After the Atlanteans managed to push Chaldea back, Ritsuka finds himself resting on his room before getting called by one of the goddesses of the city.

Fujimaru was lying down on his bed, thinking about the battle that had happened earlier that day.

Even after fighting against the monster Origin Scylla, hundreds of Origin Sirens and Origin Hydras, this was the first time he was truly scared.

"She managed to get a good ammount of allies... And powerful as well..." -

While the Klironominia allowed him to fight toe to toe with a Servant, he had no significant defense against Noble Phantasm and if Cu was able to shoot his Gae Bolg, he would have died.

"Dear sister, you're making things very hard for me. Now I know why you managed to pass Kadoc, Ophelia, Akuta and Pepe" -

His mind slowly started to drift into the realm of dreams, but his rest got cut short by a voice entering his room.

"Lady Demeter wishes to speak with you" - one of the robotic Atlantean soldiers said.

"Coming, coming..." - Ritsuka said as he slowly got up from the bed - "What could she be wanting right now?" -

While making his way towards Demeter's garden, Ritsuka looked outside the underwater city and saw a dim blue light at the bottom. He smiled, the Fantasy Tree Typhon was finally coming to the surface.

After a small walk, he arrived at her room. He saw the goddess, tending to the plants of her garden with a smile.

"Lady Demeter, I have brought your request" -

"Very good. Leave us alone please" -

The soldier then left as the Crypter entered the room, the door closing behind him.

"Lady Demeter, what is it that you wanted to speak to me?" -

"Lord Poseidon told me about your victory over Chaldea, I wanted to personally congratulate you" - the goddess said, still keeping her attention on her plants.

"I appreciate that. While Chaldea were fierce enemies, we luckily managed to fight them off" -

"I see, but that's not exactly what I wanted to speak with you" -

"And what is it exactly?" -

"The Master of Chaldea, Tachibana Fujimaru, she's your sister right?" -

"Yes, my younger sister" -

"Understood..." -

"Lady Demeter? Is something wrong?" -

"Aphrodite and Artemis are having doubts about you, and I can't help but think about them when I see you" -

"Doubts? What could..." -

"They believe that if the oportunity comes, you'll betray us in favour of your family, that you will sell out the inhabitants of Atlantis if it guarantees a meeting with your sister" -

"Lady Demeter, I swear I would never do that, my loyalty lies in Atlantis and its people, I wouldn't betray that" -

"How can you be so sure Fujimaru? Not all of us have the strength to face a loved one in battle, especially someone so close like a sister" -

"If... If that's how you feel about me, what could I do to..." -

"I was hoping you'd say that" -

Demeter abandoned the garden and went to her room, after a few seconds she returned with an object on her hand, what seemed like a dagger made out of dark metal, something Ritsuka recognized almost immediatly, as he had seen it back during his first audience with Poseidon.

"Hades'..." -

"Hades' Remnants, the only thing that was left of the God of the Underworld" - Demeter cut Fujimaru before he could finish talking.

"Do you want me to kill my sister with it?" -

"Oh, nothing of the sort Ritsuka. No, what I want is more simple: A blood pact" -

"Blood pact?" -

"Yes, now extend your hand" -

Knowing that resistance would be futile, Ritsuka did as Demeter told him. As the dagger cut into his hand, he saw black lines appear and start to extend from his arm all the way to the rest of his body.

"You are now bound by the will of whoever holds this dagger Ritsuka Fujimaru, if you break the rules of the bearer, the curse inside you will corrupt your spirit and destroy your body from within, is that clear?" -

"Yes, Lady Demeter" -

"Perfect. Now, there are only 2 rules that I will make you follow: First, you will not, in any way, go against the city of Atlantis, its inhabitants or the Gods. Second, if you manage to capture your sister, you will immediatly bring her to Lord Poseidon for her to be executed, understood?" -

"Understood" -

"Perfect. Now, you are free to return to your room, have a good rest Fujimaru" - and with those words, Ritsuka abandoned the garden.

In his walk back, he stopped once again to look at the Fantasy Tree, still taking slowly rising. He had great plans for it once it fully grew, but they needed more time for that to happen.

"Not everyone has the strength to face a loved one in battle... Funny coming from the woman who killed her own daughter..." - feeling angry at what Demeter forced him to do, Ritsuka remembered what he had learned in Atlantis' library about the war between the gods.

After returning to his room, he was about to get into his bed once more until he felt a strange presence, an... Evil presence.

"I know you're there Limbo, show yourself" -

The Alter Ego, Ashiya Douman made himself present, appearing from the shadows.

"My my, our Lord Master is quite capable of finding hidden Servants, aren't you?" -

"What are you doing in here Limbo? I'm not exactly in the mood to deal with you right now" -

"You just had quite the talk with Demeter didn't you? The curse of Hades in your blood is proof enough of that" -

"How do you know that?" -

"Curses and hexes are my thing Lord Master, not a problem to identify them inside of someone, you especially" -

"She said she needed to prove that I wouldn't betray the gods, so she did this to me..." -

"Terrible indeed, but if you desire, I could probably help with it" -

"Excuse me?" -

"You forget that I'm not simply a normal Servant, different gods inhabit my body Lord Master, some of which could fight back the curses and who knows? Maybe even disolve them entirely. All you'd need to do is to form a contract with me" -

Ritsuka stayed thinking for a second, but ultimately decided to decline.

"I won't. You'll doble cross me the second you get the chance, you might even put a more powerful curse" -

"Oh well, I was simply trying to help my Lord Master, but if that's what you wish, I'll take my leave then... Although, you know where to find me. If you're ever interested, just come and I'll gladly accept" -

With that, Douman left the room, leaving Ritsuka alone once more.

Maybe now he could finally get some sleep.