Author's note: I have reasons for everything I do, Trust. Am definitively not an idiot without plans.
I held two blades in my hands. Married Blades. One was black. The other was white. They symbolize Yin and Yang.
Bakuya, the Yin.
Kanshou, the Yang.
These were My favorite weapons to project…
Wait, what? Huh. Weird thought. I need to stop getting lost in them. I'm gonna end up like Zoro if I keep doing it…Who's Zoro anyway?
Whatever.
This thing is pretty strong. Like, I keep trying stabbing, but it's hard to do it while moving around and dodging the spear and sword thing. Bronya is shooting at it with that Stand of hers as well, and Kyana is trying to shoot it but her aim is…don't get me wrong, it's not horrible or anything, the thing is just moving too much to aim in a spot where it does something. May is copying Kyana.
And here I am, slashing and stabbing on its arms trying to find a weak spot. Getting to the eye thing is also an option…but I'm not sure if I can do that. The light coming from it gives me the same creeps as that 'energy' I keep feeling, but even worse.
Now, you might question how I even have the physical stats to jump around this thing. First, it's an idiotic beast that isn't sure where to aim. Second…I'm not quite sure. I'm not blind, I noticed the odd lines that are on my arms. There is a fire in my veins, like something is trying to burn me from the inside.
My body is stronger, but it's like one wrong move and my body will explode…
Huh.
That's a thought. My eyes venture to the blades in my hands. If the thing currently burning my blades is like a magical energy of sorts…then I should be able to use it like that.
"...Heh." I jumped back, landing between Kyana and May. "Hey Kyana, wanna help me beat that thing?"
"Huh?"
"Hear me out…" I explained to her my amazing idea. Beside her, May was concerned and was obviously considering talking us out of it, but I can be convincing when needed. "What do you say?"
"Kiana-chan, I don't think-"
"Let's do it!"
In the end we didn't allow the funslayer to deny us. I threw Kanshou far away, and gripped Bakuya in both hands. In my mind, it was like someone else was holding it with me.
"Three…"
Kyana put the gun away and got ready as well.
"Two…"
I put pressure on my leg as the Blade of Bakuya seemed to tremble.
May sighed, realizing there was no stopping us.
"One!"
And with that, I moved. Temporarily putting Bakuya in my left hand, I ran towards Kyana.
Then, our hands meet and she spins me around, Throwing me right at this thing's face just as there was a small opening.
I grip Bakuya again in two hands and then, I strike.
"『Overedge』"
It feels like I've done this before. Spoken these words before. Bakuya extended into a less beautiful form.
An Imagine of a Nameless Archer appears in my mind.
And then, I overloaded the married Blade with the energy that filled my veins…
That's painful. It's like there are multiple energies inside me, trying to come out the same way. My soul is being torn apart. This is wrong.
I need to limit it to the right one…or I'll likely explode.
…Nah. I can take it. I don't have time to do such bothersome things.
I stabbed the blade into the thing's 'Eye'...and it started glowing, and so did Bakuya as it started cracking. And there was a metallic taste slowly appearing in my mouth.
…Oh shit.
Boom!
My eyes opened. And I found myself on a hill, Surrounded by Swords.
There were many blades here. Some were stabbed into the ground, some were shattered and just laid there, their flaws bare to witness.
The skies reflected darkness and almost seemed torn into pieces, some brighter, some darker, and some where the clouds were lit by storms.
"..."
This place…It's oddly familiar. Feels wrong though. Mutated. Damaged.
"So…you're the new 'faker' around, huh?" A smug, annoying voice sounded behind me. I looked back.
It was a man with short white hair, tanned skin, and an oddly annoying smirk. He wore body armor, including a sleeveless top and a black tight.
…Something about this guy really annoys me.
"Faker? Not the weirdest name you could have used…Who the fuck are you? No, tell me where I am first."
"Why don't you guess?"
This jerk…is he a professional rage-baiter?
"Well, I guess you're a dickhead."
I could see him narrowing his eyes in amusement. Clearly, my words were not enough to rile him up…
"Well…I suppose that isn't the wrong way to call me." He said, and despite the agreement, he was clearly mocking me. "Unfortunately, we do not have enough time to properly talk." As he said that, he raised his arm, which was slowly disappearing. "My name is EMIYA, but you should call me Archer."
"EMIYA…ah." I realized it.
"Exactly. Those memories you keep seeing aren't yours, but mine. The name you took was mine as well."
"...I'm not giving it back." I deadpanned. "You don't get to copyright your name."
"...I wasn't asking."
"So? Where are we, EMIYA Archer?" I said, smirking. "And why are you here? Are you even here?"
"Maybe I am. It's hard to tell, really. I'm simply a few incomplete parts of myself copied over to you."
…Huh?
"This is the manifestation of my Noble Phantasm and Reality Marble, U█l██it██ B██d██ W██ks."
"Gah! What the hell dude, that hurts." It was like someone scraped a rusted knife on my brain.
"And it's so damaged you can't even hear its name…" Archer shook his head. "Well, whatever. It's irrelevant now." By this point, his arm was gone and his legs and torso started going away too. "The traces of 'EMIYA Archer' will soon be assimilated by your soul. Long story short…"
Archer started explaining what he knew, guessed or understood.
Apparently, I have probably been sorta kinda dead-ish but not really quite dead dead, somehow making my sleeping soul float around between universes and either devouring weaker souls in my path to strengthen mine, or clashing with them and somehow copying parts of them…
"The only reason I could talk to you was because of my Reality Marble being a big part of my soul."
"...How in the 9th ring of hell did you figure any of that out?" I questioned by the time he stopped talking.
"I've seen a lot of things, though this is mostly speculation."
"Hmm…" I thought about it. "Is this why my own memories are just gone? Because they got overwritten by everything else?"
"Who knows…Ah, our time is up." By now his neck started disappearing. "One last question…do you plan to become a Hero of Justice?"
…Is he asking me that because he wanted to be one and is ashamed of his past childishness? Or is he just a drama queen that wanted to end this in a dramatic way?
Either way…
"Fuck that. Who wants to become a hero? That means being descended from a God or Goddess, and most of those are weird as hell!"
That's right! I still remember some of my Greek mythology knowledge, so of course I know being a Hero is a shit fate!
…Why does he seem dumbfounded? Did I say something odd? Well maybe, but the question was odd in the first place.
"...That's… not what I meant." With that exasperation, he disappeared and left me alone on this hill.
…The fuck did he mean then? Was it some other Mythology's Heroes? I only know the Greek ones though…
Well, whatever. I won't think too much of it. Now then…
"...How do I get out of here?"
That son of a bitch didn't explain shit.
"Hahaha, that was awesome!" Kiana laughed, making Mei sigh. What troublesome companions she has. One has decided to do Kamikaze, the other helped the first one do it.
How did it come to this? Ever since her father…turned out to have committed crimes, her life became chaotic and unpredictable. Dark and unpleasant. Abandoned by all, until Kiana came. A light in the darkness that covered her life…
And then this 'Apocalypse' as Emiya-san put it happened, and she…well, almost exploded. If not for Kiana pulling her back even when she became…'That', everything would have been much worse.
And then she saved her again, when she tried to end it all and atone. Catching her before she could.
Honestly, everything was happening so fast…
With those monsters everywhere, they could only try to get out of Nagazora. And so they found Bronya, and stuck together. And then Kiana somehow found Emiya-san under the rubble. And so, herself, Kiana-chan, Bronya-chan and Emiya-san tried their best to get to safety…Well, most of them did.
Her currently amnesiac friend, well, more like companion, didn't seem to be taking things all that seriously. Which…is a little fair, considering her lack of memories and her obvious strength.
Jumping around that thing like an acrobat says a lot.
She wasn't sure how the pale girl had that sort of strength, or the ability to summon those blades. But she was thankful for it…Though she'd prefer if the next time didn't require explosions. Speaking of…
"Can you go see if Emiya-san is okay, Kiana-chan?" She asked, while going to check on Bronya as well.
"Okay Mei-Senpai!"
She walked towards the smaller girl, who had her…Project Bunny was it, floating next to her.
"Are you alright, Bronya-chan?" She didn't seem hurt but Mei preferred to ask regardless.
"Yes, Mei-Nee-Sama. Subject Emiya's actions didn't allow The Bronya to be caught off-guard."
"That's good then."
Proom…
"...Do you hear that?"
Both of them turned to see a pretty large flying ship getting closer.
""...""
Not so slowly, the ship moved above them and from it jumped a woman with red hair and…a dress without shoes. She seemed a mix of relieved, wary, and annoyed.
And Mei shivered slightly when that woman looked directly at her.
"So…you're the Third Herrscher?"
Eh?
Kiana was confused.
Now, this wasn't a specifically unusual occurrence, as the world was against her and always gave harder questions to her than anyone else to make people think she was dumb. But that's just slander! She's very smart!
However, the reason she was confused was…the fact that Emiya was just standing there. With blood slowly leaking from the corners of her mouth.
Her eyes were empty as well, like she was staring into something that didn't exist.
"Hey…" She poked the silent girl. "Heeey…!" Once again, no effect. "Hey, Earth to Bakamiya!"
"The fuck did you just call me?"
And that just had to be the thing that woke her up. The Ashen-haired girl seemed slightly disoriented, and a bit surprised by the blood, but mostly fine.
"Why weren't you responding to me?!" Kiana pouted, annoyed. "I was trying to get your attention, but you just…stood there."
"Sorry, sorry. Just…zoned out after that explosion." Ah, that made sense! Kiana is just better, because she didn't zone out. She wasn't sure why Emiya was looking away though. "So, where's Mei?"
"Mei-Senpai's still up-"
Proom…!
"...There."
"..."
"..."
"...So…we should probably hurry back." Emiya said, and Kiana couldn't help but smirk.
Getting back to Mei? Such a challenge? Nah, she'd win.
"Whoever's last is a rotten egg!"
Since I woke up from my little chat with EMIYA and cleaned up the blood, I noticed three things.
First, Kiana's pout is dangerous.
Second, I seem to be fine despite the blood. Which…shouldn't be, I think. The liquid didn't just decide to appear, no, I must have damaged something inside my body when I used that uncontrolled attack earlier. But I'm not in pain, so…tis' but a scratch.
Third, I've gained enlightenment. I'm fairly sure…that I'm talking in Japanese. I didn't know it earlier, but the talk with Archer seems to have shook up my mind enough for that sort of realization to happen. It's odd, I think I knew English only originally, but here I am. Talking in Japanese without knowing. Kinda impressive, my stupidity is.
…Could do with a few more memories.
Moving out of my thoughts, I smirked as I saw Mei and Bronya standing on a rooftop a bit away, and no Kiana yet. There was also…a big-ass ship, and a red haired woman talking to them. Why was she in a dress? My smirk fell. Whoever she was, she got here a bit too late if she's here to help.. I landed on the edge of the roof, and walked closer. Of course, that was noticed by them as they looked at me, making me wave.
"Not even a scratch." I said, before looking at the red haired woman. "So, who's this? Did you two kidnap some old timer for the fun of it?"
The twitching of her eye was visible, but before she could say anything-
"Mei-Senpai!" And so, the secondary heroine arrives and sees me already standing there. "Damn it!"
"Ha, get good."
A little bit of humor before what appears to be a very serious conversation incoming.
Finally. I finished le second chapter.
I hope you enjoyed, I appreciate all interaction and questions. Sayonara, for now. And HAPPY HALLOWEEN(I'm sure it's still Halloween somewhere).