had to clean the house every weekend since an empty house could get awfully dusty if left unattended.

I also learnt how to cook since my old man wasn't a good one.

When he was alive, he would normally take me to a family restaurant or food stall for lunch and dinner.

It's not like I despise those place or its food.

It's just…I prefer something personal; by that I mean homemade cooking.

But Kiritsugu's charred steaks weren't the one I looked forward to eat.

Several years of practices does make someone a decent cook.

***/~in the kitchen~/***

{Day 1, Monday – 5.54 am}

Right now, I'm in front of my fridge.

"What should I make today…?"

[Doorbell ringing]

Someone rang the door…

"Ah, she is here."

I nod to myself.

The person I was waiting for has arrived.

Why am I so sure?

Well, only two individual would visit my residence this early in the morning.

And no, they're not the mailman.

I recognize this visitor since she will always ring the door before entering.

Meanwhile, the other one wouldn't bother to say 'I'm here.'

[Sigh]

I make my way to the front door.

***/~at the door~/***

"Come in."

"Excuse me…" A soft voice utters.

She slowly opens the door.

Her long hair is visible from behind the door.

"I thought I told you before, Sakura… There's no need to wait for me to get the door."

I invite the girl around my age into my house.

Well, she's actually a year younger than me.

Her dull blue irises were still anxious to meet mine.

The name of this girl is Matou Sakura.

She is currently in middle school and she's a sister of a 'friend'.

Well, sort of a 'friend'…

She has been a frequent visitor ever since I got involved in an accident.

I recalled the first time we met.

She was awfully quiet.

And she seems out of it…

As if… nothing in this world matter to her.

I tried to talk to her but she outright ignored me.

Well, I thought she was ignoring me but she wasn't…

It's just… she never had friends before.

Hence, she was wary of me.

Now that I recalled it, the first time we had a real conversation was after I had that accident…

She and her brother were my first visitors at the hospital.

That was two years ago…

"I- I'm… sorry… I can't just barge in someone's house." The girl mutters, snapping me back to reality.

"…"

She's still as shy as ever…

We already knew each other for two years.

Since I don't have many friends, I already consider her a part of my family.

Technically, I don't have any living relatives…

"Don't sweat it, Sakura. I gave you the key to my house because I trust you. You're not an outsider to me."

The shy girl reluctantly raises her head.

She nods with small smile on her face.

"…"

It's hard to see Sakura smile.

Even a year after that incident, I never saw her smile.

Something must have happened in her family.

I decide not to pry it since it would be rude.

I am not her real family, so I can't be intruding on her family matters.

Although, my instinct keeps telling me to at least cheer her up…

Back then, I tried many things to make her smile.

I cracked jokes (albeit awkward ones) and took her to a tour around the city.

I tried the arcade, the bookstore and even the shopping mall.

Nothing seems to interest her.

Surprisingly, she actually has interest in cooking.

I stumbled upon this when I was making dinner.

One day, her brother and my other 'family member' were lodging at the living room.

"…"

[Sigh]

I can't help but to sigh.

That was so typical of that 'Tiger'.

Anyways, it never dawned to me that Sakura couldn't cook.

So, I asked her to help me out.

It was Sakura's first time in the kitchen.

Let's just say it was a disaster…

The way she held the knife was wrong.

It looked like she was about to slaughter that chicken again.

She had these weird glowing red eyes as she stabbed that chicken repetitively…

"…"

Now that I had recalled it, I can't help but shiver down to my bones…

Somehow, she got the knife stuck at some point.

Since she had no kitchen experience, she had to work hard to pull that knife.

If I remember it right… she placed the whole chicken on the floor.

"…"

Ah yes… she placed her feet on it...

I had to change the menu that night…

Naturally, later I taught her how to handle a knife.

It took days but it was worth it.

I saw her first smile…

The moment she was able to cut fluidly, she formed a smile.

It was a brilliant smile.

"…"

I like it…

I always love to see people smile.

It reminds me of my first memory after the fire.

I recalled Kiritsugu's smile…

It was so radiant…

I wish to smile like him.

It was a smile like no other.

It was a smile exclusive to heroes.

This is why I resolved to be an Ally of Justice!

And I believe as an Ally of Justice, Sakura is my first victory.

"Um, Emiya-senpai…? Why are you smiling like that?"

"…!"

I shake my head violently.

"Oh, it's nothing. I just recalled a good memory."

Sakura caught me being absentminded… haha…

"Anyway, let's get started! Fuji-nee is going to eat me if breakfast isn't done by the time she's here."

The middleschooler nods as affirmation.

Without much being said, we move to the kitchen.

***/~after making breakfast~/***

{Day 1, Monday – 6.17 am}

"Shirou…! Is breakfast ready…?!"

A woman in her middle twenties barges into the household.

I massage my temples.

"And here she comes…"

This is the second visitor I mentioned earlier.

She is someone I knew ever since I was adopted.

Kiritsugu was fond of her.

Her name is Fujimura Taiga.

She is… someone I considered as my older sister.

Although, it seems like I was the mature one.

[Sighs]

"Breakfast is ready, Fuji-nee." I say tiredly.

Since her antics have never changed, I always catch a glimpse of Kiritsugu by the corner.

The three of us take our seats.

""Itadakimasu...""

We clasp our hands, thanking the food.

"So Shirou, are you excited about school?" Fuji-nee asks all of a sudden.

That came out of nowhere…

"I don't know. I haven't seen the school yet." I reply.

With a chopstick in her mouth, she ponders.

"Hmm… I hope you don't end up being the 'Fake Janitor' again." She suddenly comments.

"…?"

"I was surprised when I first heard of it. Shirou is actually pretty decent with machines." She adds.

"…"

[Sigh]

I let out a sigh.

Rumors fly so quickly in this city…

"…"

I glance over to Sakura.

She was silent the whole time.

I wonder what's on her head…

"Um…" She suddenly speaks up.

"What is it, Sakura-chan…?" The woman asks.

"…"

She noticed Sakura had something to say?

Sometimes, Fuji-nee can be sharp.

"Um… Nii-san is accommodating the same school."

"So Shinji ended up enrolling at the same school…? I thought he was applying for a private one." I muse to myself.

I sneak a peek at Sakura.

She's fidgeting her fingers.

"…"

I guess Shinji must have told her not to spill it…

That's so typical of him…

***/~after breakfast~/***

{Day 1, Monday – 6.39 am}

[Clap]

Fuji-nee suddenly clasps her hand.

"Thanks for the breakfast! I got to go…!"

As she jets out from the dining room, I begin collecting the dirty dishes.

"Oh before I forgot, I got a surprise for you at school!" Fuji-nee yells from outside of the house.

[Scooter roaring]

"A surprise, huh…?

I wonder what Fuji-nee has in store for me…

Wait, what did she mean 'at school'?

"Excuse me…" Sakura speaks up.

"Ah, sorry for keeping you." I say to her.

She shakes her head.

"I'll be going first, senpai." She says to me.

I nod.

The younger girl walks away from the dining room, heading towards the hallway.

"…"

I'm still wondering why she keeps calling me that…

I'm not her senpai…

Maybe she's planning to enroll at the same school next year?

Oh well…

"Now then—"

I'd better hurry up with the dishes.

I don't want to be late for my first day of high school.

***/~the streets~/***

{Day 1, Monday – Morning, unspecific time}

The road doesn't change much.

I have graduated from middle school and I'm still walking the same road.

"…"

[Sigh]

I let out a sigh.

What am I expecting?

School is school.

It doesn't matter if it's middle school or high school.

"Don't you think it's a bit early to be sighing?"

"…?"

I turn around to see the speaker.

I see the back of a brunette man wearing blue navy jacket walking away.

"…"

I guess he overheard my sigh when he walked pass me.

Well, sighing is not a good habit.

They say with each sigh, our luck will go along with it.

"…"

[Smack]

I slap both sides of my cheeks.

"Ah… why am I wasting time here? Let's head to school!"

I brisk walk as I head to my destination.

***/~upon reaching the school entrance~/***

{Day 1, Monday – 7.48 am}

The big clock on the school building shows that I'm early.

So this is Homuhara…

It's a lot bigger than my middle school.

The courtyard alone is twice the size of my previous school's courtyard.

I didn't pay attention to the school when I took the Entrance Exam.

Well, at least I passed it…

My score wasn't half bad.

"Excuse me…" I heard someone says.

"…?"

I step aside to see the speaker.

A black haired girl walks passes me.

Did she just flash a smile at me?

Similar to other female students, she is wearing the standard brown uniform.

Her hair is adorned in twin tails… which is kinda cute in a sense…

"…"

Wait… the school entrance gate is large enough for many people to walk in at once.

Why did she decide to walk behind me in the first place?

"Wha—"

I turn around hastily since someone suddenly put his hand on my shoulder.

"Be careful." The newcomer says.

"…?"

I tilt my head at his odd demand.

It was a bespectacled boy adorning Homuhara uniform.

He has black hair and dark brown irises; a typical Japanese.

I assume he's a first year similar to me.

"That is a witch. Don't be tricked by her charm or you'll regret it." The boy claims.

"A witch…?" I sputter.

"That's right. A witch." He asserts.

"…"

What a way to start a conversation…

Now we simply stare at each other.

The black haired boy fixates his glasses.

"We'd better head to the hall. The assembly is about to start." He suddenly says.

"…!"

"Over there. The gathering hall should be that way." He informs me, his hand pointing at a certain direction.

"…"

How did he know the hall's whereabouts when he just arrived?

I guess that's a question for another time…

For now—

"Thanks. My name is Emiya Shirou. What's your name…?"

"Ryuudou Issei. It's a pleasure to meet you." He introduces himself.

I nod.

Wordlessly, the two of us rushes to the assembly.

***/~after the assembly~/***

(Emiya Shirou's point of view)

{Day 1, Monday – 8.15 am}

The assemblage ends, and the students are allowed to exit.

Issei and I meet up outside the hall.

"We end up in the same class." I utter, starting the conversation.

"It appears so… I look forward to study with you." The bespectacled boy replies.

I nod.

"Yo, Emiya…! It's a fancy seeing you here!"

"…?"

That voice sounds familiar.

"Shinji…?" I utter.

I glance towards the source of the voice.

A boy with wavy purple hair stands casually near us.

His right hand is inside his pocket.

A wide smile is on his face.

"An acquaintance of yours, Emiya…?" Issei asks.

"He's a childhood friend of mine." I tell him.

"Emiya and I went way back." Shinji interjects.

"Is that so…? Ryuudou Issei, it's nice to meet you—"

"Matou. The name's Matou Shinji."

The two of them shake hand.

"What class are you in, Shinji…?" I decide to ask.

"Huh…? I'm in class 1C." He answers.

"Then, the three of us are in the same class." I conclude.

"The first year classes are on the first floor in the next block. Let's head there before the bell rings. Homeroom is about to start." Issei informs us.

"Yeah, let's go." I reply shortly.

The three of us walk together to the class while chatting.

***/~in the classroom~/***

{Day 1, Monday – 8.30 am}

[School bell ringing]

[Students chattering]

The other students are busy chatting with each other.

I guess they're excited about beginning their high school.

I wonder how my high school life will go…

"Alright, that's enough chatting. Go to your seats."

"…?"

That's another familiar voice.

I glance towards the speaker.

"…"

That yellow shirt with black stripes…

That familiar dark green trouser…

It can't be…

"My name is Fujimura Taiga. I am your homeroom teacher for this year. I'll be teaching you English."

"…"

She's a teacher…

All this time I thought she was just a lazy bum, lazing around in my house.

It never occurred to me that she has a job.

"…"

Nope, I can't imagine it…

Her image as a teacher is too hard for me…

"You there…! The one with the red hair! What do you think you're doing!?"

"…!"

I glance wildly around the classroom and there's no one with red hair…

…except me…

"Me…?"

What did I do?

"Pay attention to me when I'm talking…!" The Tiger demands.

"…"

This is going to be a rough year…

***/~after homeroom~/***

{Day 1, Monday – 8.36 am}

"That 'Tiger' is actually a teacher…!? I can hardly believe my eyes!" Shinji say aloud.

"'Tiger'…?" Issei raises his eyebrow.

"It's her nickname. But don't say it when she's around. She'll eat you alive." I enlighten my new friend.

Issei has a surprised expression on his face.

"With that woman teaching us, I think everyone is going to flunk." Shinji says.

"Nah… I think Fuji-nee could pull it off—"

I pause for a sec.

"—hopefully…"

"You don't sound too sure." Issei interjects.

"It can't be helped… As far as I remember, that woman has always been a lazy bum." I tell him.

I think I made Issei getting worried about his future.

***/~during lunch break~/***

{Day 1, Monday – 12.40 pm}

[School bell ringing]

[Indistinct chatter]

The moment that most students enjoy has arrived.

It's lunchtime.

Since it's only the first day of school, none of them were anxious for food.

They start forming groups and chatting.

"Now then—"

What should I do?

Should I go to the cafeteria?

Or should I wander around the school?

I'm not really hungry.

I—

"…"

Maybe I should wander around.

I heard from the principal's speech about the available clubs.

Clubs won't start until two weeks after the Entrance Ceremony.

***/~school courtyard~/***

{Day 1, Monday – Afternoon, unspecific time}

The Archery club should be just around the corner…

"…?"

There's someone else here.

"Hmm…?"

A girl with twin tails responds to my arrival.

It was the girl from earlier…

"You're not hungry too, huh…? That makes the two of us." I start the conversation.

Instead of answering, she stares at me.

"…"

Okay, this is awkward…

"So you're interested in Archery…?"

I attempt to reduce the awkwardness.

"Not really…" She replies.

"…Well, what are you doing here?"

"I'm just having a stroll." The girl says while playing with her hair.

"…"

Now what should I say?

I'm getting awkward with each sentence.

"Um, are you hungry? I—…"

Okay, that's a dumb question.

"Not at all." She replies, staring blankly at me.

"…"

This is getting nowhere…

"Pftt…"

"…?"

"You're funny." She says with a smile.

"…"

I scratch my cheek out of embarrassment.

I've never done anything like this before…

It's not like I never talk to girls.

I interact with Fuji-nee, Neko-san and Sakura just fine.

Why am I so awkward with this one?

"I'm Tohsaka Rin. It's nice to meet you, Emiya-kun."

"A-ah… it's a pleasure to meet you too!" I reply, half-yelling.

She giggles at my response.

"Alright then… See you around." She says as she walks away from me.

"…"

Wait… how did she know my name?

Have we met before?

"…"

I'll figure it out later.

"Now, where should I visit next?"

***/~Class 1C, after lunchtime~/***

{Day 1, Monday –1.00 pm}

"Yo, Emiya… Did you find anything that interests ya'? Not that I care though."

Shinji suddenly approaches me.

"I think I'm going to give archery a chance. It's two weeks until we can join any clubs, right…?"

"You too, huh…? I was going for archery as well. Let us see who is the best archer around." Shinji says smugly.

"Yeah… I look forward to it." I reply to him.

"Anyway Emiya, did you see that hot girl from 1A?"

"…?"

That's a sudden change of topic…

"Who are we talking about?"

"I'm talking about Tohsaka, idiot! No other girls shine like that one." Shinji berates me.

"…?"

Wait… did he say Tohsaka…?

"You mean the girl I talked to during lunchtime?"

"Yeah, yeah… The girl— Wait, what did you just said…!?"

"Lunchtime…?"

"No, no! Before that…!"

"I talked with Tohsaka…?"

"Bastard! How dare you take the initiative…!?"

"…? What initiative…?"

"You were hitting on her, weren't you!?"

What…?

"I was not. We were just talking." I reply.

[Door slides]

"Okay, everyone to their seats." The teacher commands.

"This isn't over, Emiya!"

"…What is he rambling about?"

***/~at the entrance of Homuhara, after school~/***

{Day 1, Monday – 2.08 pm}

"We shall part way here, Emiya." Issei says to me.

"Yeah… See you tomorrow."

The two of us bid our goodbyes.

Issei lives at the Ryuudou temple.

The said temple is way up Mount Enzo, the peak of Fuyuki.

"…"

He had to climb all those stairs every day after school…

He must have a lot of stamina to do that.

"…!"

Oh, right!

That reminds me…

We're running low on ingredients.

I'd better head to the market to get some produce.

It's only 2 o'clock.

The evening delivery truck usually arrives at 4 pm sharp.

But it is better safe than sorry.

My instinct is telling me that the truck will arrive early.

***/~Miyama, after shopping~/***

{Day 1, Monday – Evening, unspecific time}

I was lucky!

The produce just came in when I arrived.

Talk about luck!

[Wind blows]

Ah… it's a bit breezy today.

"…?"

Something feels funny…

I don't know…

What's that smell…?

It smells like rotten egg…

"…"

Or maybe something close to it…

Other people don't seem to care…

"…?"

I see a boy, running with an ice cream in his hand.

"Don't run! You'll fall!" His mother shouts.

"…!"

Just as she feared, he trips over something.

"Look out—"

[Ornamental bell ringing]

"…?"

A strange sound cuts off my line of thought.

There was a bell ringing… that came out of nowhere?

"…!"

Then I notice another peculiarity.

The boy from earlier… he stops falling midair…

"…"

I glance around, trying to ease my confused mind.

…everything… stops…

The people, the birds, the wind, and even falling inanimate objects…

What is going on here?

[Giant stomp]

"What the—"

I turn around to see the origin of that stomping noise.

"…!"

It's a—

"Hurray! It's feeding time!"

It's a giant creature…!

What is that thing!?

It looks like a baby…but it's about 4 meters in height.

There's no sign of genitals making it a genderless creature.

"I—"

Once again, my statement got halt midsentence.

There's another creature beside the giant.

[Heart thumping]

This one is horrid to look…

It's like an abomination made of human corpses.

The exterior of the creature displays many humanoid heads…

"Devour… Devour all of them."

A shrill tone comes out from the floating head abomination.

"Wait, what…?"

Did it just—

"…!"

That baby-like monster is reaching for a man!

"STOP…!"

My mouth moves automatically.

Its intention was obvious.

The creature halts its action.

"That's strange… I thought I hear something." The giant baby muses.

"You weren't mistaken. There's someone in here." The floating one adds.

"…"

I—

"That one…! It's the one with red hair!" The hovering creature shrieks.

"…!"

Dammit!

What am I doing, standing around like a fool!?

My feet take action.

I run towards the nearby store.

***/~inside the store~/***

[Ragged breath]

"What were those things?"

Whatever they are, they spoke.

"Magus' familiars…?" I muse.

No... The sizes are unbelievable…

A standard familiar can't even reach human size.

Are those Dead Apostles?

"…?"

Wait a sec…

They didn't try to catch me?

"…"

[Crackle]

[Heart thumping]

My heart starts beat nervously.

"Idiot…" I utter.

I am such an idiot!

I immediately roll on the floor.

[SMASH]

The door frame and the wall were crushed.

That was a close call…

I should have predicted it earlier.

With that sheer size, it can easily level a small building.

"I can see you." The giant baby says with a singsong tone.

[Heart thumping]

My heart is racing faster than usual.

My mind is blank.

I can only stare at the creature as I lie on the floor helplessly.

"Come here, you—"

[Heart thumping]

"…!"

[Swoosh]

I immediately roll aside to avoid its grasping hand.

"I need to get away from it!" I shout to myself.

My body is not functioning properly.

The shock from seeing such creatures causes my legs to freeze.

Hence I yell, trying to warn my own body of the threat.

As if acknowledging my demand, my limbs finally move albeit wobbly.

Even so, I manage to crawl deeper into the store.

[Swoosh]

"AHHHH…!" I yell as I dodge roll again.

"Sit still, will ya'?"

[Swoosh]

[Heart thumping]

"AHHHH…!"

I roll again.

What kind of idiot would comply with that demand!?

[ROAR]

"You're being annoying…!" The giant baby yells.

"Ignore him. We have no time to waste." I hear the hovering abomination interjects.

Their voices, while in shrilling tone, are quite distinct.

I can distinguish between the two effortlessly.

With a snort, the creature pulls out its arm from the half-destroyed store.

"…"

Does that mean I'm safe now?

I—

No…

They're aiming for the people again!

What should I do…?

Should I run away like a coward?

There's no way I could fight against those things.

I'm not even a proper magus.

"…"

Or should I stay and harass them?

At least, I could buy some time until an Enforcer or something close to it come.

The main threat is that baby-shaped monster.

However, it is slow and not very intelligent.

"…"

The answer is obvious…

I will stay and fight!

There's no way I'm letting those people die when I can save them!

"Is there something I could use to fight…?"

I inspect the crumbling store.

"…A metal rod!"

I immediately reach for it.

I swing it around, trying to feel the weight.

"This should be good enough—"

Wait a sec… where does this rod came from?

It can't be conveniently placed here right where I need it.

"…"

I shake my head violently.

I shouldn't question my luck.

All right, let's reinforce it!

"…Trace on…"

Analyzing the structure…

Adding adjustment…

Sweat starts rolling over my forehead.

But I can't fail now!

I know my chances of success are low.

But people lives are depending on me!

Reinforcing the structure…

Critical state re-adjusting…

"…!"

I did it!

Green linings are covering the rod.

***/~outside~/***

I leap over the rumbles.

[Heart thumping]

I'm not sure what I'm doing…

This is literally suicidal of me.

But there's no one else available.

I'm the only one who can do anything here.

"…calm down, me—"

Once again, I had to halt my line of thoughts.

The giant is aiming to eat the boy from earlier!

"STOP IT!" I yell as I run towards the monster.

"Huh…?" It let out.

I swing my reinforced metal rod at its bare feet.

[CLANK]

"…?"

It doesn't even leave a scratch…

[Swoosh]

[Heart thumping]

"…!"

I dodge its attempt to apprehend me.

"Stop moving!" It demands to me.

"…!"

[Swoosh]

I manage to escape its grasp for the third time.

"Try and catch me!" I taunt it.

"…!"

[STOMP]

"WAH…!" I let out a small yelp.

The spot where I used to stand… was crushed by the giant's foot.

An image of a crushed tomato appears in my mind.

It never occurred to me how painful it would be to be crushed like that…

"…"

[Heart thumping]

What am I doing!?

This is a dangerous situation!

"I'll crush you like a bug!"

[STOMP]

"WAH…!"

I dodge roll, escaping its stomp.

I need to run away!

I don't want to be crushed!

I attempt to stand up.

[Heart thumping]

"…?"

Why am I not moving?

"…!"

Why can't I move!?

"You have done us enough harassment." I hear the floating atrocity says.

"…"

It's a spell…

That abomination bound me to the ground…

"…!"

I feel a large hand gripping on my waist.

"Finally, I got you!"

"…"

I could move my body again but—

"..."

Is this the end?

I struggle to escape.

"Don't waste your time. There's no way I'm letting you go."

"…Dammit…"

This can't end here…

"Itadakimasu…" The monster opens up its large mouth.

Looks like it's going to swallow me whole…

"I can't die here…"

The mouth is closing by.

"I haven't saved anyone yet…"

Its throat is visible.

"And I'm not going to die here being eaten by you!"

Thus, I jam the metal rod into its throat.

[ROAR]

It pulls away its face from me.

"…!"

Its grip is starting to get stronger!

"Why you—"

"…! How—"

That thing wasn't harmed at all!

I couldn't see any blood dripping from its throat!

What is this thing!?

It doesn't bleed!

"That's it. I'm ripping you apart. Then, I'll eat ya'."

"…!"

Its other hand takes away my metal rod.

"Now, let's see if you could struggle without arms."

"GAH…!"

It-it's trying to rip my arms apart…!

[Heart thumping]

"…?"

Then suddenly, the force on my waist lessens.

[Air draft]

"Huh…?"

I find myself in free fall.

"…"

I'm falling!

[THUD]

That hurts!

Even for a 2-meter drop, that was painful!

Why did I fell in the first place…?

"…?"

The giant's arm is detached from its body…

I glance over the said creature.

It's agonizing over its lost arm.

"WHO IS THERE…!? WHO DARES CUT MY ARM!?"

[Air draft]

[SMACK]

As if answering its question, a figure shows up and lands a kick at its face.

"NO…! IT'S FALLING OVER THOSE—"

[SPLAT]

"…"

Several pedestrians were killed…

They were squashed by the giant….

And there was nothing I could do to stop it…

My vision slowly registers the cause of the tragedy.

"…?"

The first thing that I saw… was silky long hair.

Within a single glance, I already know she's not human.

Her hair is burning crimson red, literally.

Her eyes are also red.

She adorns black coat over a gray shirt, which fit my image of an Enforcer.

In her hand, a burning blade is ready to cut her foes.

"What are you?" I utter.

The girl turns over to face me.

"He's moving?" She utters.

"…"

My perception catches a glimpse of the previous event.

This girl—…she let those people die…

Yet her face doesn't show even the slightest remorse…

[Heart thumping]

My heart suddenly starts beating nervously.

"Wha—"

I turn my head slowly.

A monstrous sight enters my view.

The floating abomination from earlier is surging toward us.

"Die…"

[Air draft]

[CRASH]

"…"

I can only stare at the unbelievable feat.

With a single kick from the girl, the monster was sent flying more than a hundred meters.

It was chucked into a nearby building.

"…"

If it's a normal organic creature, it wouldn't come out anytime soon…

[Heart thumping]

Once again, my heart beats anxiously.

Blood…

There were people entangled with it…

I slowly grit my teeth.

"This girl—"

She doesn't care about the bystanders, does she…?

When she sent that monster flying, several people were killed in the process.

Maybe it's just a job to you but—

[Heart thumping]

My heartbeat cuts off my line of thoughts.

"I'LL KILL YOU!"

The moment I avert my face, the giant is already behind us.

It swings its gigantic fist.

Time flows slowly as doom approaches.

"It's useless…" I overheard the girl mutters.

[Swoosh]

In a split second, she effortlessly cuts away one of its leg, forcing the monster to kneel.

The crimson haired girl slowly approaches the creature's face.

"No, wait…!" The giant suddenly says.

The girl halts, probably wanting to hear it out.

"Please spare me… I promise I won't trouble you."

"…"

It was a strange sight.

I'm watching a monstrosity begging for mercy…

It makes me wonder, which one is the real monster?

"…?"

I caught a glimpse of the girl's face.

It was a cruel smirk…

"NO…!"

[Swoosh]

She decapitates the giant with ease.

"…"

Once again, I stare at an implausible event.

The crimson haired girl, who is smaller than me, takes out those creatures with little effort.

"What are you…?" I utter.

I repeat the only statement playing in my mind.

I stand up, making myself apparent.

The girl spares another glance at me.

"Alastor, is this a Mystes?"

"…?"

"It appears so… He seems to adapt naturally inside the Fuuzetsu."

"…!"

Who was that…!?

An adult male voice came out of nowhere…!

I glance around to search for him.

"…"

But there's no one else moving in here…

"What kind of Hougu would allow a Mystes to move inside a Fuuzetsu…?" I overheard the girl speaks.

"Interesting, isn't it?"

"…"

I think I know where that voice came from…

It was from the pendant, dangling on the girl's neck.

"…?"

She is walking towards me.

I instinctively move backward.

"Wait, are you trying to open it? Remember the last time you tried to do that?"

"…?"

"But if I don't take it out now, the Hunter will beat us to it." She argues.

"What are you talking about?" I say to her.

My question seems to surprise her.

"What is going on here?" I add another question.

Her confusion intensifies.

"Who are you and what is that talking pendant?" I bombard her with questions.

"Shut up! Shut up! Shut up! You're annoying!"

"But—"

"…!"

[Smack]

Before I could react, her foot is implanted into my stomach.

[Air draft]

[Thud]

"ARGH…!"

I clutch my stomach.

She kicked me…

I think I flew a few meters from where I was standing…

"What the—"

From here, I see the girl is fighting against a blond woman wearing white dress.

When did that blond woman show up?

[Swoosh]

The crimson haired girl swings her blade.

[Heart thumping]

"…!"

She cut off the woman's arm!?

I must stop her!

I pick myself up and start running towards them.

"Gah…!" The anonymous woman yelps.

In my sight, the woman is kneeling before the crimson haired girl.

"That's—"

The red-eyed girl raises her katana over her head, attempting to behead the woman.

"—ENOUGH…!" I holler as I stand defending the injured woman.

"Wha-what…? You IDIOT…!"

The crimson haired girl berates me all of a sudden.

[Plunge]

"Ah…?" I let out.

What the—

[Heart thumping]

"Ah…"

The woman I was protecting plunged her remaining arm into me…

She wasn't human in the first place…

Idiotic, that's the only word for me.

I protected the wrong person…

"I'll cut both of you!"

"…!?"

Just as she claimed, the girl with burning hair swings her katana towards me.

"Wait—"

[SWOOSH]

Before I could finish my sentence, she slices me apart.

She wasn't kidding about cutting both of us...

My body fell to the floor and I felt the presence of another body behind me.

"…?"

I see a doll flying out from my wound.

"You're not getting away!" The red eyed girl yells.

"Die…"

That sound… I recognize it…

The floating abomination, it's not dead yet…!

I can sense its approach.

"Look out…!" I warn the girl.

"Huh…?" She spares a glance at me.

As I lie on the floor, time flows slowly again.

The visage of the monstrosity is in my vision.

Is this the end?

[SWOOSH]

"…"

With a single flick from her blade, the crimson haired girl cuts the said creature into two.

I watch its remains fall flat on the floor.

In a small interval, I saw the anonymous girl secured her killing blow.

It was a feat beyond me…

For a moment, my heart skipped a beat.

Her long silky hair looks so beautiful when it flutters.

As if denying my blissful thoughts, my eyes caught an outlandish event.

"…? It disintegrates…?"

The monstrosity is disintegrating…

Similarly, the giant's corpse from earlier has also begin to disintegrate.

What is going on here?

And why am I not dead already?

My body is sliced into two…

My blood should be pooling—

Wait a minute…

I didn't feel any pain when she cuts me!

I inspect my so-called 'wound'.

"It's… void…"

"Did you expect something else, Mystes…?"

"…"

The girl flicks her sword and sheathes it into her overcoat.

The nodachi slowly sinks inside it.

Is that some kind of a Mystic Code…?

She walks slowly towards me.

"Now, hold still." She says to me.

The anonymous girl kneels down next to me.

"What—…!?"

My statement is truncated due to the sudden event.

For some reason, she crawls on top of me.

Her face, it's too close!

"…"

Now that I see her face clearly—

—she's pretty…

[Heart thumping]

"I— ARGH…!"

An intense pain suddenly jolts out from my wound.

[Sigh]

The girl exhales into my face.

Then, she stands up right.

What did she do to me…?

"…!"

My arm, it's—

"I've repair the damage done to your body. Now then—"

She starts glancing around, studying the surrounding.

"…"

She even repaired my clothes…

It was… as if… I was never sliced into two…

"Now this is interesting. The casualty is minimal." The girl muses aloud.

"…!?"

What is she talking about!?

Many people died from her little exploit!

"Can you repair this…?"

"I'm certain there's no loss in terms of Power of Existence. I can manage with what I gathered from those Rinne."

"…?"

The red haired girl raises her right hand to the sky with her index finger pointed.

[Ornamental bell ringing]

"…"

It's that sound again…

[Boy crying]

"…?"

Oh, it's the boy from before…

He fell as I expected.

I glance around, trying to comprehend the situation.

"…"

In a blink of an eye, the world appears to have reverted in time.

The demolished building, the craters and the dead bodies… all of them were gone.

They have returned to their initial state.

Even dead people return to life…

Wait…

Where's that girl…?

"Are you done gawking?" I hear someone says.

I recognize the voice as the anonymous girl.

However—

"…"

There's no doubt.

The girl before me is the same one as before.

She's wearing the same black overcoat and black pants.

She's standing with the same black boots that she used to stomp those monsters…

But her hair and eyes… turns jet black.

#Chapter End#

[Author's Note]

Hey guys.

Welcome back to returning and patient readers and welcome to new readers!

Anyways, this is a remake of Blazing Void.

As always, thank you for reading.

If nothing obstructing me, I'll be uploading the next chapter tomorrow.