When Shirou and them arrived home, everyone seemed exhausted. The day had been intense, they had told me about the battle against Rider and Shinji that had left a tension in the air. I stretched, feeling the weight of the events.
"So, did you get another finger of Sukuna?" I said, taking the object that Shirou handed me. I held it for a moment, observing the evil aura that emanated from it. Even after so much time, that feeling was still uncomfortable.
"Yes. I got it from Shinji before we left there." Shirou crossed his arms. "We defeated his Servant and his seal disappeared. So that means he can no longer participate in the Chalice War."
"That is if there is no other way for him to return." Rin commented, sitting on the couch. "If someone is helping him, it could be a problem."
I put Sukuna's finger in a safe place. He had already consumed all of Sukuna's fingers in my past life, I wonder what would happen if I consumed them again. Something inside me told me that each of these fingers could still be a crucial piece in the future.
Tachie, who had remained silent for a while, looked at Shirou. "What now? What's the next step?"
Shirou sighed. "We need to prepare ourselves. If Shinji had a finger, maybe other people in the Chalice War do too."
I nodded, feeling the weight of responsibility. Even though my main mission was to stop Kenjaku, I couldn't ignore that I was involved in this conflict.
"Right... But first of all..." I yawned and threw myself on the couch. "I think we all deserve a break, at least for today."
Everyone agreed. Even though danger was always close by, a little truce was necessary.
...
That night, I had a strange dream. I saw a vast green field, the wind was blowing lightly, carrying with it the smell of earth and fresh grass. The sky was cloudy, but rays of light passed through the clouds, illuminating the figure of a person in front of me.
It was Arturia.
She was dressed in shining armor, holding an imposing sword, but her expression was serene, almost melancholic. I tried to speak, but my voice wouldn't come out. Instead, I just watched as flashes of images passed before my eyes, battles, castles, an empty throne, and Arturia always present in the middle of it all, carrying an invisible weight.
When I tried to get closer, everything went white.
I woke up with a heavy sigh, feeling my heart racing. My room was still dark, only a small beam of light coming through the curtain. I took a deep breath, trying to process what I had dreamed.
"What a... strange dream." I muttered to myself.
A short while later, he heard a soft knock on the door.
"Yuji, are you okay?" It was Arturia's voice.
I hesitated for a moment before answering. "Yes, I'm fine..."
The door slowly opened, revealing Arturia standing in the hallway, dressed in casual clothes. Her piercing gaze seemed to be analyzing me, as if trying to see beyond the words.
"You seem restless."
I ran my hand through my hair and forced a smile. "Just a weird dream. No need to worry."
Arturia didn't look convinced, but she didn't insist. She walked into the room and stood next to the bed, looking at Yuji with a mix of curiosity and concern.
"It was about me, wasn't it?"
I widened my eyes for a moment, surprised by her accuracy. "How do you know?"
She looked away for a moment.
"Because... I've had weird dreams lately too." Her green eyes returned to me. "Fragments of the past, things I thought I had forgotten."
I took a deep breath. "It was something related to your past... but it wasn't clear. It seemed more like a feeling than a memory."
Arturia was silent for a few seconds before muttering: "That's quite common, since we have a relationship of Servant and Master, it's normal for us to have connections and memories of our past."
I laughed lightly, trying to lighten the mood. "Or maybe it's just my mind playing tricks."
She smiled subtly. "Maybe..."
We both remained silent for a while, just enjoying that moment of tranquility. Even without fully understanding the meaning of the dream, I felt that it was important.
And, somehow, I knew that Arturia's past would still play a crucial role in the events that were to come.
Arturia was watching me closely. Ever since the fight against Uraume, she said that I seemed different. It wasn't just physical fatigue, it was something deeper. My cursed energy was erratic, my body slowed, and no matter how hard I tried to hide it, Arturia could tell I was weakening.
"You're holding back, aren't you?" she asked, crossing her arms.
I sighed and ran a hand over my face. "It's nothing major. Just… some aftereffects from that fight."
She narrowed her eyes, unconvinced. "It's more than that."
I hesitated. Then, I sat down on the edge of the bed and looked at my own hands. "I was cursed in the last war. Something inside me was sealed or... damaged. I don't know exactly, but since then, I feel like I can't use my strength fully."
Arturia was silent for a moment. Then, she lowered her head slightly, her expression serious.
"...I'm sorry."
I looked up, confused.
"For what?"
She clenched her fists. "For not being by your side during the hardest times in that war."
Surprise washed over me. "Wait... you remember?"
Arturia raised her head and her eyes fixed on mine. "Not completely. But some images came to my mind. And a feeling... a feeling that I should have been there, fighting by your side."
I was speechless. I hadn't expected Arturia to remember anything, especially a war that, until then, seemed to have been completely forgotten to her. "So… do you feel like you should have helped me more?"
She nodded slowly. "Yes. And that bothers me."
"Thanks." I let out a weak laugh. "I wish I had the same disposition as before…"
Arturia looked at me with determination. "If that's the case, then we'll recover."
I blinked a few times, surprised. "What do you mean?"
She took a step forward. "If your strength has been sealed or lost, then we'll find a way to restore it. No matter what happened in that war, the present can still be changed."
For a moment, I felt a familiar warmth inside me. A feeling I had almost forgotten.
Trust.
I smiled. "So you'll help me?"
Arturia placed a hand on her chest and nodded. "That's my duty as your servant."
I chuckled lightly. "You really take this seriously, huh?"
She just smiled back. "Always."
Even though the past was hazy, one thing became clear to me at that moment: I wasn't alone.
A few minutes later...
After a quiet morning, everyone was gathered at the table for breakfast. The aroma of freshly toasted bread and hot tea wafted through the air. It was a rare moment of calm after the recent events.
Taiga, with a mischievous smile on her face, lightly tapped her spoon on her cup to get everyone's attention.
"Hey, everyone! I have an important announcement to make!"
Everyone looked at her, some curious, others just hoping it wasn't another one of her jokes.
She took a deep breath and, with a sparkle in her eyes, declared:
"Choso and I are officially dating!"
Silence took over the room for a brief moment before reactions began to emerge.
I was in the middle of taking a bite of bread, and I almost choked. I coughed a little, took a sip of juice and, with my eyes wide open, I exclaimed: "WHAT?! Wait, seriously?! My older brother... is dating?!"
I looked around as if I was trying to process the information, and then I smiled widely. "Man, that's amazing! Choso deserves to be happy!"
Arturia, who was calmly drinking her tea, just blinked a few times, analyzing the information. Then, with a small smile, she said:
"Congratulations. It's always nice when two people find happiness together."
She spoke calmly, but her gaze towards Taiga and Choso showed genuine approval.
Uraume, on the other hand, rolled her eyes with a sigh.
"Tsk. Humans and their noisy feelings..."
But seeing Taiga's excited expression, she crossed her arms and muttered, "Hmph. As long as it doesn't distract you from the battles, it doesn't matter."
Shirou, who was stirring his coffee with his spoon, stopped and looked at Taiga with a surprised expression, but soon smiled warmly. "That's great, Taiga. I'm happy for you."
He then turned to Choso, who wasn't present, but said as if he could hear, "You have a big heart. Take good care of her."
Sakura, who was a little embarrassed to speak in front of everyone, smiled shyly and said softly, "I'm happy for you, Taiga!"
She seemed genuinely pleased, but still a little shy about the public declaration.
Rin, on the other hand, raised an eyebrow and gave a small sarcastic smile. "Hah, I never imagined Choso had such a romantic side."
She then crossed her arms and added, "Well, I guess this means you'll finally stop complaining about not having a boyfriend, Fujimura-Sensei?"
Hana, who was sitting next to Sakura, blinked a few times before smiling innocently. "Ohhh! This is so cute!"
She clapped her hands lightly and looked at Taiga excitedly. Her enthusiasm made Taiga laugh lightly.
Everyone continued to react to the news, some joking with Taiga, others giving advice to Choso (even though he wasn't there), and the morning continued with a lighter and more relaxed energy.
A few hours later...
The morning at Jujutsu school was quiet, with students training and teachers keeping the order. Arturia and I walked side by side through the corridors, I was holding some papers and Arturia watching everything around, analyzing the environment with her sharp look.
As soon as we arrived at the teachers' room, they were greeted by an expected scene: Satoru Gojo was raised on my table, with a malicious smile on his face and the sunglasses reflecting the light of the room.
"So, Sensei of the year, how is the life of a committed man?" Satoru said, leaning his head and gesturing with his hands.
I sighed already waiting for this kind of provocation. "What are you talking about, Gojo?"
Gojo laughed and walked away a little, crossing his arms. "Ah, please! You've been around with that elegant blonde knight beside you, and do you think no one realizes? Everyone already thinks you're a couple."
Arturia blinked a few times, not understanding the situation well, but kept her stance serious.
"C-Couplel? ... But we are just ..." she answered.
Before I could answer, another voice interrupted the conversation.
"Can you talk lower ...?"
Gojo and I turned to see Suguru Geto sitting on one of the sofas, looking exhausted. He had deep dark circles and held a cup of coffee with both hands, as if it were his only source of energy at the moment.
"Wow, you're a shard, Geto ..." I commented wide my eyes.
Gojo gave a provocative smile. "What did the terrorist twins not let you sleep?"
Geto sighed and massaged the temples. "Mimiko and Nanako are in a complicated phase ... If I don't keep an eye, they start leaving the dormitory at dawn. And I still have to deal with you."
He took a sip of coffee and looked at me. 'And you? How are you dealing with your new reputation as a "committed man"? "
I rolled my eyes, throwing yourself in the chair. "I'm not dating anyone, damn it!"
Gojo gave a smile and poked Arturia on his shoulder. "And you, what do you think of all this?"
She looked straight at me before answering. "Yuji is a strong and reliable warrior. I'm my ... spouse, I wouldn't see a problem with that."
Gojo widened his eyes, picking up a lollipop from his pocket and putting it in his mouth. "Ooooh ... so you really don't care about this idea, huh?"
I put my head on the table and let out a long moan of frustration. "You are impossible ..."
Geto just laughed softly as he finished his coffee.
After the class ended, I sat at the teachers' office, looking at my hands and reflecting on their condition. Since the fight against Uraume, I felt that my energy was decreasing faster than usual, and that could become a serious problem.
Arturia, sitting next to me, watched his expression closely. So, with her calm characteristic, she said, "You've been a servant, haven't you? You must remember that one of the most effective ways to recover energy is through the mana exchange."
I frowned. "Mana exchange ...?"
It was then that he remembered. "Wait ... Are you talking about it?!"
Before Arturia could answer, a dry noise of something falling to the floor echoed through the room.
Arturia and I turned slowly to see Satoru Gojo, Suguru Geto and Shoko Ieiri stopped at the door.
Shoko had dropped her lollipop, Suguru held the cup of coffee in the middle of the air, and Gojo raised his eyebrows with a suspicious smile.
"Oops ... Wait there." Gojo pointed to both of them. "Were you talking about" that "?"
I widened my eyes and started to sweat cold. "No, no, no! It's not what you are thinking!"
Suguru, still holding his cup, scratched his thoughtful chin. "Mana exchange, huh ...?"
Shoko laughed softly, crossing her arms. "Wow, Yuji-sensei, and I think you were all shy."
Gojo stretched his arms behind his head with a malicious smile. "So, Yuji, tell me there… Do you really want to 'recover mana' like that?"
I hit my head on the table again, feeling the shame burning inside me.
"Why do you always appear in the worst moments?!"
Arturia, on the other hand, remained completely calm. "I'm just explaining facts."
Gojo laughed loudly, hitting my shoulder. "This will be a great story to tell other students!"
I sink even more in the chair, wishing to disappear. "I was for if a teacher ... not even my students respect me ..."
After all finally calmed down or rather, after I managed to stop Gojo from spreading strange rumors through the whole school the conversation came back to something more serious.
Gojo crossed his arms and leaned against the wall, adopting a slightly more serious tone than usual. "Okay, right, coming back to what matters ... there's an alleged wizard Jujutsu causing a riot in the city."
Yuji raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean 'supposed'?"
"Well…" Gojo tilted his head. "No one really knows who he is. We only know that he's not registered with the association, but he has abilities similar to ours."
I exchanged a glance with Arturia.
"He could be one of the reincarnated…"
Suguru stroked his chin, looking thoughtful. "Reports say he's appeared on some busy streets… and that he seems to be hunting something or someone."
Shoko took the lollipop out of her mouth and added, "And the strangest thing? Normal people are starting to notice. He's not even trying to hide that he has powers."
I frowned. This was dangerous. If this guy really is one of the reincarnated, he could be searching for something related to the Holy Grail War.
Gojo smiled, placing a hand on my shoulder.
"So, my dear sensei… how about paying this guy a visit? I bet you're dying to get out of school and punch someone."
I sighed as I stood up from my chair. "Okay… I'll go check it out."
Arturia stood up with me, her eyes shining with determination. "I'll go with you."
Gojo nodded excitedly. "Great! If you find him, send me a video of the fight."
I rolled my eyes and headed for the exit, already mentally preparing myself for what I might find.
Several hours later...
It was already getting dark when Arturia and I decided to take a break. We still hadn't found the sorcerer yet, but we didn't want to go back to school empty-handed.
I stretched and looked around. The nearby park didn't look suspicious, but it was a good place to keep an eye out for any strange activity.
"Let's wait a bit..." I suggested, crossing my arms.
Arturia nodded and looked around. The park had a few people, but what caught her attention were the couples.
Couples walking hand in hand.
Couples sitting on benches, talking quietly.
Couples sharing snacks from a nearby stand.
I didn't even realize what was happening until I felt someone's gaze on him.
"What's wrong?" I looked at Arturia, who was still watching the couples around.
It took her a moment to answer. "...Is it very common for humans to gather like this at night?"
I blinked, surprised by the question. "Oh, that? Well... Yes. You sound like you're not human..."
Arturia looked at me. "Well... I don't think I've ever seen myself as human in my life..."
I scratched the back of my neck. "I see. It's normal... especially for couples."
Arturia looked puzzled. "So this is a special moment for them?"
I didn't know exactly how to answer. "Well… Yes, I guess. Like, it's a quiet time, and the weather's nice, so… people take the opportunity to spend time together."
I noticed that Arturia was still looking at the couples, as if she was pondering what that meant. "Have you really never…?"
Before I could finish the question, she looked directly at me. "Master… have you ever done something like this?"
I wasn't expecting this question and was left speechless for a few seconds. "I… well…"
I felt exhausted. Even though I tried to ignore it, my body was starting to show signs of wear and tear. The training, the recent fights, and the weight of the mission were taking their toll.
Arturia noticed this immediately.
As we waited in the park, she looked around again and noticed a couple nearby. The man was lying on the woman's lap, who was running her hand through her hair calmly.
Arturia seemed to think about it for a moment and then turned to me "Master, lie down here."
I looked at her, confused. "What?"
Before I could ask any further, Arturia had already sat down on one of the park benches and was patting her legs lightly, as if she was waiting for me to settle in there.
"You're tired..." she said, with her usual serious expression. "It's the best way to recover some energy while we wait."
I felt a little embarrassed, looking around to see if anyone was watching them. Was that... normal? "I... I think I'm fine, really..."
"Yuji..." Arturia interrupted, firmly. Her tone left no room for argument.
I took a deep breath and gave in, slowly lying down on her lap.
As soon as my head rested on her legs, I realized that Arturia was incredibly comfortable.
Her warmth contrasted with the night wind, and the position was surprisingly relaxing. I felt her fingers lightly run through my hair, as if she was trying to replicate what I saw with the other couple.
I blushed completely, but he didn't complain.
It wasn't that bad after all.
The silence remained between us for a while. I closed my eyes for a moment, feeling the tiredness weigh even more heavily.
Arturia looked down, observing his sleeping face.
"You guys are really strange…" she murmured to herself.
Even so, she didn't stop running her hand through his hair.
Arturia and I looked at each other quickly when we heard the unknown voice.
The man in front of us had a strong presence. His messy pompadour hair, furry coat, and relaxed demeanor gave the impression that he wasn't there to start a fight, at least not yet.
"What's up? Am I disturbing the couple?" He gave a teasing smile, looking at me, who was still lying on Arturia's lap.
I sat up quickly, a little red, and Arturia kept her expression serious, but a little curious.
"Who are you?" Arturia asked directly.
The man put his hands in his pockets, calmly analyzing the two.
"It's not important right now. But, huh..." He tilted his head, seeming to sniff something in the air. "You two smell different. Some kind of energy I haven't felt in a long time."
I frowned.
"Different energy…?"
The man shrugged, ignoring the question and stretching a little, as if he was too relaxed to care.
"But before anything else…" He sighed and scratched his stomach. "I'm hungry… I need a good dessert."
He looked around, looking for something. "Is there a good place to eat around here?"
Arturia and I were still cautious, but one thing was certain… Everyone was hungry.
A few moments later…
We went to Burger Queen, I watched in bewilderment as Arturia and the man devoured their snacks.
"You two eat like you're going to war tomorrow…" I muttered, taking only one French fry while the two destroyed their gigantic combos.
Arturia didn't seem concerned by my observation, swallowing another burger with the same elegance as always.
The man who called himself Ryu Ishigori, on the other hand, gave a satisfied laugh as he bit into a gigantic snack.
"Hah! Eating well is living well! A man needs to satisfy his desires! Whether it's fighting, eating or... other things." He winked at me.
Trying to change the subject, I crossed my arms and looked at Ryu seriously. "So... What's your goal? You seemed interested in our 'energy' earlier."
Ryu stopped eating for a moment, licking his teeth and looking at me with a smirk.
"I just wanted to see who I was dealing with." He took a sip of his soda. "But since you asked..."
He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table.
"Let's just say I'm looking for a good challenge. It's been a while since I've met someone worthy of me."
My eyes narrowed. "So you just want to fight."
Ryu smiled even wider. "I do. But not now. First, I need to finish eating."
He went back to devouring his snack, while Arturia also ignored the tension, focused on finishing her food.
I let out a sigh, already foreseeing that the night would not end peacefully.
While we were at Burger Queen, I tried to understand more about Ryu while the two of them ate. The atmosphere seemed relaxed, but I knew that this guy was not there just to talk.
It was then that, in the middle of a bite of his burger, Ryu mentioned something that made me stop right there. "Oh, I remembered something... I have a Sukuna's finger with me, with a strange energy. I found it a while ago, but since it was of no use to me, I just kept it."
My eyes widened. "Sukuna's finger?"
Ryu smiled at the corner of his mouth, noticing my interest. "A piece of someone very powerful. You want it, right? I can see it on your face."
I didn't try to hide it. "Yes, can we have it?"
Ryu laughed, slamming his hand on the table. "Of course it won't be for free."
He leaned over, looking at me and Arturia.
"If you want the finger... you'll have to beat me."
Arturia calmly wiped her mouth with a napkin, not looking surprised. "A fight as payment?"
Ryu nodded, smiling excitedly. "Exactly. But relax, I'm not afraid to kill..." He spoke ironically
I let out a sigh, already imagining that this would happen sooner or later. "Okay... So, where will this fight be?"
Ryu stood up, finishing his soda. "After a good meal, nothing better than a good fight. How about now?"
Ryu smiled, excited at the idea of a fight. "Here on the ground is no fun and there are too many people here. I want a higher place... Let's go to the buildings."
Arturia and I looked at each other. Arturia let out a long sigh, wiping the crumbs from the corner of her mouth. "Whatever you say."
The three of us left Burger Queen and, without attracting attention, made our way to the top of a tall building. Ryu seemed to move easily.
When they reached the top, the strong wind blew Arturia's hair. The city below us seemed distant, as if it were in its own world.
Ryu stretched out his arms and took a deep breath, satisfied. "Now that's a stage! You can almost feel the adrenaline."
I rolled my shoulders, bracing myself. "So, how's it going? Anything goes?"
Ryu smirked, adjusting his fur coat. "Anything goes. Don't hold back, because I'm not going."
Arturia placed her hand on the hilt of her sword. "You're going to regret saying that."
The atmosphere grew heavy. The air around us vibrated with the energy of the three.
"Then, let's begin!" Ryu said, assuming his fighting stance.
I took a deep breath, analyzing the situation. I couldn't use my full strength. If I lost control, I could put the city at risk. That meant Arturia would have to take the front line.
"Arturia, I'll hold back for a bit. I'll cover you." I warned, clenching my fists.
Arturia nodded, not taking her eyes off Ryu. "Very well. Then, I'll end this quickly."
Ryu smiled, watching our interaction. "So have you decided how you're going to fight? Well, I don't care. I just want to have fun!"
Without warning, he charged forward.
The wind cut through the air as Ryu moved with speed. He raised his arm, and then a blast of energy exploded from his palm. It was different from a normal cursed technique. The energy seemed to flow freely through her body.
Arturia drew her sword and parried the attack, her golden blade blocking the blast with a burst of sparks. But before she could counterattack, Ryu spun in the air and launched another blast from his shoulder!
"He can release energy from any part of his body?!" I realized, stepping back to avoid being hit.
Arturia slid to the side, narrowly dodging. The blast exploded against another building, cracking the structure.
"This guy is dangerous." Arturia thought, gripping the hilt of her sword.
Ryu laughed, excited about the battle.
"You guys are a great team player, huh? But I'm Ryu Ishigori! If you want my attention, you'll have to give me a little more action!"
He disappeared.
In an instant, he was right in front of Arturia.
She raised her sword in time, blocking a devastating punch. The impact sent her sliding several meters across the top of the building.
I saw my chance. I lunged at Ryu, attempting a quick kick. But the moment I attacked, Ryu simply released a blast of energy from his knee, propelling himself away!
"This guy... He uses energy to move and attack at the same time!" I realized, backing away.
Arturia wasted no time. As soon as Ryu landed, she lunged forward with a fierce swing. Her sword flashed through the air, fast and precise.
But Ryu smiled.
"Great, this is going to be fun!"
With one fluid movement, he crossed his arms and released a blast of energy around him. The shockwave knocked us both back.
The fight was just beginning.
I considered for a moment using Dismantle, my slashing technique that could easily pierce through any defense. But there was a problem.
Ryu was a reincarnated. This meant that, despite its strength, there was a human body behind this entity. If I used Dismantle without control, I could end up killing not only Ryu, but the person he was possessing.
"Damn it..." I clenched my fists, hesitant.
Ryu didn't wait.
He raised his arms and, with a savage smile, fired several small blasts of energy. Unlike the previous attacks, these were smaller, but extremely fast and numerous.
I reacted at the last second.
I jumped back, dodging the first shots. But Ryu kept up the pressure. The small spheres of energy cut through the air like bullets, whizzing around me.
"Tsk...!"
One of them grazed his shoulder, burning part of his clothes.
Arturia wasted no time.
She ran around the side of the building, taking advantage of the distraction to attack Ryu from behind.
But Ryu had already expected this.
Without even looking, he lifted one of his feet and fired a blast from his heel, propelling himself into the air. He spun and, in mid-jump, launched more projectiles.
Arturia blocked with her sword, cutting a few spheres in the process. But the impact made her retreat.
"This guy has a strange fighting style..." Arturia thought, standing firm in her position.
Ryu landed, laughing. "Very good, you guys are resilient! But I'm still not satisfied!"
I gritted my teeth.
I needed to find a way to stop him without killing the host...
I advanced quickly, dodging the energy blasts while charging a powerful punch. I knew I needed a blow strong enough to unbalance Ryu, but without killing him.
"Let's see if you can handle this!"
With a precise jump, I spun in the air and landed a brutal punch on Ryu's chest.
The impact was devastating.
Ryu flew backwards, being thrown off the edge of the building. His eyes widened for a second as his body spun in the air, falling towards the streets below.
But he didn't panic.
In midair, Ryu smiled. "Did you hit my soul? Now this is getting fun!"
He quickly raised his arms and, with a burst of energy concentrated in his feet, fired a powerful jet, slowing his fall. The energy beam caused him to propel himself sideways, landing on the next building.
Arturia was already there.
She moved without hesitation, delivering a precise cut at him. Ryu, still recovering from the fall, was forced to block with his arms.
The metallic sound of Arturia's sword cutting through the air echoed off the roof of the building.
Ryu slid back a few feet, his feet scraping the concrete. He smiled again, looking more and more excited. "Ahhh, this is so good! It's been a while since I've had a fight like this!"
Arturia didn't answer. She kept her stance firm, watching Ryu's movements.
I jumped up to the same building, landing next to her.
"He won't go down easy..." I murmured, massaging my knuckles.
"He's persistent." Arturia agreed.
Ryu rolled his shoulders, cracking his muscles.
So, which one of you is going to entertain me first?
Before either Arturia or I could respond, Ryu fired another energy blast straight at us.
The battle continued fiercely, jumping from one building to another, with the three fighters testing their limits.
Ryu moved a few feet away, his smile still plastered on his face. He raised his right arm, and a huge amount of energy began to concentrate in the palm of his hand. The air around him trembled, the city lights flickered, as if electricity was being sucked into that spot.
"I'll show you my best attack!" Ryu shouted, his eyes shining with excitement.
Granite Blast.
A massive blast of energy, condensed and at extremely high speed, began to form. It was almost impossible to dodge.
Arturia realized the danger at the same moment.
She gripped the hilt of her sword, preparing to react. But something was strange. Even with her superhuman speed, she knew that the blow was too fast to be avoided.
Ryu fired.
The beam of energy roared through the air, advancing like a meteor. Its orange glow illuminated the surrounding buildings.
Arturia braced herself for the impact… but in an instant, I threw myself in front of her!
"YUJI!" She screamed.
The impact was devastating.
The attack hit me square in the chest.
The blast of energy echoed through the city. The impact created a brutal shockwave, cracking the concrete of the building and sending debris flying everywhere.
Arturia's eyes widened.
I was thrown backwards, slamming into a wall and falling to my knees.
His uniform was torn and burned, his chest smoking. I coughed up blood, but forced myself to stand.
"What…? You're still standing?" Ryu said in surprise.
I took a deep breath, looking up at Ryu. My body was shaking, but I smiled. "That hurt… But I've been through worse."
Arturia felt a sudden rage rise up inside her.
She pointed her sword at Ryu. "You'll regret this."
The fight was far from over. Ryu smiled maliciously.
"Domain Expansion: Insatiable Hunger"
As soon as Ryu activated his Domain Expansion, a violent tremor ran through the surrounding buildings. The sky distorted, as if it were being devoured by a black void.
The surrounding environment completely transformed.
Arturia and I were now in a dark and chaotic world, a vast desert covered in bones, rotting food remains, and huge craters that stretched as far as the eye could see. In the sky, a huge black hole rotated, sucking everything around it with its crushing force.
The smell of burning flesh and rot was suffocating. Gravity was unstable. At times, they felt their bodies become light as a feather, at other times, heavy as if they were sinking into quicksand.
Ryu smiled savagely. "Welcome to my banquet. Here, I am the one who devours… and you are the meal!"
The cutting wind began to roar, and relentless attacks began to rain down from the sky.
Arturia and I felt our bodies grow heavier and heavier. Ryu's grip was sucking away at our energy as if we were prey being slowly devoured. My movements were getting slower, and each blow seemed to have half the usual strength.
Ryu kept laughing, firing blasts of energy from all sides, forcing both of us to desperately dodge. But we knew that this wouldn't last long.
It was then that I had an idea.
"Saber…!" I called, looking directly at her, my breathing heavy. "If you need it, you can take it…!"
Arturia's eyes widened for a moment, but she soon understood what I meant. Blood.
For a Servant, the blood of a master could restore their strength, giving them the energy they needed to keep fighting. My cursed energy and mana were powerful, and I knew this could work.
Arturia hesitated for a moment.
"Yuji… are you sure?" Her voice was a little lower than usual, as if she didn't really want to do this.
I just nodded. "If we stay here, we'll lose. Do it quickly!"
She didn't have time for doubts.
In one swift movement, Arturia grabbed me by the collar of my clothes and pulled me close, and then, without further hesitation, bit my neck.
The impact of the bite made my body shudder, an intense heat running through my entire body. I felt my blood being drained, my energy being transferred directly to Arturia.
At the same time, Arturia's eyes shone even brighter.
Her body began to recover instantly. The fatigue disappeared, her strength returned, and her mana began to circulate steadily again.
She let go of me, licking a trace of blood that was dripping down her lips.
"Sorry…" She muttered as she blushed slightly.
I touched my neck, feeling the bite mark. I was a little weaker, but not enough to faint.
I smiled. "If this works… then let's finish him off once and for all!"
Arturia raised her sword, her aura now shining brightly. She looked at Ryu, her expression more determined than ever.
Ryu arched an eyebrow in surprise. "Oh? It seems dinner isn't ready yet."
I clenched my fists. "No. But it's time to make you swallow all of this."
And with that, the two of us launched an overwhelming counterattack!
Ryu watched the pair with a teasing smile, his eyes sparkling with amusement.
"Well, well…" He crossed his arms, still within his Domain Expansion. "Am I interrupting your dinner?"
I didn't respond, but his face turned a little red.
Arturia, on the other hand, didn't even blink. She held her sword tightly, concentrating on gathering her mana. The air around her began to vibrate, a golden light emerging from the blade, a sign that her Noble Phantasm was being prepared.
I noticed this immediately. I knew what I had to do.
"If you really want to see a feast, then just wait a little…" I positioned myself next to Arturia, my fists clenched.
Ryu realized the intent immediately and fired several small energy blasts, trying to interrupt Excalibur's charging.
But I acted quickly!
I advanced at high speed, blocking and dodging Ryu's attacks. Every blast that came towards Arturia, I defended with precise punches.
The impact of the blasts still hurt me, but I didn't hesitate for a second.
Arturia continued to charge the sword, her body shining brighter and brighter with an intense golden light. The wind around her grew more violent, and the ground beneath her feet began to crack with the pressure of her energy.
Ryu laughed. "There's no point in trying to protect her alone, boy. You'll fall eventually."
I ignored the taunt. "Then I just need to hold on until then!"
I continued to move frantically, dodging and blocking every attack that threatened to hit Arturia. My body ached, but I couldn't give up.
Arturia finally opened her eyes, her blade now shining like the sun itself.
"Yuji! I'm ready!"
I jumped to the side, getting out of the way.
Arturia raised her sword, and her voice echoed like thunder.
—EX—
Ryu's eyes widened.
—CALIBUR!!!—
A wave of golden energy was released with overwhelming force, cutting through the air and consuming everything in front of it!
Ryu tried to react, but it was too late.
The explosion of light engulfed his body, breaking even his Domain Expansion!
Ryu lay on the ground, his breathing heavy. The dust from the impact still hung in the air, and marks of destruction covered the building they were in. His body was injured, but a big smile formed on his face.
I approached slowly, still feeling the fatigue of the battle, but with a calm look.
"You really can't hold back, huh?" He said, rubbing the back of his neck.
Ryu laughed, even with the pain.
"Y-You didn't either..." He looked up at the sky, as if he was savoring that moment. "Ahh... It's been a while since I've been this satisfied...."
I crouched down next to him, crossing my arms.
"So..." I smiled. "If you're already satisfied with the main meal... what about dessert?"
Ryu blinked a few times, then started laughing out loud. "Hahahaha! You really want dessert, huh?"
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, strange, dark, dried-up object. Sukuna's cursed finger.
"Here you go, kid." He tossed it to me.
Yuji caught it in midair and felt an instant chill. It was Sukuna's finger.
Arturia, who was still holding her sword, looked at the finger suspiciously.
I frowned. "Where did you get that?"
Ryu shrugged. "I don't know. I found it somewhere."
I sighed, carefully putting the finger away. "You don't even know what that is, do you?"
Ryu laughed again.
"Of course i know... But if it was dessert you wanted, now you have it."
I shook my head, a little exasperated, but pleased that I had gotten the finger without having to kill the body that Ryu Ishigori was in.
"Thanks for the meal, then."
Ryu smirked. "Don't get used to it, kid."
I took a deep breath, feeling the fatigue from the battle still weighing on his muscles. Ryu was there, fallen, his breathing slow and heavy, as if he was accepting his fate.
Without saying anything, I raised my hand and placed it gently on Ryu's chest. The connection was instantaneous. I felt Ryu's soul pulsate within that reincarnated body, but it was weak, like a flame about to go out.
"So, that's it?" Ryu laughed, but his voice sounded softer and more distant. "Are you going to rip me out of this body now?"
I nodded slowly. "You don't belong in this era... If I don't do this, this guy's body will continue to be controlled by you. I don't know who the guy was before, but he deserves to have it."
Ryu closed his eyes for a moment, as if he was savoring the last sensations he had in this world.
"You know, I've already died once." He opened his eyes and looked at me with an amused smile. "In my first life, I lived as a monster. All I wanted was the thrill of battle. I wanted to feel that 'pleasure' of fighting the strongest... And now, look at that. I'm dying again."
I didn't say anything. I just pressed my hand a little tighter on his chest.
Ryu's soul began to separate. A faint light shone around his body, forming a spectral silhouette of the real Ryu Ishigori. His hair was still wild and disheveled, but he looked more ethereal, almost translucent.
Ryu looked down at his hands and laughed. "Heh... I'm going to miss my hair."
I raised an eyebrow. "Really? Is that what you're thinking about right now?"
Ryu shrugged, still smiling. "In my past life, I didn't even have hair. When I reincarnated and saw this gorgeous hair, I thought, 'Now I'm stylish.'"
I sighed but laughed lightly. "Well, it was a striking look. But now..."
I closed my eyes and focused my energy.
Ryu's soul began to fade, dissolving into the air like a breath of wind.
"Hey, kid." Ryu's voice came as a whisper.
I opened my eyes one last time and saw Ryu's calm expression. "Thanks for the fight. I had a great dessert..."
And then, he disappeared.
The reincarnated body remained still, without Ryu's presence controlling it. I felt a shiver, but I knew I had done what needed to be done.
I stood up slowly, looking at Arturia, who was watching everything in silence.
"Let's go... That man could wake up at any moment." I said, putting Sukuna's finger in my pocket.
Arturia nodded, and the two of us left Ryu's soulless body behind.
End of Chapter 12
As we are in the middle of the story, I will take a break of 1 to 2 months to give myself more time to write it. In the meantime, read my other works that are being released in the meantime.