We are," Kazuki agreed, struggling to maintain his composure as his system adjusted to the powerful resonance. "Though your blessing comes from faith and divine grace. Mine is... something else entirely."
Joan regarded him with an expression that somehow combined both innocence and ancient wisdom. "All blessings ultimately flow from the same source, though they take different forms." She turned to address the entire group. "You have come from beyond this time to restore proper history. I have sensed your arrival since you materialized."
"You know about us?" Ritsuka asked, surprised.
"As a Ruler-class Servant, I possess certain insights," Joan explained. "This era has been corrupted by an impostor wearing my face and name. The flow of history itself has been diverted from its proper course."
She moved to the map table, removing her gauntlets to trace the same paths Gilles had indicated earlier. "The creature calling herself the Dragon Witch is no mere doppelgänger. She is a manifestation of twisted vengeance—an 'Alter' version of myself drawn from possibilities that never should have materialized."
"An Alter," Mash whispered. "Like Artoria Alter from Fuyuki."
"Similar, yes," Joan confirmed. "But while King Arthur's darker aspects can exist within the bounds of proper history, my Alter represents a fundamental corruption of my Saint Graph. The historical Joan of Arc never sought vengeance, even in her darkest moments."
Kazuki's interface analyzed this information:
[CONCEPT ANALYSIS: SERVANT ALTER FORMS]
Classification: Heroic Spirit Divergence
Mechanism: Corrupted Saint Graph / Inverted Spiritual Core
Root Cause in Current Singularity: External Manipulation
Suspected Catalyst: Holy Grail Fragment
"Someone is using a Holy Grail fragment to forcibly manifest your darker possibilities," Kazuki stated. "They're creating an Avenger-class version of you that couldn't exist normally."
Joan nodded, her expression grave. "The Holy Grail's power is being misused to twist the nature of Heroic Spirits themselves. My Alter is merely the most visible manifestation. The other Servants in her court have been similarly corrupted."
"But who would do this?" Ritsuka asked. "And why target you specifically?"
Joan exchanged a meaningful glance with Gilles before answering. "The Dragon Witch's court includes a Caster-class Servant—a woman calling herself Carmilla. But observations suggest she is merely a puppet. There is another presence behind her, directing these events from the shadows."
"You suspect a specific entity?" Scáthach asked, her crimson eyes narrowed.
"Only suspicions," Joan replied carefully. "But whoever they are, they possess intimate knowledge of the Holy Grail system and hold deep hatred toward humanity itself."
The discussion continued as they formulated a plan to infiltrate Orleans. Joan's intelligence confirmed that the Dragon Witch was preparing for a major ritual in three days' time—one that would expand her transformation magic to affect entire regions at once, turning vast swathes of France's population into dragon-kind.
"We must strike before this ritual can be completed," Joan insisted. "Once her corruption spreads beyond Orleans, all of France could be lost."
The strategy they developed was multi-layered: Joan and the resistance forces would launch a diversionary attack on the city's main gate, drawing the attention of the Dragon Witch's primary forces. Meanwhile, Ritsuka, Kazuki, and their Servants would infiltrate the city through an abandoned cathedral tunnel that Gilles' scouts had discovered.
"Once inside the city," Joan explained, "you must recover my standard from the desecrated cathedral. It serves as the conceptual anchor for my Alter's manifestation. Without it, her connection to this timeline weakens significantly."
"And after that, we confront her directly," Ritsuka concluded.
Joan's expression turned solemn. "When the time comes, I must be the one to face my Alter. Only I can truly counter her corrupted Noble Phantasms."
As the planning session concluded, Kazuki found himself drawn again to the projected map of Orleans Castle. His enhanced Formula Recognition function, bolstered by the increased Venus synchronization, was revealing patterns in the structure's design that hadn't been apparent before.
[VENUS FORMULA RECOGNITION ACTIVE]
Architectural Analysis: Orleans Castle
Hidden Pattern Detected: Transformation Array (Dormant)
Scale: City-Wide
Activation Requirements: Blood Sacrifice + Divine Authority
"There's something else," Kazuki said, drawing everyone's attention. "The castle itself... its very architecture forms part of a massive transformation array. The dungeons where prisoners are being changed aren't just a workshop—they're activating points in a much larger spell."
Joan approached to examine what he was seeing. "Can you explain?"
Kazuki gestured to specific points on the map. "These seven towers aren't positioned randomly. They form a perfect heptagram when connected—a classic magical formation for large-scale transmutation rituals. If my analysis is correct, the Dragon Witch isn't just creating dragons as soldiers... she's turning Orleans itself into a massive transformation engine."
"To what end?" Gilles asked, alarmed.
"Total conversion," Scáthach answered before Kazuki could respond. Her expression was grim as she studied the pattern he had identified. "A ritual of this scale could potentially transform every human within range into a draconic being under her control."
"Or something worse," Child-Gil added, his childish features unusually serious. "Such formations were used in ancient Mesopotamia to alter the fundamental nature of regions. They could change fertile lands to desert or reclaim flooded territories."
Mash looked horrified. "She's trying to rewrite France's very nature?"
"Not France," Kazuki said as his interface completed its analysis. "Humanity. The pattern suggests human spiritual reconfiguration—changing what it means to be human on a conceptual level."
The revelation cast a pall over the gathering. If true, it meant the Dragon Witch's plans were far more ambitious than simple conquest or vengeance.
"This confirms we must act quickly," Joan declared. "We move at dawn tomorrow. Rest while you can—the battle ahead will test us all."
As the meeting dispersed, Joan approached Kazuki privately. "Your abilities are remarkable," she observed. "But they carry great risk to your human self."
Kazuki wasn't surprised she could sense this. "The system is changing me. Each new synchronization pulls me further from humanity."
"And closer to what?" she asked gently.
"Something... planetary. Beyond human comprehension."
Joan nodded thoughtfully. "I understand such transformation better than most. When divine revelation first came to me, I was but a simple farm girl. The weight of God's purpose threatened to crush my human identity entirely." She placed a hand lightly on his shoulder. "What preserved me was not resistance to change, but anchoring to purpose. Remember why you fight, Kazuki Itsuki. Purpose will be your lighthouse when the tides of transformation threaten to sweep you away."
With those words, she left him to his thoughts. Kazuki found a quiet corner of the cavern to rest, his system still processing the significant Venus synchronization spike from Joan's presence. As he closed his eyes, his interface displayed a final update:
[SYNCHRONIZATION ASSESSMENT]
Venus: 0.89% → 0.91% (Stabilizing)
Type Authority Comprehension: Improved
New Function Development: Transformation Formula Analysis
Warning: Direct Confrontation with Venus-Alter Authority May Trigger Further Acceleration
The warning echoed what his dream interface had cautioned. Meeting the true Joan had boosted his Venus synchronization dramatically. Confronting her corrupted Alter form might push it even further—potentially beyond what his evolving system could safely integrate.
Yet there was no avoiding the confrontation ahead. As sleep claimed him, Kazuki wondered exactly what "purpose" would anchor him when transformation's tide rose highest.
Chapter 7: The City of Dragons
Dawn brought misty rain that shrouded the forests surrounding Orleans in ghostly white. Perfect conditions for their infiltration, according to Scáthach, though the damp chill seeped through clothes and armor alike, reminding everyone of their mortality.
The Masters and their Servants gathered at the edge of the forest, overlooking Orleans from a ridge that offered both concealment and a clear view of the city walls. Even from this distance, the corruption was visible—dark tendrils of malevolent energy coiling around the towers, and wyverns circling in formation overhead.
"Joan and the resistance forces will begin their diversion in precisely one hour," Mash reminded everyone, checking the timepiece Da Vinci had provided. "That should give us time to reach the cathedral tunnel entrance."
Kazuki's interface was in active analysis mode, constantly scanning their surroundings and updating threat assessments:
[TACTICAL ASSESSMENT]
Draconic Patrols: 3 within 2km radius
Servant Signatures: 1 confirmed (southern wall - likely Berserker)
Magical Barriers: City perimeter (detects living beings)
Recommended Approach: Northwestern sector (minimal magical coverage)
"We should approach from the northwest," Kazuki suggested, indicating the area. "The magical barriers are weakest there, and there's a blind spot in the wyvern patrol pattern."
Child-Gil nodded approvingly. "Good eye. In ancient siege warfare, the northwestern approach was often neglected due to superstitions about directional energies."
They moved quietly through the forested terrain, with Mash and Martha taking point while Scáthach guarded their rear. The journey to the cathedral tunnel entrance was tense but uneventful—almost suspiciously so, as Ritsuka noted.
"It's too quiet," he whispered as they reached the crumbling ruins of what had once been a small chapel outside the city walls. "Shouldn't there be more patrols this close to Orleans?"
Scáthach's expression darkened. "They're either expecting us or preparing for something more significant than defense."
The entrance to the tunnel was hidden beneath the chapel's collapsed altar—a narrow passage that descended steeply into darkness. According to Gilles' intelligence, it had been built centuries earlier as an escape route for clergy during Viking raids, then forgotten until recently rediscovered by resistance scouts.
"I'll take point," Mash volunteered, activating a small light on her shield as she led the way into the tunnel.
The passage was cramped and damp, forcing them to proceed in single file. As they ventured deeper, Kazuki felt his interface respond to the changing environment:
[ENVIRONMENT SHIFT]
Ambient Mana Density: Increasing (×3 normal levels)
Magical Residue: Transformation Spellwork (Inactive)
Venus Authority Traces: Present (diffuse)
Warning: Potential Detection System Ahead
"Hold," Kazuki called softly, halting the group. "There's some kind of detection system ahead. My system is picking up inactive transformation magic—like a tripwire."
Scáthach moved forward to examine the area, her crimson eyes narrowing as she traced faint runes etched into the tunnel walls. "Conversion wards," she identified. "Anyone passing through would be transformed, likely into stone or some other immobile substance."
"Can you disable them?" Ritsuka asked.
The Queen of Shadows nodded, already drawing counter-runes in the air with her fingertip. "Simple enough. These are hastily placed—not the work of a true runemaster." A few precise gestures later, the wards flickered and faded.
They continued forward, more cautious now that they knew the tunnel had been discovered and trapped. After what seemed like an eternity of creeping through the narrow passage, they finally reached a weathered stone door bearing the faded insignia of Orleans Cathedral.
Mash placed her ear against the door, listening carefully. "I don't hear any movement. But there's a strange... humming?"
Kazuki extended his senses through the interface:
[SPATIAL ANALYSIS]
Beyond Door: Large Chamber (Cathedral Crypt)
Magical Activity: Moderate (Ritual Residue)
Life Signs: None Detected
Anomaly: Vibrational Energy Pattern (Non-Biological)
"It's some kind of ritual residue," he reported. "The space beyond is a crypt—part of the cathedral foundations. No living beings detected, but there's definitely magical activity."
Martha stepped forward, her staff glowing softly. "I can provide protection against unholy energies. The sacred grounds of a cathedral, even a desecrated one, respond to my faith."
With Mash and Martha in the lead, they cautiously opened the ancient door and entered the cathedral crypt. The space beyond was larger than expected—a vaulted chamber supported by ornate pillars, lined with the tombs of bishops and nobles from centuries past. At the center stood a stone altar, atop which rested a black banner emblazoned with inverted fleurs-de-lis and draconic symbols.
"Joan's corrupted standard," Mash identified in a hushed voice.
The "humming" they'd heard became apparent—a low, pulsating vibration emanating from the banner itself. The cloth rippled occasionally as if stirred by an unfelt wind, dark energy coiling around it like living shadow.
"This is wrong," Martha whispered, her face pale. "That banner contains... a fragment of a soul. Joan's soul, twisted and imprisoned."
Kazuki's interface confirmed her assessment:
[ARTIFACT ANALYSIS]
Object: Joan of Arc's Battle Standard (Corrupted)
Composition: Physical Banner + Spiritual Fragment
Function: Conceptual Anchor for Alter Manifestation
Venus Authority Level: High (Direct Connection to Servant Alter)
Warning: Handling May Trigger Venus Synchronization Cascade
The warning flashed red in his vision—a clear reminder of the dream interface's caution about Venus authority exposure. Yet they needed to retrieve the banner to weaken the Dragon Witch's manifestation.
"We need to neutralize it somehow before moving it," Kazuki suggested. "It's directly connected to the Alter's manifestation."
Child-Gil approached the altar, careful not to touch the corrupted standard. "In my treasury, I possess artifacts that can temporarily contain such corrupted spiritual energy." Golden portals opened behind him, producing an ornate box inlaid with ancient symbols. "This casket once held the darkened heart of a fallen goddess. It should suffice for transport."
As they prepared to transfer the banner into Gil's containment box, a shimmering curtain of light suddenly materialized between them and the altar. From within the light stepped a familiar figure—Joan herself, though clearly a projection rather than her physical presence.
"My friends," the projection spoke urgently. "The diversion has begun, but something is wrong. The Dragon Witch knew we were coming. She's launched a counter-attack against the resistance forces with her full court."
"A trap," Scáthach concluded grimly.
Joan nodded. "Gilles and our forces are holding, but we cannot maintain the diversion for long. You must hurry." Her gaze fell on the corrupted banner. "That standard... it contains a fragment of my Saint Graph that was torn away during my execution. Recovering it is crucial—but be warned: my Alter will sense the moment you touch it."
"We're prepared for that," Ritsuka assured her. "What about you?"
"I must return to the battlefield," Joan replied, her projection already fading. "Make haste to the castle once you've secured the standard. That is where the final confrontation must occur."
As Joan's projection disappeared, a distant rumble shook dust from the crypt ceiling—the sounds of battle penetrating even these deep foundations.
"We need to move quickly," Ritsuka decided. "Martha, can you bless Gil's container? Maybe that will help suppress the corruption during transport."
Martha nodded, placing her hands on the golden casket and murmuring a prayer. The box glowed briefly with holy light, symbols of purification appearing momentarily on its surface.
"It is done," she announced. "Though my blessing cannot purify the banner completely, it should contain its malevolent influence."
With careful coordination, they used Mash's shield to slide the corrupted standard into the blessed container without directly touching it. The moment the banner was fully enclosed, Child-Gil sealed the casket with an ancient key from his treasury.
Almost immediately, an inhuman shriek echoed throughout the city above them—a sound of such rage and hatred that it seemed to penetrate their very souls.
"She knows," Mash said unnecessarily, her face pale. "The Dragon Witch knows we have her anchor."
"Then our stealth approach is no longer relevant," Scáthach stated pragmatically. "We should proceed directly to the castle while her forces are divided between us and the resistance."
Their exit from the cathedral was met with chaos. The city of Orleans, which had appeared organized and heavily patrolled from afar, was now in disarray. Wyverns circled frantically overhead, their formation patterns broken. Common citizens ran through the streets in panic, while dragon soldiers struggled to maintain order.
Kazuki's interface mapped their optimal route through the chaos:
[TACTICAL ROUTE ANALYSIS]
Distance to Castle: 1.2 kilometers
Opposition: Scattered (Disorganized)
Servant Signatures: 3 converging on Cathedral
4 at Castle (including Dragon Witch)
Recommendation: Northeastern approach via merchant quarter
"This way," he indicated, pointing toward a narrow street leading away from the cathedral. "We can reach the castle through the merchant quarter with minimal resistance."
They moved swiftly through the city streets, encountering surprisingly little organized opposition. Most of the dragon soldiers they encountered seemed confused, responding to multiple conflicting orders.
"The Dragon Witch's control is weakening," Martha observed as they dispatched another group of disoriented wyverns. "Without her banner to focus her authority, her command over these transformed creatures is fracturing."
"Her court will be different," Scáthach warned. "True Servants don't require such anchors to maintain their power."
As they approached the castle's outer ward, they encountered their first serious resistance—a massive black-armored knight wielding a sword wreathed in crimson energy. His helmet concealed his face entirely, but his combat stance radiated deadly precision.
"The Black Knight," Mash identified. "Gilles mentioned him—supposedly Lancelot corrupted by madness."
Before any of them could react, the knight let out an inhuman roar and charged directly at Ritsuka—demonstrating terrifying speed despite his heavy armor. Mash barely intercepted the attack with her shield, the impact sending her sliding backward several meters.
"Master, stay back!" she cried, struggling to maintain her guard as the knight hammered her shield with relentless strikes.
Scáthach and Child-Gil moved to engage, but the Black Knight seemed to anticipate their attacks, his sword a blur of motion as he parried Scáthach's spear and dodged the weapons emerging from Gil's portals.
Kazuki's interface analyzed the opponent:
[COMBAT ANALYSIS]
Servant: Berserker (Lancelot)
Parameters: All A-rank
Special Ability: Eternal Arms Mastery (Retained despite Madness)
Weakness Detected: Fixation on Specific Target (Seeking "Arthur")
"He's looking for King Arthur!" Kazuki called out. "His madness is focused on finding and destroying Arthur!"
"That explains why he's targeting Mash," Martha realized. "Her Heroic Spirit must be connected to Arthurian legend."
As the battle intensified, Kazuki felt his Mercury synchronization responding to the combat stress:
[MERCURY SYNCHRONIZATION ACTIVE]
Current Sync: 3.11% → 3.27% (Combat Response)
Crystallization Protocol Enhanced
New Application Available: Crystal Refraction Field
Focusing on this new application, Kazuki extended his hands toward the dueling figures. Crystal formations sprouted from the ground in a semicircle around the Berserker, not as barriers but as refractive prisms that bent light and space.
"Mash! Back away quickly!" Kazuki shouted.
As she did, the Berserker charged forward—only to find his perception drastically altered by the crystal field. His sword struck empty air where Mash had appeared to be, his movements becoming increasingly disoriented as the refracted light created multiple illusory targets.
"Now!" Ritsuka commanded.
Scáthach struck with precision, her crimson spear finding a gap in the Berserker's armor at the joint of his shoulder. Simultaneously, Child-Gil unleashed a barrage of ancient weapons from his Gates of Babylon, each targeting a different vulnerability in the knight's defenses.
The Berserker roared in pain and fury, but his movements were slowed by his injuries. Martha completed their attack by slamming her staff into the ground, creating a shockwave of holy energy that knocked the corrupted knight off his feet.
"We can't defeat him entirely," Scáthach warned as the Berserker struggled to rise. "Even wounded, a Servant of his caliber will recover quickly."
"We don't need to defeat him," Ritsuka replied. "Just delay him long enough to reach the castle."
With the Black Knight temporarily incapacitated, they pressed forward, entering the castle grounds through a side gate left unguarded in the confusion. The inner bailey was eerily empty—no guards, no servants, not even the wyverns that had been so prevalent throughout the city.
"It's too quiet," Mash whispered as they approached the central keep.
Kazuki's interface suddenly flashed urgent warnings:
[MASSIVE ENERGY SPIKE]
Location: Castle Main Tower
Classification: Noble Phantasm Activation
Venus Authority: Maximum Output
Evacuation Recommended
"Something's happening in the main tower," he warned. "A Noble Phantasm is activating—something connected to Venus authority."
As if in confirmation, the sky above the castle darkened unnaturally, clouds swirling into a vortex centered directly over the main tower. Lightning crackled within the unnatural storm, each bolt tinged with an eerie purple glow.
"She's accelerating her plans," Scáthach realized. "Without her banner to anchor her manifestation properly, she's attempting to complete the transformation ritual prematurely."
"Can she do that?" Ritsuka asked worriedly.
"With enough power and desperation? Yes," Child-Gil answered grimly. "But such forced manifestation will be unstable and potentially catastrophic for the surrounding area."
Martha pointed toward the tower entrance. "Look—the true Joan is already inside!"
Sure enough, they could see the silver-armored form of Joan entering the tower, her standard raised high and glowing with holy light to counter the darkness gathering above.
"We need to support her," Ritsuka declared, and they rushed toward the tower entrance.
The interior of the tower was a nightmare of twisted architecture. What should have been a normal spiral staircase had been warped into irregular patterns, steps leading sideways or upside-down in defiance of gravity. The walls themselves seemed alive, pulsating with dark energy like the beating of some monstrous heart.
"The transformation magic is affecting the very structure," Martha observed, her face pale. "The castle itself is becoming a draconic entity."
Kazuki felt his Venus synchronization fluctuating wildly in response to the concentrated transformation energy:
[WARNING: VENUS RESONANCE]
Type Venus Sync: 0.91% → 1.23% (Rapid Increase)
Environmental Exposure: Extreme
Formula Recognition Enhanced
Current Limitation: Cannot Counter Transformation Without Higher Sync
Despite the warning against further synchronization, Kazuki focused on his enhanced Formula Recognition to analyze the transformation pattern affecting the tower:
[FORMULA ANALYSIS COMPLETE]
Transformation Type: Structural Integration (Merging structures with living essence)
Power Source: Soul Fragment (From banner) + Grail Energy
Structural Weakness: Central Focus Point (Tower Summit)
Counter-Method: Disrupt Summit Ritual
"The ritual focus is at the top of the tower," Kazuki informed the others as they navigated the twisted staircase. "If we can reach the summit and disrupt whatever ceremony is happening there, we can stop the transformation process."
"Joan is already heading there," Mash said. "We need to hurry."
Their ascent became increasingly difficult as the tower's distortion intensified. Gravity itself seemed to fluctuate, sometimes pulling them toward the walls rather than the floor. Twice they encountered sections where the stairway had been completely transformed into draconic flesh, forcing them to cut their way through living tissue that bled black ichor.
Finally, they reached the tower's uppermost chamber—a vast, circular room with a domed ceiling that appeared open to the swirling storm above. In the center stood two figures locked in combat: Joan of Arc in her silver armor, dueling with her dark mirror image—the Dragon Witch.
The contrast between them was striking. Where Joan radiated light and purpose, her Alter form exuded darkness and hatred. The Dragon Witch wore black armor styled with draconic motifs, her pale hair streaked with blood-red highlights, and her eyes glowing with unnatural amber light. Behind her loomed a massive draconic shadow—not a physical dragon, but a manifestation of the corrupted power she controlled.
Around them circled four additional figures—the remaining members of the Dragon Witch's court: a beautiful woman in Victorian dress holding a bloody grimoire (Carmilla), a massive dragon-rider with a gleaming lance (likely Elizabeth Bathory in her draconic aspect), a gigantic man with horns and a greataxe (Darius III), and a slender figure with an expressionless mask (the assassin Hassan-i-Sabbah).
"Ah, more guests for our celebration," the Dragon Witch called out, parrying one of Joan's strikes with casual ease. "How fitting that you should witness the culmination of my vengeance."
"This ends now," Ritsuka declared, his Servants moving into combat positions around him. "Your anchor has been neutralized, and your army is in disarray."
The Dragon Witch laughed—a sound like breaking glass. "You think that banner was my only anchor? Foolish mortals. I have found a far more potent source." She gestured to an altar behind her, upon which rested a small, glowing object. "A fragment of the Holy Grail itself—more than enough to complete my transformation of this land."
Joan pressed her attack, her sword clashing against her Alter's dark blade. "You are an abomination—a possibility that should never have manifested! I will not allow you to corrupt France with your hatred!"
"Corrupt? I am purifying this wretched land!" the Dragon Witch snarled. "Humans betrayed me, left me to burn while they watched and celebrated. Dragons, at least, are honest in their nature—they devour without pretense of righteousness!"
As the two Joans dueled, the Dragon Witch's court moved to engage the Chaldean Servants. Scáthach faced off against the dragon-rider, Child-Gil against Darius, Martha against Carmilla, and Kiyohime against the Hassan. Mash positioned herself protectively before Ritsuka, while Kazuki found himself momentarily unengaged.
This gave him an opportunity to analyze the ritual in progress. His Formula Recognition ability, enhanced by the extreme Venus authority concentration, allowed him to see the transformation pattern in its entirety:
[COMPLETE FORMULA VISUALIZATION]
Ritual Structure: Seven-Layered Conversion Circle
Target: Regional Human Population (50km radius)
Transformation End-State: Draconic Hybrids (under Witch's control)
Critical Component: Grail Fragment (Primary Power Source)
Vulnerability: Energy Reflection Point (Directly above altar)
The vulnerability was clear—if they could disrupt the energy flow at the reflection point above the altar, the entire ritual would collapse. But reaching it meant getting past the Dragon Witch herself, who seemed to be holding her own even against Joan's holy sword.
Kazuki felt his system pushing toward another threshold as the Venus synchronization continued to accelerate in this environment:
[CRITICAL SYNCHRONIZATION SHIFT]
Type Venus: 1.23% → 1.87% → 2.35% (Accelerating)
Type Mercury: 3.27% → 3.56% (Responding to stabilize)
New Ability Forming: Crystal Transformation Matrix (Venus+Mercury)
Warning: Untested Ability May Have Unpredictable Results
A new ability was forming—a hybrid function drawing on both his Mercury and Venus synchronizations. It felt dangerous, unstable, yet potentially powerful enough to affect the ritual. The risk of further accelerating his transformation was significant, but the alternative was allowing the Dragon Witch to complete her horrific plan.
"Ritsuka!" Kazuki called out over the chaos of battle. "I need to get to the altar! I think I can disrupt the ritual!"
Ritsuka nodded, immediately grasping the strategy. "Mash, cover Kazuki's approach!"
Mash moved to shield Kazuki as they began working their way around the edge of the chamber toward the altar. The Dragon Witch, engaged with Joan, noticed their movement and snarled in fury.
"Stop them!" she commanded her court. "The altar must be protected at all costs!"
Carmilla broke away from her duel with Martha, flinging a spray of blood from her grimoire that solidified into crimson spikes aimed directly at Kazuki and Mash. Martha intercepted with a blast of holy light from her staff, neutralizing the attack.
"Go!" she shouted. "I'll handle the blood witch!"
As they neared the altar, Kazuki could feel the raw power emanating from the Grail fragment—a chaotic, corrupted energy that nonetheless contained immense transformative potential. His Venus synchronization responded powerfully to its proximity, pushing dangerously higher:
[WARNING: SYNCHRONIZATION SPIKE]
Type Venus: 2.35% → 3.11% (Direct Grail Exposure)
Stabilization Required
Recommend Immediate Action
There was no time for caution. Focusing on the newly forming hybrid ability, Kazuki extended his hands toward the reflection point above the altar. Crystal structures began to form—not the pure geometric patterns of his Mercury abilities, but more organic, flowing formations that incorporated aspects of Venus's transformative nature.
"What are you doing?" the Dragon Witch shrieked, momentarily disengaging from Joan to lunge toward Kazuki.
Joan intercepted her dark counterpart, their blades locking in a shower of sparks. "Focus on the ritual!" she called to Kazuki. "I'll hold her back!"
The Crystal Transformation Matrix continued to grow, forming an intricate latticework that intercepted the energy flow from the Grail fragment. Instead of simply blocking the power, however, the crystal structure began redirecting it—changing its pattern, altering its very nature.
[CRYSTAL TRANSFORMATION MATRIX ACTIVE]
Function: Redirecting Transformation Energy
Target Reconfiguration: Inversion Pattern (Reversing flow)
Effect: Ritual Energy → Self-Targeting
Warning: Extreme System Strain
Kazuki felt the strain immediately—a burning sensation that spread from his hands throughout his entire body as the untested ability pushed his system to its limits. His vision blurred, consciousness threatening to slip away as the crystal matrix redirected the massive energy flow back toward its source.
The effect was immediate and dramatic. The Grail fragment began to pulse erratically, its corrupted light flickering as the reversed energy flow created a feedback loop. The draconic transformations affecting the tower started to unravel, stone and wood separating from flesh and scale as the process reversed.
"NO!" the Dragon Witch screamed, breaking free from Joan to charge directly at Kazuki. "You'll ruin everything!"
Before she could reach him, Mash interposed her shield, blocking the attack with a shower of sparks. "You won't touch him!"
The Dragon Witch's fury was terrible to behold. Her form began to shift, growing larger and more draconic as she channeled her remaining power. "If I cannot transform France, then I'll at least have the satisfaction of destroying you all!" Dark wings erupted from her back, and her face elongated into a draconic muzzle. "La Grondement Du Haine!" she invoked, unleashing her Noble Phantasm.
A wave of black fire erupted from her transformed body, engulfing everything in its path. Joan quickly countered with her own Noble Phantasm: "Luminosité Eternelle!" Her banner manifested, creating a shield of divine light that intercepted the dark flames.
The competing energies—transformation, purification, destruction, and protection—collided in a catastrophic release of power. Kazuki felt his Crystal Transformation Matrix beginning to fracture under the strain, unable to contain the chaotic forces unleashed.
[CRITICAL FAILURE IMMINENT]
Matrix Stability: 17% and Falling
Venus Sync: Fluctuating Dangerously
Mercury Sync: Unable to Compensate
Recommendation: IMMEDIATE DISENGAGEMENT
"It's going to collapse!" Kazuki warned, his voice strained with effort. "The energies are too chaotic!"
Joan seemed to understand instantly. "Everyone, take cover! Ritsuka, command your Servants to defensive positions!"
Ritsuka raised his hand, Command Seals glowing. "By my Command Seal, all Servants protect us from the coming explosion!"
The Masters and their Servants converged as Joan and Mash created overlapping defensive fields with their Noble Phantasms. Child-Gil added a golden shield from his treasury, while Scáthach inscribed runic protections in the air around them.
The Dragon Witch, seeing her ritual collapsing and her enemies protected, let out a final scream of rage and despair. "If I am to fade, I will not go alone! La Grondement Du Haine—FINAL VERSE!"
Her body erupted into a pillar of black flame that shot upward, piercing the stormy vortex above. For a moment, she hung suspended in the air, her form caught between human and dragon, beautiful and monstrous simultaneously. Then, with a sound like reality itself tearing, her body imploded—collapsing into the Grail fragment and triggering a massive release of energy.
The explosion that followed was like nothing Kazuki had ever experienced. It wasn't just physical—it was conceptual, a detonation of possibilities and transformative power. His Crystal Transformation Matrix shattered completely, fragments of crystalline energy scattering in all directions before dissolving into motes of light.
Through the chaos, Kazuki felt a familiar sensation overtaking him—the system pushing beyond its limits, flooding his consciousness with raw conceptual power. Unlike in Fuyuki, however, he remained conscious, though every nerve ending screamed in protest. His interface flickered rapidly, warnings and alerts blending into an incomprehensible storm of information:
[SYSTEM CRITICAL OVERRIDE]
Multiple Type Authorities in Resonance Cascade
Venus: 3.11% → 4.27% → 5.01% (Uncontrolled Growth)
Mercury: 3.56% → 4.32% (Compensating)
Moon: 0.89% → 1.73% (Responding)
Saturn: 0.57% → 1.25% (Temporal Shell Activating)
Pluto: 0.13% → 0.87% (Boundary Reinforcement)
WARNING: Administrator Integration at Risk
Phase 1 Parameters Exceeded
Emergency Stabilization Required
The explosion's shockwave expanded outward, a ripple of transformation energy that warped everything it touched. Stone became flesh, then crystal, then something for which Kazuki had no words—matter caught between states of being. The tower itself seemed to be collapsing inward and expanding simultaneously, physics surrendering to the chaos of uncontrolled Venus authority.
Within the protective sphere created by Joan's banner and the Servants' combined defenses, Kazuki struggled to maintain his sense of self. The Venus synchronization was pushing dangerously high, threatening to overwhelm his human consciousness with alien planetary logic.
Purpose, Joan had said. Remember your purpose.
Through the haze of pain and system warnings, Kazuki focused on that single thought. He was here to protect human history. To save Chaldea. To help Ritsuka, Mash, and the others fix the singularities.
No concept, no power, no transformation could be allowed to interfere with that purpose.
With tremendous effort, he reached mentally for his interface controls, forcing a command through the chaos:
[ADMINISTRATOR OVERRIDE]
Emergency Pattern Lock: Initiated
Type Venus Synchronization: Capping at Current Level
Divergent Energy: Redirecting to Stabilization Matrix
Integration Priority: Identity Preservation
The effect was immediate—like a pressure valve releasing. The excess Venus energy that had been flooding his system now redirected outward, crystallizing around their protective sphere. The translucent crystals caught the chaotic transformation waves from the explosion, refracting them harmlessly into higher dimensional space rather than allowing them to propagate through normal reality.
"It's working!" Martha called out, her holy staff adding its power to the defensive barrier. "The explosion is being contained!"
The crisis point lasted perhaps thirty seconds, though to Kazuki it felt like hours. Finally, the energies began to dissipate, the Grail fragment's power exhausted by the Dragon Witch's final attack. As the chaos settled, they could see that the tower chamber had been utterly transformed—much of it simply gone, with open sky above where there had once been a roof and walls.
Of the Dragon Witch, nothing remained save a small pile of black ash on the altar where the Grail fragment had been. The fragment itself had cracked down the middle, its corrupting power neutralized by the backlash of its own ritual.
"Is everyone alright?" Ritsuka asked, lowering his arm as the Servants dropped their protective measures.
Mash was the first to respond, her shield dissipating as she returned to Ritsuka's side. "I believe so, Senpai. The combined defenses held."
Around them, the other Servants were assessing the damage. Child-Gil appeared completely unfazed, brushing dust from his golden armor with casual disdain. Scáthach's eyes were narrowed in calculation as she scanned the chamber for any remaining threats. Martha was already moving to check on Kiyohime, who had sustained minor injuries in her battle with Hassan.
Kazuki remained kneeling where he had fallen, his system still recalibrating after the emergency override. The interface was gradually returning to normal function:
[STABILIZATION IN PROGRESS]
Venus Synchronization: 5.01% (Locked)
Other Type Connections: Balancing
System Integrity: 78% and Rising
Administrator Identity: Preserved
WARNING: Sync Lock is Temporary Measure
Full Integration Required within 72 Hours
"You did it," Joan said quietly, approaching Kazuki. She had returned to her fully human form, her armor scorched but intact, her banner once again in her hand. "The ritual has been disrupted and the Grail fragment purified."
"We did it," Kazuki corrected, accepting her offered hand to stand. His legs felt unsteady, but the system had protected him from the worst of the physical strain. "Your Noble Phantasm was what saved us from the explosion."
Joan smiled slightly. "A collaborative effort, then." Her expression grew more serious as she studied him. "But the cost to you was significant. Your aura has changed... expanded."
Before Kazuki could respond, a groan from the far side of the chamber drew their attention. One of the Dragon Witch's court—Carmilla—was still alive, though badly wounded. Her elegant Victorian dress was in tatters, and the grimoire that had been the source of her transformation magic lay in ashes at her side.
Scáthach was beside the fallen Servant instantly, her crimson spear at Carmilla's throat. "Move and you die, blood witch."
"Kill me... if you wish," Carmilla rasped, her voice barely audible. "It changes nothing. He has already... achieved what he wanted."
"Who?" Ritsuka demanded, approaching cautiously. "Who was behind all this?"
Carmilla's lips curved into a bloody smile. "The Grand... Caster. He who sees all possible futures. This was merely... a test. A single move in his... greater game."
"Grand Caster?" Mash echoed, her expression confused. "What does that mean?"
"It means," Joan said gravely, "that a far more powerful entity was manipulating events from the shadows—one with the ability to see and influence multiple timelines."
Kazuki's interface processed this new information:
[INTEL UPDATE]
Entity Classification: Grand Servant - Caster Class
Threat Level: Unknown (Beyond Standard Parameters)
Potential Identities: Insufficient Data
Warning: Grand Servants represent apex manifestations of their class
Carmilla coughed, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth. "He promised me... eternal beauty. The Dragon Witch... was merely his pawn. As was I." Her eyes were beginning to fade. "Beware the man... who stands outside time. He plays with history... like a child with toys."
With those enigmatic words, Carmilla's body dissolved into golden particles, returning to the Throne of Heroes as her corrupted Saint Graph finally collapsed.
"A Grand Servant," Child-Gil mused, his childish face unusually serious. "That would explain how this singularity was created with such precision. Only a being of that caliber could manipulate a Grail fragment to manifest an Alter class without being present."
The revelation cast a somber mood over their victory. If a Grand Servant—among the most powerful entities in the Nasuverse—was behind the distortions in human history, their mission had just become significantly more complicated.
"We should return to Chaldea," Ritsuka decided after a moment. "Dr. Roman needs to hear about this development."
Joan nodded in agreement. "The singularity will correct itself now that the corrupting influence has been removed. France will continue on its proper historical path." She turned to Kazuki. "Though I fear the changes within you may not be so easily reversed."
Kazuki glanced at his interface status, noting the locked Venus synchronization at over 5%—far higher than any of his previous Type connections. "Some transformations only move forward, never back," he acknowledged quietly.
Joan's expression was sympathetic. "Remember what I told you about purpose. It remains your anchor, no matter how far you evolve beyond human parameters."
As they prepared to leave the ruined tower, Gilles de Rais and a contingent of resistance fighters arrived, having fought their way through the now-leaderless dragon forces. The general's eyes filled with tears at the sight of Joan—the true Joan—alive and victorious.
"My lady," he breathed, dropping to one knee before her. "You have saved France once again."
Joan touched his shoulder gently. "Rise, old friend. The battle is won, but my time in this world grows short. The singularity's correction will soon return me to the Throne."
"Must you go?" Gilles asked, his voice breaking. "After losing you once..."
"History must follow its course," Joan replied with gentle firmness. "My execution at Rouen was tragic, but necessary for the legend that inspires faith across centuries." She turned to the Masters. "As for you, travelers from Chaldea—your path leads elsewhere. There are other singularities to correct, other distortions threatening human history."
Ritsuka nodded, accepting a communicator from Mash to contact Dr. Roman. After a brief exchange confirming their success and requesting Rayshift extraction, he turned back to the group.
"Chaldea will bring us back in approximately thirty minutes," he reported. "Dr. Roman says the singularity is already beginning to stabilize."
As they waited for extraction, Kazuki took a moment to examine the damaged Grail fragment on the altar. His enhanced Formula Recognition allowed him to see the complex patterns still etched into its surface—patterns that reminded him of the ones he'd observed in the Dragon Witch's transformation magic, but far more sophisticated.
[ARTIFACT ANALYSIS]
Object: Holy Grail Fragment (Neutralized)
Origin: Unknown (Not standard Holy Grail War derivative)
Modifications: Complex Command Structure (Reality Alteration)
Signature Detected: Consistent with "Grand Caster" reference
"Examining the weapon?" Scáthach's voice came from behind him. The Lancer had approached silently, her crimson eyes studying both Kazuki and the fragment with equal intensity.
"Trying to understand what we're really facing," Kazuki replied. "This fragment wasn't just corrupted—it was specifically programmed to manifest Joan's Alter form and execute a precise series of events."
Scáthach nodded, unsurprised. "A test, as the blood witch said. But a test of what? And for what purpose?"
"That's what worries me," Kazuki admitted. "My system can analyze the 'how' but not the 'why.'"
The Lancer's expression remained stoic, but her next words carried unexpected weight. "When we return to Chaldea, you and I will intensify your training. Your Pluto synchronization must increase to balance the Venus spike. Death and transformation—the eternal cycle that maintains universal balance."
Before Kazuki could respond, a familiar blue light began to envelop their group—the signature of Chaldea's Rayshift technology locking onto their spiritual signatures. The Orleans singularity was fading around them, reality reasserting its proper flow as human history repaired itself.
The last thing Kazuki saw before the quantum tunnel claimed him was Joan of Arc, her silver armor gleaming in the sunlight that now broke through the storm clouds, her hand raised in a final farewell. Then she too began to fade, returning to the Throne of Heroes as the singularity released its hold on her manifestation.
Purpose, her voice echoed in his mind as the Rayshift completed. Remember your purpose.
Chapter 8: Planetary Synchronization
Recovery from the Orleans mission proved more complicated than anyone had anticipated. While Ritsuka and the other Servants returned with relatively minor injuries, Kazuki's condition required specialized attention. His Venus synchronization remained locked at just over 5%—a precautionary measure implemented by his system to prevent uncontrolled growth, but one that created significant imbalance with his other Type connections.
Da Vinci converted an entire section of her workshop into a stabilization chamber, filled with monitoring equipment and conceptual anchors designed to help regulate the fluctuating energies within Kazuki's spiritual core.
"Fascinating," she murmured on the third day of observation, reviewing holographic displays of his internal structure. "The crystalline formations have evolved into something more... organic. They're integrating with your spiritual circuits rather than simply overlaying them."
Kazuki, seated on an examination table surrounded by humming equipment, watched his own data scroll across multiple screens. His interface provided a more intimate perspective:
[INTEGRATION PROGRESS]
Venus Authority: Partial Assimilation (32%)
Administrator Identity: Stable but Evolving
Human Parameter Retention: 91.3%
Estimated Time to Natural Balance: 47 hours
"The good news," Da Vinci continued, "is that you're not rejecting the increased Venus synchronization. Your system appears to be gradually adapting to accommodate it." She frowned slightly. "The concerning element is what this means for future encounters. If each singularity pushes you toward higher synchronization with its dominant Type..."
"I'll become less human with each mission," Kazuki finished quietly.
Da Vinci's expression softened—a rare moment of genuine empathy from the usually cerebral genius. "Evolution isn't the same as replacement, Kazuki. You're not losing your humanity; you're expanding beyond its conventional limitations." She gestured to the data displays. "Look here—your core identity markers remain consistent. Your memories, values, emotional patterns—all stable."
Before Kazuki could respond, the workshop door slid open to admit Dr. Roman, accompanied by a holographic projection of Director Olga Marie. The director's digital representation appeared agitated, her arms crossed and her expression stern.
"This is precisely what I was concerned about," she declared without preamble. "Itsuki's condition is evolving too rapidly for proper study or containment."
"He's not a specimen to be contained, Director," Roman countered with unusual firmness. "And his contributions in both Fuyuki and Orleans were decisive in resolving those singularities."
"At what cost?" Olga demanded, her projection flickering slightly with the intensity of her emotion. "His Venus synchronization has more than doubled. At this rate of acceleration, how long before he transcends human parameters entirely? Before we can no longer predict or influence his actions?"
Kazuki watched this exchange with a strange sense of detachment. Three weeks ago, he would have been deeply unsettled by being discussed as if he weren't present—as a problem to be managed rather than a person. Now, he found himself analyzing the conceptual weight behind Olga's fear and Roman's defensive response, seeing the patterns of concern and protection woven through their exchange.
"I'm still me, Director," he said finally, interrupting their debate. "My purpose hasn't changed, even if my capabilities have."
Olga's holographic gaze fixed on him with penetrating intensity. "And what exactly is your purpose, Itsuki? As you understand it?"
The question wasn't merely rhetorical; Kazuki could sense the genuine calculation behind it. His answer would determine much about how Chaldea approached his evolving condition.
"To help restore human history," he replied simply. "To work alongside Ritsuka and the others to correct the singularities and prevent humanity's incineration."
Something in his tone or expression must have satisfied her, because Olga's posture relaxed slightly. "Very well. But I'm implementing additional monitoring protocols. Da Vinci will perform daily scans of your spiritual structure, and all Type synchronization changes must be immediately reported."
"That's reasonable," Kazuki agreed, seeing no benefit in resistance. Transparency would help build trust, and he needed Chaldea's resources to understand his own evolution.
After Olga's projection departed, Roman sighed heavily. "Sorry about that. The Director's... situation... has made her especially vigilant about anything she perceives as unpredictable."
"Being reduced to a digital existence would make anyone paranoid," Da Vinci remarked, returning to her monitoring equipment. "Especially someone who was already control-oriented to begin with."
The conversation shifted to more practical matters—namely, preparing for the next phase of Kazuki's condition. Once the Venus synchronization fully integrated, his system would unlock new abilities drawing on that Type's authority. According to the interface, these would center around transformation and reconfiguration—the ability to alter forms rather than merely analyze them as his current Formula Recognition allowed.
"Before we proceed with any tests of these new abilities," Roman cautioned, "Scáthach insists on continuing your training. She's particularly concerned about the imbalance between your Venus and Pluto synchronizations."
On cue, the door slid open once more to admit the Queen of Shadows herself. Scáthach's crimson eyes took in the scene with a single sweeping glance—the monitoring equipment, the data displays, and Kazuki's seated form at the center of it all.
"Your machines cannot fix what ails him," she stated flatly to Da Vinci. "The imbalance is conceptual, not physical or even spiritual."
Da Vinci raised an elegant eyebrow. "And I suppose you have a solution?"
"Balance through opposition," Scáthach replied. "Venus represents transformation and becoming—the endless potential of life and change. Pluto embodies boundaries and endings—the necessary limits that give existence meaning." She turned to Kazuki. "One without the other leads to chaos. You need both in equal measure."
Kazuki's interface seemed to confirm her assessment:
[SYNCHRONIZATION BALANCE ANALYSIS]
Current Imbalance: Venus (5.01%) / Pluto (0.87%)
System Recommendation: Increase Pluto Synchronization
Optimal Range: Within 2% differential
Warning: Continued Imbalance Risks Conceptual Drift
"How do you propose to increase his Pluto synchronization?" Roman asked, his medical concern evident. "We can't exactly expose him to death-related phenomena without risk."
Scáthach's lips curved in a slight, dangerous smile. "Can't we?" She faced Kazuki directly. "My domain exists in the Land of Shadows—a realm between life and death. I propose to take you there for three days of intensive training."
Silence greeted this suggestion. The Land of Shadows was legendary even among magi—a realm outside normal spacetime where the rules of life and death blurred. Few who entered ever returned, and those who did were fundamentally changed by the experience.
"That's... extremely risky," Roman objected after a moment. "The Land of Shadows isn't just another bounded field or reality marble. It's a genuine Underworld domain with its own laws of physics and spirituality."
"Precisely why it will work," Scáthach countered. "The boy needs exposure to Pluto's domain in its purest form. My realm is the closest accessible approximation within our reach."
Da Vinci, who had been unusually quiet during this exchange, finally spoke. "Actually, it's not a terrible idea. From a purely theoretical standpoint, controlled exposure to a death-aligned conceptual space would naturally accelerate Pluto synchronization." She turned to her monitors, already calculating. "We could modify one of the training rooms to create a localized connection to the Land of Shadows—not a full transportation, but a dimensional overlap sufficient for proper exposure."
Roman still looked troubled. "The physical risks—"
"Are less severe than the conceptual risks of leaving him unbalanced," Scáthach interrupted firmly. "Venus without Pluto's counterbalance leads to unlimited transformation without purpose or direction—an existence that continuously changes without ever truly being anything."
The discussion continued for some time, with Roman raising medical concerns, Da Vinci proposing technical solutions, and Scáthach insisting on the necessity of her approach. Throughout it all, Kazuki remained silent, observing the interplay of personalities and priorities. Finally, when it became clear that no consensus would emerge without his input, he spoke.
"I'll do it," he said simply. "Scáthach is right about the imbalance. I can feel it—like being pulled constantly in one direction without anchoring."
Roman sighed in resignation. "At least let us implement some safety protocols. Vitals monitoring, emergency extraction capabilities..."
"Acceptable," Scáthach nodded. "But the training itself must proceed without interference. The Land of Shadows responds to intent and will—any attempt to mitigate its effects would merely weaken the exposure and render the exercise pointless."
With reluctant agreement from all parties, preparations began immediately. Da Vinci, energized by the technical challenge, set to work converting a reinforced training room into a dimensional gateway. Scáthach provided runic formulas and boundary markers from her domain, while Roman insisted on a comprehensive medical examination of Kazuki before the procedure.
Ritsuka, upon learning of the plan, visited Kazuki in the medical bay during the final preparations. His expression reflected concern, but not the fear or suspicion that Kazuki had glimpsed in others around Chaldea.
"You're sure about this?" Ritsuka asked, taking a seat beside the examination table where Kazuki was undergoing his final scans.
"Not really," Kazuki admitted with a small smile. "But necessary things rarely come with certainty."
Ritsuka nodded, understanding the sentiment. "Just... come back, okay? Chaldea needs you. I need you." He looked slightly embarrassed at the admission. "You see things the rest of us can't—patterns, weaknesses, opportunities. And after what Carmilla said about a Grand Caster being behind everything..."
"I'll come back," Kazuki promised. "Three days in the Land of Shadows, then we continue our mission together."
The training room, when Kazuki entered it several hours later, had been transformed almost beyond recognition. The standard white walls were now covered in complex runic arrays that seemed to shift and move when viewed peripherally. The lighting had dimmed to a twilight glow, and the air felt heavier, charged with unfamiliar energy.
Scáthach stood at the center of the space, her combat gear replaced by more formal attire befitting her role as queen of her realm—a black and crimson dress with elaborate Celtic patterns woven throughout. Her crimson spear, Gáe Bolg, stood planted in the floor before her, pulsing with subtle energy.
"Are you prepared?" she asked as Kazuki approached. There was no warmth in her voice, only the professional assessment of a teacher evaluating a student before a difficult lesson.
"As much as I can be," Kazuki replied honestly.
She nodded once, then drove her spear deeper into the floor. The runes throughout the room flared in response, the air shimmering as reality began to thin.
"The Land of Shadows exists perpendicular to normal spacetime," Scáthach explained as the transformation progressed. "It touches all eras simultaneously while remaining separate from them. There, concepts are more real than physical forms, and intent shapes reality more directly than action."
The room around them was fading, replaced by a misty landscape of twisted trees and strange rock formations. The sky—if it could be called that—was a perpetual twilight, neither day nor night, with stars that moved in patterns no astronomer would recognize.
"Welcome to my domain," Scáthach said, her voice reverberating with newfound authority. Here, she was not merely a Servant—she was queen and goddess, the undisputed ruler of a realm that predated human civilization.
Kazuki's interface responded immediately to the environmental shift:
[DOMAIN TRANSITION COMPLETE]
Location: Land of Shadows (Peripheral Region)
Reality Classification: Underworld-Adjacent Conceptual Territory
Pluto Authority Saturation: Extreme
Warning: Normal Physical Laws Partially Suspended
"I feel it," Kazuki murmured, sensing the weight of death and boundaries pressing against his consciousness. "Pluto's authority is... everywhere here."
"This realm exists at the boundary between life and death," Scáthach confirmed. "Neither fully one nor the other, but a domain of transition and limitation. Perfect for our purposes."
She led him deeper into the misty landscape, past stone formations that resembled faces caught in eternal screams and trees whose branches reached down like grasping hands. Occasionally, shadowy figures flitted at the edge of vision—the other inhabitants of this strange realm, watching the newcomer with curiosity or hunger.
"Are those... the dead?" Kazuki asked, watching a particularly human-shaped shadow dissolve back into the mist.
"Some were once human," Scáthach replied. "Others were never alive as mortals understand it. The Land of Shadows hosts many beings that exist outside conventional categorization."
They reached a clearing dominated by a perfect circle of standing stones, each carved with runes that glowed with cold blue fire. In the center stood a simple altar of black stone, its surface unnaturally smooth.
"Your training begins here," Scáthach announced, stepping into the circle. "In this place, you will confront the fundamental nature of Pluto's domain—the concept of absolute boundaries."
She gestured, and the mists around them solidified into humanoid forms—training constructs created from the substance of the realm itself. Unlike normal combat dummies, these shadows moved with unsettling fluidity, their featureless faces somehow conveying menace despite the absence of expression.
"These constructs cannot be defeated by normal means," Scáthach explained. "Physical attacks pass through them. Only by recognizing and enforcing conceptual boundaries can you affect them."
Kazuki's interface analyzed the shadow constructs:
[ENTITY ANALYSIS]
Classification: Conceptual Manifestation (Death Aspect)
Physical Vulnerability: None
Conceptual Vulnerability: Boundary Enforcement
Recommended Approach: Pluto Authority Application
"How do I use an authority I barely have synchronization with?" Kazuki asked, watching the shadows begin to circle him predatorily.
"By understanding its fundamental nature," Scáthach replied, stepping back to observe. "Pluto's domain isn't just death—it's the boundary that separates existence from non-existence, being from non-being. Focus on that concept."
The first shadow lunged without warning, its arm elongating into a blade-like appendage. Kazuki attempted to dodge, but in this realm, physical movements felt sluggish and imprecise, as if he were moving through water. The shadow's attack caught him across the shoulder, and though it passed through without leaving a physical wound, Kazuki felt a bone-deep cold spread from the point of contact.
"They cannot harm your body," Scáthach called out, "but they can affect your spiritual core. Each touch drains life energy and weakens your connection to your physical form."
Two more shadows attacked simultaneously from different angles. Instinctively, Kazuki tried to manifest his Mercury crystallization as a defensive barrier, but the formations fizzled and collapsed almost immediately.
[TYPE MERCURY ACCESS RESTRICTED]
Current Domain Suppresses External Authorities
Recommendation: Utilize Domain-Aligned Synchronization (Pluto)
Understanding flashed through Kazuki's mind. This realm naturally suppressed other Type authorities while amplifying Pluto's domain. He was being forced to develop and use his weakest synchronization precisely because the environment made it his only viable option.
Clever, if brutally effective, teaching methodology.
Another shadow struck, its touch sending icy tendrils of numbness through Kazuki's left arm. Gritting his teeth against the sensation, he focused inward on his Pluto synchronization—the thin connection that had formed during his interactions with Scáthach.
Boundaries. Limits. The line between what is and what is not.
He visualized this concept as concretely as possible—a definitive edge separating existence from void. To his surprise, the visualization manifested as a faint black outline around his body, like a second skin made of darkness itself.
[PLUTO SYNCHRONIZATION RESPONDING]
Current Sync: 0.87% → 1.03% (Active Utilization)
Function Manifesting: Boundary Shell (Prototype)
Effect: Defines Personal Existence Boundary
The next shadow that attacked encountered resistance—its formless limb unable to penetrate the dark outline surrounding Kazuki. It recoiled in what appeared to be surprise, circling more warily.
"Yes," Scáthach confirmed, observing the manifestation with approval. "You're beginning to understand. Pluto's authority establishes what can and cannot cross fundamental boundaries—including the boundary of self."
The training intensified as more shadow constructs joined the fray, each forcing Kazuki to refine his nascent Boundary Shell. What began as simple defense evolved gradually into more complex applications—learning to extend the boundary to push shadows away, to contract it to increase its density, and eventually to project it outward as a weapon.
Hours blended together in that timeless realm. When exhaustion finally overtook him, Scáthach allowed a brief respite. They sat beneath one of the twisted trees, sharing a strange liquid that tasted of nothing Kazuki had ever encountered but somehow restored energy to his drained spiritual core.
"Your progress is acceptable," Scáthach commented, which Kazuki had learned was high praise from the exacting teacher. "Pluto recognizes your affinity."
"It feels... different from the other synchronizations," Kazuki observed, examining his interface data. "Less about manipulation of external reality and more about defining fundamental limits."
Scáthach nodded. "Each Type has its own nature and approach to existence. Mercury crystallizes and structures. Venus transforms and evolves. Saturn preserves and measures. Moon connects and resurrects. Pluto defines and separates." She fixed him with her penetrating gaze. "Understanding these differences is crucial to maintaining balance as your synchronizations deepen."
The training resumed after their brief rest, expanding to include new aspects of Pluto's domain. Scáthach introduced exercises focused on perceiving death itself—not merely as an ending, but as a transition between states of being. This expanded Kazuki's Boundary perception to recognize the natural limits of various phenomena, including the fragile line between life and death that all beings walked.
By what might have been the end of the first day (time flowed strangely in the Land of Shadows), Kazuki's Pluto synchronization had increased substantially:
[SYNCHRONIZATION UPDATE]
Pluto: 1.03% → 1.78%
New Function Developing: Death Perception (Limited)
Effect: Can perceive natural ending points in phenomena
This new perception was disconcerting at first—suddenly seeing where things would naturally end, the fault lines in existence itself. When he looked at a stone, he could see the lines where it would eventually crack. When he observed one of the shadow constructs, he could perceive the boundaries that defined its pseudo-existence.
"This ability is dangerous," Scáthach warned as she observed him testing the perception on various objects. "Many who develop Death Perception are driven mad by constantly witnessing the fragility of all things. You must learn to control when and how you access this sight."
The second "day" focused on applying this perception actively—learning to touch the death lines he perceived to accelerate natural endings. Under Scáthach's guidance, Kazuki practiced on inanimate objects first—causing stones to crack along their fated lines, dead branches to crumble to dust along their boundaries of existence.
"All things carry their ending within them," Scáthach explained as Kazuki caused a withered flower to disintegrate by tracing its death line with his finger. "Pluto's authority isn't about imposing death, but recognizing where it already exists as potential."
This training pushed his synchronization even higher:
[SYNCHRONIZATION UPDATE]
Pluto: 1.78% → 2.45%
Death Perception: Enhanced (Tactile Activation)
Boundary Shell: Stabilized
By the third day, Kazuki's connection to Pluto had deepened enough to begin addressing the original purpose of their training—balancing the Venus synchronization. Scáthach led him to a different location within her realm—a still, black lake whose surface reflected not the twilight sky above but countless stars from some other, unknown cosmos.
"This is the Mirror of Transitions," she explained, gesturing for him to kneel at the lake's edge. "It reflects not what you are, but the boundaries between what you have been, what you are now, and what you might become."
Kazuki looked into the dark water, expecting to see some version of his reflection. Instead, he saw multiple overlapping images—his human self as he had been before Chaldea, his current transitional state with crystalline elements integrated into his spiritual core, and shadowy suggestions of future possibilities that his mind couldn't fully comprehend.
"Venus shows you endless potential," Scáthach said, kneeling beside him. "Pluto shows you necessary limitations. Both are true. Both are needed."
As Kazuki gazed into the Mirror of Transitions, his interface displayed an unusual message:
[SYNCHRONIZATION HARMONIZATION]
Venus: 5.01% / Pluto: 2.45%
Integration Protocol Available
Function: Authority Counterbalance
Effect: Creates conceptual equilibrium between opposed Type domains
Execute? [Y/N]
"Yes," Kazuki whispered, understanding intuitively that this was the culmination of their training.
The effect was subtle but profound—a sense of internal balance that had been missing since the Venus spike in Orleans. Though the synchronization percentages remained different, their conceptual influence within his system had reached equilibrium, like weights properly distributed on a scale.
[HARMONIZATION COMPLETE]
Conceptual Balance Achieved
Venus-Pluto Integration: Successful
New Function Available: Boundary Transformation
Effect: Can transform within defined conceptual limits
"You feel it," Scáthach observed, not a question but a statement. "The balance."
Kazuki nodded, rising to his feet. "I understand now. Venus without Pluto is change without meaning. Pluto without Venus is stagnation without purpose. Together, they create directed evolution—transformation with defined boundaries."
"You learn quickly," Scáthach said, the barest hint of approval in her voice. "Perhaps too quickly for comfort."
Their time in the Land of Shadows concluded with a final test—a ritualistic combat against Scáthach herself. Unlike their previous training sessions in Chaldea, this battle took place with both operating at full capacity, Scáthach holding nothing back as she attacked with the speed and precision that had made her legend.
Kazuki found himself responding with newf