Author Notes: I know there is some confusion going on in the last few chapters, but bear with me here, they will all be answered as the story progresses. On the side note, I'm not going back on my words, there will be NO new Servants, it is the Digimon Verse and will remain such.

Though I am shocked none of you got the reference last chapter, tieing back to my fellow author in the crossovers, Digital Hazard. Oh well! I got Jack, Vlad, and Alice (Nursery Rhyme!) on my Christmas FGO rolls! Yay! Also got all the stocking lineups, so tons of EXP cards and materials.

Yoshiko-909: Girl Dress Uptime! I bet Hakuno is going to be dressed up by Nero in so many ways!

Demons Anarchy of Pride: As stated to ya in PM! This story follows Fate/Extra! Not CCC or Extella! Nameless was not a concept until CCC, so this is EMIYA.

Yolea Irk's: Mystery!

Ultima-owner: Who knows? It's all guesswork right now!

Deep Sea Diver Man: Story follows Extra, not CCC or Extella. The nameless concept did not exist until CCC released, as such, Archer is EMIYA.

King of Fans: Theories! Woohoo! Man, I would love to answer them all, but that would spoil everyone, xD. At least we know it's dress shopping time!

Student: Hah! But no BB, sorry! CCC and Extella did not occur in our Hakuno's timeline! The story follows Extra to the T!

The unsung antihero: Plot Development!

Shocker: No, I didn't. I never implied that I was strictly following Digimonverse. Even then, both Fate and Digimon have many occasions of alternate and parallel universes interacting… Oh shit, that was spoilers! Ignore me!

Setokayba2n: An upgrade should be occurring when Hakuno returns to the Digital World.

Enjoy the chapter everybody! Don't fail me now beautiful wings! You're my life you're my everything! We can fly if you believe! In My Love!


Digital/Extra

Chapter 50: Escalation

Hakuno Kishinami glanced around from the inside of the automobile called a van, she was currently seated in the back row, a belt strapped to her body to the seat for apparently safety reason. It honestly only confused her, but she made no objections. This would be the first time she rode in a car, and while her friends, at least the girls, would be with her for the ride… Saber didn't have such luxury.

Well, it was more for the case that there weren't any more seats than space. In fact, Saber had even volunteered to have Hakuno sit on her like a child on a parent's lap.

Hakuno declined the offer, she didn't want to be coddled so much.

In the front, on the driver's side, the only other adult in the campgrounds, Yamato and Takeru's father, was currently talking with the former about taking the bus. On the passenger end, Jun sat comfortably while making quick, and slightly strange remarks to Yamato from her angle.

At both sides, with her sitting in the middlemost back seat, to the left was Yolei and her partner, Piyomon, resting on the girl's lap. Hikari sat on the right, Gatomon lying like the cat her digital form was inspired by. Behind them, luggage was stacked and squeezed to accompany the space where the third row of seats would have been otherwise.

"Praetor," Saber said from outside the car, the left side door currently wide open. "I shall ride the vehicle on top, narrating the skies and views I shall see in full splendor!"

Yolei then remarked, "Isn't that dangerous?"

"Umu, your concern is noted but unneeded. I have ridden on chariots rougher than this!" Saber exclaimed.

Hakuno turned her head to Yolei, "Saber will be fine. She's a Servant, not a human," she explained. Then looked to the Heroic Spirit, "You'll have to astralize so nobody sees you."

Nero nodded, "Very well!"

Yolei, Hikari, and practically all the Digidestined blinked in surprise as Saber's body vanished from view in a stunning display blue motes of ambient magical energy coming off the Servant and fading away into seemingly nothingness.

Saber chuckled, not that any of them could hear it except for her Master. Hakuno Kishinami could feel the Servant's presence and hear her just fine even if astralized.

"Is… Is she invisible or something?" Koushiro questioned.

"Yes, similar to that," Hakuno answered.

Hiroaki Ishida, Yamato's father, coughed, "Here's the money, Matt. Buss takes a while, but it'll get you back home." He turned the key and the van started up with the roar of the engine.

"Alright, see you in a few hours then," Yamato responded.

The van had a slow start, moving carefully to the road, before speeding up gradually to a brisk pace. Hakuno Kishinami could feel Saber's presence nearby, on top of the van, the Servant had no issue with the vehicle's movements The Digital Human glanced out the window from the middle most seat, eyeing the passing natural forests with keen interest.

"You enjoy sightseeing don't you Hakuno?" Yolei said to the magus.

She nodded, "It's nice to view different places, it's different than… The Digital World," Hakuno had to briefly interrupt herself to make sure not to refer towards the Moon Cell's SERAPH created environments.

Hikari stroked Gatomon's fur while she spoke to Hakuno, "Hakuno, Jun is here, she doesn't know about that…" She whispered.

Jun was already looking at them, "I already know now. The women called Saber gave it away and so Matt had to explain it along with that boy, Izzy…" She trailed off. "I think it's really neat, though perhaps a bit frightening as it explains what happened a few years ago."

"Myotismon," Hikari stated. "He's just one of the exceptions, most Digimon are friendly."

"I know," Jun said, looking down to the two digimon. "And cute too. Demiveemon is as well, it's nice to know that if something bad happens we got him around. But what about Saber? What is she?"

"Saber… Well…" Yole trailed off.

"Saber is my partner," Hakuno explained. "Like a Digimon, but called a Heroic Spirit or Servant, a hero from the past."

"Whoa, really!?" Jun exclaimed. "How romantic! Just imagine what kind of hero would be my partner?" She looked thoughtful, "So, which hero is Saber? I can't think of any who are actually called that."

Yolei shrugged, "Don't know, all we can guess is that she's a Roman one."

Jun looked at Hakuno.

The Digital Human didn't reply.

She arched an eyebrow, "Are their identities supposed to be a secret or something?"

The magus nodded, "Knowing a Hero's identity exposes their weaknesses." Hakuno answered.

"Like a superhero identity?" Jun questioned. "Okay, that makes sense."

"Speaking of heroes," Hikari began, "Hakuno, why does Caster dot on you so much like that?"

"Ah…" Hakuno trailed off. "She… It's like this…"


Two Hours Prior...

Bright orange sparks flew, a pitched sound echoing into the surrounding area as highly sharpened needles created from hair follicles struck, broke, and were deflected from the force of twin blades, black and white. A woman, garbed in red and violet, moved with inhuman speed, her feet skidded along the grass and dirt, a minor amount of dust picking up around her legs.

"Almost caught me there," She commented, looking at the adult man before her. He was tall, muscularly toned, and his outfit was not casual wear but more combat orientated. He was a far cry from the Digidestined and their Digimon, for the partner of the girl named Hakuno Kishinami held combat experience in troves.

It was easy to see, as the women nearly had the two blades held within the man's grasp be impaled through her body instead. But she was no fool, not one to needlessly heed wayward into dangerous territory without knowing how to defend herself.

Seeing that her current form lacked the ability to handle this threat, she decided to shift to her other one.

However, she doesn't have the luxury to do so right now.

The man, known as Archer, unexpectedly threw his two blades at her, in retaliation she pulled a few more strands of hair and had them fly into the air.

"Spirit Assault!" It was a skill she made herself, only to defend, it was useless for other purposes. Then dodged toward the left side and avoided the spinning blades.

The falling hairs suddenly straightened into needles but breaking apart into hundreds of multiple smaller variants, all which launched forward like a bursting machine gun on a full clip.

Archer evaded to the left, the bamboo behind his previous position was instantaneously shredded into bits, the remaining needles quickly changed direction and followed after the Servant with a sense similar to a homing missile. The Heroic Spirit did not so much as grunt in annoyance, his attention squarely focused on the battle, two displays of blue light appeared in both open palms as another set of twin blades came into being.

A change of footing and Archer changed directions in a crisp motion, charging straight towards the mysterious motion, all of it happening within only a few, short seconds.

"Fast!" The women exclaimed in clear annoyance and surprise, not having any time before Archer was already upon her. A blade swung, and her combat instinct saved her narrowly to avoid it, leaning back just enough to avoid having her upper body skewed.

He was quick, very quick.

Archer sidestepped, avoiding the incoming needles right before they pierced his backside. He turned, bringing his leg around and kicked the woman, sending her flying a few short meters from the astounding strength behind it.

The red garbed women grunted in slight irritation, getting back on her feet before taking in the stark realization that while she had been moved to a different location in the bamboo forest from the kick, it wasn't that which was the bad news.

Surrounding her, seen in keen eyesight, was attached to each bamboo trunk in a circle a paper tag, each having a black ink marking drawn upon them.

"Archer…" She trailed off in anger as she spotted the man outside the circle of bamboo, most likely have dealt with the remainder of the Spirit Assault needles earlier.

"There is a reason why it is us Servants who guide our Master out of this area," Archer said.

He didn't need to say more, the woman understood it. The reason was simple to deduce, the Master was a fragile little thing, a human body can be so easily injured. But they can't simply let the area they reside it to be unprotected, so one of then created an elaborate set of traps all across the region. So, when the girl wished to leave, they guided her through to avoid her coming in contact with the defenses they set up.

One which she found herself pushed into.

"Curses!" She swore out as all the tags lit up in conjunction with one another.

A loud explosion echoed throughout the region, a large flame rose in an instant before quieting down quickly, not spreading across the bamboo yet neither throwing up a large cloud of smoke. Such was the nature of the fire in this particular art of magecraft.

Archer looked towards the flames that were dying down, examining the aftermath for his opponent.

"Spider Thread!" Suddenly a large outreaching thread of spider silk shot outwards towards him, and he retreated back to avoid it. It caught on some of the bamboo, which shredded them into bits, showing the Servant that the thread likely had razor-like properties.

"Acid Mist!"

The Heroic Spirit of the Bow leaped out of the way of a green spray of acid, which dissolved anything that came into contact with it, as shown when a bamboo turned into nothing. Archer's brow narrowed as he spotted a speeding form, having multiple legs attached to a large bulb, with a human-like top and horns, holding the same color scheme as the lady before. It was appropriate to describe it as a human spider, something that eerily reminded him of memories better left unsaid.

"Transformation," Archer said in annoyance.

"I'm going to make you into my dinner!" The spider woman exclaimed as she charged right at him.

He answered in kind.

A pair of twin blades whirled in his hand as Archer adjusted the grip, the Servant charged right at the women who created two sword-like weapons out of spider silk. His eyes trailed over the weapons briefly, they were blades created and carved out of the Spider Thread ability, newly made constructs, and were promptly collided with his own weapons. There had to be credit where due, the Spider Thread made weaponry were incredibly durable, much greater than mundane steel could ever accomplish.

They engaged with one another, speed, power, and skill making headway against the opposing side. The spider woman's physical abilities had increased dramatically, but she had no skill with a blade. Archer, on the other hand, had skill in leaps and bounds which he used to his distinct advantage. On the pure strength, the woman outdid the Servant's current parameters, but his Agility matched her.

Archer was used to fighting opponents stronger than himself anyway.

The woman tried to strike at Archer's blind spot, but it was purposely made that way, and the Servant responded in a way that capitalized on it. A blade went soaring, and the spider lady found it pierce through her main body's bulk. In pain, she retaliated, causing Archer to disengage to avoid being injured. He could not afford being injured to a certain degree, without his Master, there would be neither Code Casts or her magical energy to support him.

"Gah," She grunted but resisted the urge to hold the wound as it would fade. The damage migrated throughout her entire body as most does for Digimon, it would take something much more dangerous to actually dismember or leave a permanent wound.

Such was the nature of most Digital Monsters.

"It looks like I'm unwelcomed here, I'm afraid we'll have to discuss another time, Archer!" She exclaimed at her opponent. "Mummymon, now!"

Another voice chimed in, "Sure thing, Arukenimon!"

A beam of electrical-like energy shot out of the words, and Archer had to quickly defend himself as he was struck head-on by it. He fought through the pain and focused on the fleeing form of the spider woman. If she escaped here, then it would be vital information about his combat abilities and the region's defenses, such could be used against him and his Master.

And anything against his Master was not worth letting go.

"Snake Bandage!" The masculine voice shouted and he could spot the appearance of some sort of mummy, how quaint, giving the name the woman now named Arukenimon had provided. A series of bandaged shot out and entangled Archer at the spot he was currently at.

"Tch," He said in irritation as he fought to break free of the bonds, it wasn't used to fight him but to delay him.

He could still see Arukenimon from this distance, she was rather quick, and he wouldn't be able to catch up at this point.

But, he was an Archer.

"Trace, On."

The Servant broke free from the bandages that had tied him, and a massive, black bow appeared in his left hand's grasp. He closed his eyes, breathed in, then opened them, directed his attention solely on the escaping form of Arukenimon.

"I am the bone of my sword."

There were a number of weapons he could use, a number of Noble Phantasms, but he didn't have the luxury of prana to create them. The skills he used during the Moon Cell were less costly than conjuring up else what. So, he'll stick with something that would work just fine.

A black blade appeared in his hand, he put it against the bowstring and aimed. It broke as he poured prana into it, and turned red.

"Hrunting!" He shouted.

Released.

It didn't matter how far she had gone now, even the two to three kilometers away mattered little.

Arukenimon barely knew what hit her, one second she was escaping quite cleanly, the next she felt side be pierced and unimaginable pain racked her entire body as a bullet of red energy soared right on through before vanishing.

"Arukenimon!" Mummymon shouted as he used his strength to grab her quickly, her body refused to listen, her consciousness was fading as Mummymon lifted her and escaped…

"Ah… I was a fool…" She mumbled as darkness took her.


An hour after leaving the campgrounds…

"Careful! Don't hurt her," Hikari Yagami said in concern for Hakuno Kishinami's well being as Hiroaki Ishida carefully helped the temporarily disabled girl out of the parked van.

"Can Saber help, or will she be seen when she turns visible?" He asked.

Saber materialized with a display of magical light in answer, "Worry not, there is nobody around to witness my appearance. I'm aware of secrecy concerning the digital and magical." She replied. "Hand me, Praetor, I shall carry her henceforth until we find a suitable carriage."

Hakuno looked to the adult lifting her out of the vehicle, "Sorry."

"No need to apologize; take care of yourself better to avoid this disability again," Hiroaki said as he cautiously brought the girl out and put the magus into the Servant's arms.

Jun Motomiya spoke up, "It looks kinda strange to just carry her like that all day," She stated.

Yolei pressed a few fingers against her chin in thought, before adjusting her glasses, "We'll have to rent out a wheelchair then, as we couldn't take the camp's with us," She said.

Hikari looked at her, "Where can we find a wheelchair around here? This is a shopping district."

"Kari, Kari, Kari…" Yolei shook her head, "You can always find something if you know where to look."

"Yes, we first locate a carriage for Praetor, umu, afterward we shall explore the district for suitable luxuries!" Saber exclaimed quite excitedly, glancing down to Hakuno within her grasp, "I shall find outfits that display us to the world!"

"Hey," Hiroaki said, "If you're going clothing shopping then get some decency covering ones."

The Digidestined of Light agreed, "Yeah, you shouldn't have Hakuno dressing up like that."

"Mhm," Saber mumbled as if taking it into consideration. "Very well."

Hakuno tilted her head, "We trying on some clothes?"

"Of course," Saber replied. "I intend to try on many, and you will be joining me, Master!"

"I'll be going with you anyway, Saber," Hakuno replied.

"I remember where one is now," Yolei smacked a hand against an open palm in realization. "Follow me!"

Around fifteen minutes later…

"Saber," Hakuno said out loud while Saber pulled her newly rented wheelchair from behind. "You know we can't purchase anything."

"Nonsense, Praetor! You have all the earnings you ever need," The Servant of the Sword referred to the currency within the Portable Terminal earned during the Holy Grail War.

"You have money, Hakuno?" Jun questioned.

"No, I don't. Those credits are worth nothing," Hakuno said, "The digital currency shouldn't transfer to the Real World."

"Wait, you have that?" Hikari said in shock.

"Yes?" The Digital Human replied in slight confusion. "Why?"

Yolei laughed with embarrassment, "That would've made things easier with Digitamamon…" She trailed off. "How much do you have? Just curious."

Hakuno opened her mouth to respond, but closed it, briefly taking a moment to think before she finally said, "I don't know, I think some amount after seven-hundred thousand?"

"Seven… Hundred… Thousand?" Jun practically salivated.

"With no worth," Hakuno stated.

"Oh… " Jun deflated.

Not that they didn't have any worth, Hakuno Kishinami just didn't know if the current technology level of this Real World could take in account PPT, the currency SERAPH created for use in the Moon Cell's Grail War. However, there is a restaurant in the Digital World? It might be worth looking into at a later date; a place to purchase supplies would be useful. Now with the Digimon Emperor being defeated, she could explore the Digital World more freely with her Servants.

Huh, speaking of the Moon, she wondered what it looked like from Earth's night sky. What with being literally inside the Moon's digital network for most of her strange, eventful life not allowing her to actually see the Moon in itself.

While she had experienced many wonders inside the Moon Cell, like the very Core that observed so many realities, had the processing ability to grant wishes and a whole host of other impossible things that it could accomplish...

Hakuno Kishinami shook her head, really that is all behind her now. While the Moon Cell and its Holy Grail War had a major influence on her, she should really stop comparing topics to it. She should just let questions about it go, like when she asked Rin about the future reference to restoring her Servant's prana connection and Rin refused… Not that she was curious about her naked legs or anything when she peeked… No wait, she didn't peek… Did she?

Huh… What a weird thought to suddenly half remember…

"Earth to Hakuno!" Yolei's voice suddenly exclaimed while a hand waved in front of Hakuno Kishinami's face.

"Yes?" The Digital Human replied.

"Welcome back from your world of thoughts," Yolei commented, causing Hakuno to fluster in embarrassment a bit. "Check it, this is the best clothing store in the district!"

Hakuno Kishinami looked ahead, indeed, it was quite a large store, as well as lavished to a high degree. It had all sorts of bright colors that almost seemed to shine rays of light when the sun shone on them as if proclaiming to the world that it was the store all should go to. It certainly fits Saber's ideal building, as the Servant was mumbling behind Hakuno in what the magus could perceive as words of positive feedback.

"Umu! Let us venture inside and see if their wares are like the storefront!" Saber exclaimed as she pushed Hakuno's wheelchair along into the building without so much as a chance to reply.

Not that Hakuno would have anyway.

Once they entered the building, Hakuno Kishinami couldn't help but refer to this place as 'The My Room of Changing' as it held such a high assortment of different clothing types that it might as well be purely created for costume exchange. Of course, by changing she meant that Saber would most definitely attempt to dress her Master in all sorts of outfits, after trying them on herself.

Case in point, ignoring the other girls, Saber pushed her Master along to the unisex isle, particularly the spot where there were all manners of crimson accessories and garments. In which the Servant then set her Master on a spot where Saber would still see her while examining the wares.

"Praetor, take a look at this!" Saber exclaimed with an ecstatic expression as she revealed, in her grasp, a modern-day red skirt outfit with straps that go over the shoulders to hold it up.

"Looks good, Saber," Hakuno replied, not really having any clue to this fashion sense business. But if her Servant is happy, she's happy.

"Quite so," The Heroic Spirit said. "So, hold onto it!" She put the dress on Hakuno's lap.

Hakuno looked down at the dress, then back up to Saber, getting the feeling this was only the first in what was going to be a ceiling high stack.

The Digital Human blinked as the Servant already disappeared from sight, before reappearing just seconds later with another garment, but this one looked… Wait, how!?

The entire set was dyed a royal blue, the top half long sleeved with a sharp diamond neckline that had multiple white stripes along it which also decorated the wrist ends of the sleeves, just underneath the neckline was a red cloth tied in a knot. On the shirt's left side was a red symbol, while the bottom half of the outfit was a miniskirt.

She recognized this outfit if barely, it was a dress she supposedly wore in one of the alternate realities recorded in the Moon Cell. How it ever came to be here, in this specific shop, was mind-boggling.

"Oh?" Saber spotted Hakuno's surprised expression. "It appears you like this outfit! Mhm, it does fit you. Umu! Yes, we should purchase this as well!"

At that moment, Hikari Yagami came around to spotted the outfit being held in front of the magus girl.

"You really enjoy those types of outfits, don't you?" Hikari giggled in amusement.

Hakuno felt her face warm up, tinted a pink hue, "Not… Not by choice!" She sputtered out.

"Sure," Hikari said.

She didn't believe her at all!

Then again, Hakuno doesn't even believe herself at the moment…

Saber put it on the stack.

Hikari then said, "Wait… She's not going to be trying to purchase everything she finds… Right?" She questioned.

Hakuno only nodded.

"Um… How can she even tell what fits her?" Hikari questioned again.

"She's very skilled," Hakuno replied.

"That's right, she made that dress herself," The girl recalled.

"Hikari, Hakuno," Yolei showed up with Jun behind her, "Oh? Idea! Hikari, take Hakuno to the changing room!"

"Huh?" Hikari said. "Why so sudden?"

Saber nodded, "Yes, I can see what you mean! Excellent idea!"

Jun grinned, "I'll go find some more clothes to pick out!"

Hakuno only tilted her head in confusion while Hikari was forced to bring her towards the changing rooms, which were separated by large wooden walls. A sense of foreboding etched it's way into her as the Digital Human noticed Saber, Yolei, and Jun come back with even more outfits.

"What is it…?" Hakuno questioned.

Hikari shook her head, "Nice knowing you, Hakuno."

Hakuno didn't understand…

A few minutes later…

Now she understood…

The magus girl found herself sit neatly against the wall on a bench, her brown uniform now folded on one side while she wore a set of casual dress. A long sleeved cotton attire in gray colors with dark blue jeans and a pair of brown leather boots.

"Mhm, casual for winter dress," Jun remarked as she looked at Hakuno.

"It's winter somewhere, she'll stay warm in that, but I feel like it's missing something," Yolei commented

"Like a hat?" Hikari suggested, "Something Christmas-like?"

"Good idea!" Jun said.

"Next outfit!" Saber exclaimed.

Hakuno Kishinami now wore a kimono, a very rose red kimono with artistic white flowers woven into the seam, along with a pair of wooden sandals. She felt very cultural in it, and while appreciating the dress, still felt lost. Not to mention, confused on how they managed to dress her like this given her current body condition.

"Is this necessary?" Hakuno asked.

"Yes," Saber responded, "Mhm, Caster would approve of this type of dress. Yes, the eastern cultures do have quite a unique apparel."

"Hmm," Yolei rubbed her chin, "She looks quite cute in it, but Kari, I think Hakuno should have her hair braided in a different way."

"I don't agree, she looks very nice like this," Hikari commented. "Though I don't think red fits, it should have been a more violet hue."

Gatomon popped out of clothing on top the wheelchair, "Perhaps something a bit more cat-like?"

Hakuno tried to image her hair in twintails like Rin Tohsaka with cat ears but found that it would be really odd.

Jun grabbed a certain clothing on top the wheelchair, "How about we try this?"

Saber agree, "Yes! She looked at that quite intently earlier!"

It didn't take long for Hakuno to find herself in the royal blue outfit from earlier, the magus was actually quite comfortable in the attire and had more appreciation for small skirts like this than jeans or the kimono.

"It fits, like, fits really well…" Hikari said.

"Yeah, no wonder she's into uniforms like that," Yolei agreed.

"To the point on that, she looks practically born for it!" Jun added.

"Quite right they are, Praetor," Saber said. "You have a knack for looking quite beautiful in these types of garments."

Hakuno felt her heart flutter in that compliment.

"Let's purchase it!" Yolei exclaimed.

"I don't have money, Yolei" Hakuno replied.

"Don't worry about it!" Yolei waved it off. "Think of it like a Birthday present!"

A… Birthday present?

She knew what a birthday was, a celebration of the day you were born, but Hakuno Kishinami wasn't born, so she didn't have a birthday.

"Can I return to my uniform before then?" Hakuno asked.

"Have to do that anyway," Hikari said, "Come on, let's dress her back…"


While Yolei, along with Hikari and Hiroaki the latter who had been in a neighboring shop during the earlier dress-up event, waited in line to purchase an assortment of goods, in the meantime both Jun and Saber were still browsing through the wide selection. Hakuno Kishinami, redressed in her brown attire, hissed silently in pain as she hid her arm away from any public sight, the right arm of hers was frizzling in and out of existence as her body was trying to stabilize itself.

It was far less severe reaction than the last time, Hakuno Kishinami chalked it up to being in a location with either relatively low digital or magical energy in the ambient atmosphere, which might have accelerated the process. But that was just a theory, and a poor one at that, as something similar had occurred back in the restaurant during the first Real World visit.

Honestly, she was still clueless about exactly why her body refused to keep stable in the Real World. The elderly man, Gennai, explained that her data didn't cross over well… In a rather abstract way of explaining that the normal method of traveling to and fro the Digital and Real World wasn't complex enough for her data body created by the Moon Cell.

A masculine voice shook Hakuno out of her thoughts.

"Quite the unique circumstance you have there, Hakuno Kishinami."

It originated directly behind her, where she wouldn't be able to see the individual without turning, and with her current state, it would better not to do.

The voice continued regardless, "I'll like to have a conversation with you, it won't take much time, you'll be on your way afterward," The man, she presumed, spoke as Hakuno felt the wheelchair being moved away from the common sight to a more secluded area in the store.

She dared not call out, this mysterious man had waited for the time where she was alone, specifically alone from her Servant. Hakuno did not know his capabilities or what he wanted. The stranger had stated he would let her go on her way afterward but didn't elaborate on what he meant by it.

"Who are you?" Hakuno asked, the man knew her name, so he must have some sort of connections to either the Digidestined or the Digital World, she hoped the former.

She spotted a part of a robe from the corner of her eye, it was a dark, royal blue robe that hid any noticeable features.

"You and I are quite similar, you possibly seek a way to enter and stay in the Real World, and I who seek to do the same with the Digital World." He evaded her question with that, and that told Hakuno that this man had information to hide, and she was quite experience in dealing with those type.

The Holy Grail War taught her well with matters concerning leaking information.

"But unlike me, you managed to do so, though not without risk it seems," He referred to her destabilizing body… This man is perceptive. "So, I ask, how?"

"My friends," Hakuno stated, refusing to give out vital information.

"The Digidestined?" He stated, "A good gamble but it wouldn't work. I've pieced together the puzzle of why that, like Ken, you've stayed multiple days inside the Digital World. You can't leave on your own or via the Digidestined. So, again, how?"

Ken? As in Ken Ichijoji? That would imply he knew about the Digimon Emperor given he knew Ken stayed multiple days in the Digital World. Could this be the one that manipulates Ken behind the scene?

"Were you the one who made Ken the Digimon Emperor?" She questioned.

"No, he chose that himself. Though, a waste of potential on his defeat. But that was your doing, was it not? Or perhaps an object in the region you placed yourself in? Well, I hope to learn soon enough on that."

A hand placed on her shoulder.

A sense of danger overcame her body.

"Gah," Hakuno gasped sharply.

There was something there, not the man, something else. Her sensitivity as a magus could only feel it on the physical contact.

His hand left, "Looks like I overstayed my welcome. We shall speak again, Kishinami," He finished as she heard his footsteps go distant.

"Praetor!?" Saber rushed right to her. "I sensed you in danger! Where is our foe that threatened you?" She questioned while preparing to summon her blade.

Hakuno Kishinami glanced around, but couldn't spot anyone like the color of the robe. "He's gone. I think he sensed you coming so retreated."

"I apologize, Master," Saber stated. "I should not be so lax as to draw my attention away from protecting you."

"It's fine… You came anyway…" Hakuno trailed off before her eyes widened, "Wait… He'll know soon enough at… Saber!"

"Yes!?" She answered.

"We're going back to the Digital World!" Hakuno exclaimed.

She had wondered why her Command Seals had throbbed painfully those hours before! Hakuno hoped that Archer and Caster were okay...