Author's Note: Remember, readers! Well, most of you are probably already familiar by now. I always write ways with a reason! If something doesn't seem like much since in one chapter its bound to be answered in the following ones. I never leave out a solid reason for Hakuno's way of things.
P.S. Hakuno Kishinami is NOT replacing Joker, you guys do realize that Joker stopped Ryuji from going overbroad in chapter 1? He just didn't talk. Try not to skim past the narration next time, haha.
PLEASE LEAVE A NICKNAME, I DO NOT REPLY TO 'GUEST'.
sakaewmatsui: You will have to read to find out.
EvanderAdvent: I can't either! As for choices, you will be surprised!
Dxhologram: See PS.
Xirons20: The power of head tilt!
Islamsayyid: You will see how it will differ...
No Fanfic No Life: You will see!
VGBlackwing: See PS. Though she is a 'wildcard' in a different context.
Axel Fones: You're very welcome!
Daemon of Crawling Tentacles: Haha, Joker x Hakuno ship? You know I don't do romance to much!
Xenocanaan: You're welcome! I haven't played P3 yet, but I will eventually!
Student: Much excitement for this last Digital Human story! It's going to get quite meta!
What lies in the body, the heart, and the soul? Are they but physical and metaphysical? The flame caused by her actions now seeks to devour her, but the road to her deletion is yet to be paved. Can this Digital Human change her path?
Digital/Culmination
Chapter 2: Will To Survive
Where was she?
Hakuno Kishinami examined her surroundings, her 'Private Room' had vanished completely and was replaced by an entirely different area. It wasn't similar to the Arena, a digital maze constructed by SERAPH in the Moon Holy Grail War, but rather it was some metamorphosis of the cityscape in vivid shades of red with pulsing cracks that started at the end of a stairwell leading down into deeper darkness. At the entrance where she stood, it seemed like a normal recreation of the subway entry she'd gone through with Miss Yuyi on their way and back from Shujin Academy.
The magus girl took a deep breath.
Firstly, check her person.
She felt physically fine, no injuries, and the Portable Terminal was in her hand, which she slipped back into her pocket. She checked her other pockets, but they were all empty, and her clothing remained the same altered black uniform she acquired by some mysterious means.
Next, her surroundings.
Like her brief glance beforehand, they remained unchanging, radiating a crimson hue and an occasional purple smudge of color. There was nobody else around her, so it could be assumed that it had qualities similar to the Arena in which each Master pair had their own individual Arena floors, preventing others from interfering with the competition between their assigned opponents.
It truly was a subway in design, though.
Finally, her Servant- Oh, right, she didn't have a Heroic Spirit contracted with her anymore… An immensely powerful summoned familiar that took on the essence of a hero from the past, present, or future. As a Master, Hakuno Kishinami had such a companion in the Holy Grail War, who was tied to her through the contract via the now-dormant Command Spells on her hand.
But, since the war had ended by her wish, that was no longer the case.
She'd have to rely on her limited Code Casts then.
Hakuno frowned, there was barely any information to go by, it was all very confusing, the entire day had been a huge mountain of questions.
She decided to sit down against the wall for a bit, taking a brief break for attempting to do anything risky so to collect her thoughts and knowledge about everything so far. To begin with, this morning had been an uncomfortable realization that for some reason the household resident, Miss Yuyi, presumed her to be her granddaughter. It didn't sit well with Hakuno Kishinami, although she logically knew that wasn't the case and it morally pressed against her mind, there wasn't anything Hakuno could do right now about it.
There was nowhere else for her to go right now, in the Moon Cell, such accommodations had been provided, but the real world didn't have such luxuries. Did somebody or something make arrangements to provide Hakuno a place to stay in temporarily?
If so, why hypnotize the elderly woman staying there?
She wanted to tell the truth to Miss Yuyi that she wasn't her family member… But…
Miss Yuyi did look quite happy to have somebody now…
Hakuno couldn't bring it to herself to deny that joy. The best solution was to figure things out about Miss Yuyi and the neighborhood before telling the truth.
It pushed her morals, but it wasn't anything as harsh as what she did in the Holy Grail War.
After all, killing a child, even a ghost, made this seem acceptable in comparison.
Moving on, her sudden admission into Shujin Academy seemed too coincidental. However, unlike with Miss Yuyi, Hakuno appreciated the more familiar school setting. It would serve as downtime during the week, a relaxing daily occurrence like the brief preliminary round in the Moon Cell. It wasn't some charade, a disguised place hosting a cruel kill-or-be-killed tournament, just an average educational facility with other people her age…
Huh, other people her age… The Moon Cell's Holy Grail War had such a large variety of age groups it would be a bit odd to see a normal school's population now.
That brought a smile on her face.
To do a normal school day?
Well, that's a fantastical dream she'd never thought would occur again.
It was a good thing she had a solid memory, that and a bit of cheating, the Portable Terminal had mapped out the entirety of Shujin Academy during the tour. So finding her classroom should be a piece of cake until she fully memorized her schedule.
A feeling of dread washed over her.
Hakuno Kishinami immediately stood on her feet, her experience in the constant battles and life or death situations had honed her ability to recognize threats towards her person. She glanced around for the source of the danger but spotted nothing that would indicate an enemy. Hakuno clenched her fists, was there something deeper within that had prematurely triggered her reaction?
Should she investigate?
Without a Servant?
Just because she didn't have a Heroic Spirit did not mean she was incapable of defending herself.
No, that was idiotic, there was no guaranteed her Code Casts would be able to handle an enemy stronger than her.
So, how does she leave this place?
The same method she entered, perhaps? Through the application on the Portable Terminal?
She reached for-
Hakuno turned to her right in a instant, a splurge of red and black sludge formed from the ground before exploding outward and taking the shape of a large purple-skinned equine with two goat-like horns curving back. Its eyes glared at her with malicious intent, the magus girl knew it could not be reasoned with, it was clearly intelligent yet carried a hatred to it.
"I. Destroy. You!" It spoke, looking ready to lunge at her.
Her magic circuits surged with od.
"Code- Ack!" Hakuno was too late to use her magic at the creature slammed into her which threw her into the nearby wall, her back ached with intense pain as she collapsed to the ground on her knees and arms. She wiped the saliva off her mouth and stood on her feet, such pain would not bring her low, Hakuno Kishinami had experienced worse.
She raised her arm, outstretched palm directed at the corrupted unicorn-like effigy, "Code Cast: Hack!"
"Arrrgh!" The creature shouted in immense pain as electrical sparks of data blasted against it due to Hakuno's digital magecraft. Interestingly, it slumped to the ground, both stunned and shocked.
Did she strike some weak point?
Hakuno knew this a good chance to do something, but given the physical form of her enemy, it would likely outrun her. She pulled out the Portable Terminal and tapped the Metanav button.
["Unable to return to the real world with shadows nearby."]
"What?" Hakuno said, so this enemy was called a 'shadow' and until she defeated it there was no way to return?
She took notice that the two-horned equine had recovered from her earlier spell, Hakuno quickly moved to recast the Code Cast but it had at charged her with great haste. The magus girl leaped to the side to avoid its straightforward assault but the shadow moved its skull and slammed into her leg.
"Ah!" Hakuno shouted in pain as she fell to the ground, it had been blunt force only, but her leg had taken a significant blow that hindered it. She struggled to stand, but couldn't find the strength to make the leg support her weight.
The shadow began to step towards her.
She's going to die.
Hakuno Kishinami took in a sharp breath, her left hand now throbbed with a stinging sensation but she was distracted by the approaching enemy.
She can't die her, her wish had only just begun.
"Wish…? Did I make a wish…?" Hakuno said in confusion at the sudden thought.
Why couldn't she remember what she wished for?
The magus gritted her teeth, hadn't she survived the grueling trials of the Holy Grail War? Only to perish by the malicious reality that threatened to engulf her? She was better than that, she had faced worse than this!
If there was a wish she had made, then she would find it!
"I refuse to die here," Hakuno said.
She forced herself on her feet, leaning on one side, but resolute in escaping this cruel fate.
"Ack!" Hakuno gripped her left wrist with her right, her eyes staring at the now glowing crimson red that adorned the Command Seals. "If you can hear me then come forth, I won't die, not after I survived so much, there is still a wish I have to obtain!"
Hakuno Kishinami shouted, "To me, Saber!"
All she saw in that single moment was a sudden showcase of red rose petals.
The shadow that threatened her imploded in on itself into smoke, vanishing into nothingness.
She stood there in silence staring at the newly arrived figure.
It was a short-statured woman with almost golden hair, her emerald eyes complimented her beautiful face and body, a bright deep red decorated her ball dress attire and elongated crafted blade at the woman's side.
This person turned to face Hakuno Kishinami.
"Umu! It a pleasure to meet you once again, Praetor! I heard your calls and have answered as I always will! Nothing can keep us apart, my star-eyed Master! Not the distance between worlds or the Moon Cell Automaton!" Her smile was bright and words carried a optimistic positivity to them.
"Saber…" Hakuno trailed off.
This woman, Saber, was her Servant, the one in which kept by her side throughout the Holy Grail War.
One of three…
"I have to say, Praetor," Saber began. "Couldn't you call me in a place more befitting me? This area is quite lacking in aesthetics."
Hakuno smiled, "Sorry, I'll try better next time."
"I'm sure you will! Umu, you are injured though? Do you have a safe haven to recuperate?"
"Yes…" Hakuno replied in a relaxed tone, comforted by Saber's presence and concern. She pulled forth the Private Terminal, a brief thought in her head questioned how she would explain the Heroic Spirit to Miss Yuyi, but it was answered by just the Servant hiding in the astral state.
She tapped the Metanav app.
["Returning to the real world, thank you for your hard work!"]
Hakuno Kishinami released a relieved sigh as she found herself back in the peaceful atmosphere of her Private Room. She glanced around but didn't spot Saber, despite her feeling that Servant's connection through the reignited contract of the now crimson Command Seals on her hand. The magus girl ideally wondered if perhaps Saber was in astral state or had been left behind in that strange place.
"Saber?" She said aloud, waiting for an answer.
No reply.
It didn't feel as if Saber was far away, though, it was like she was extremely closeby, but yet not physically present.
So, what was occurring then?
Perhaps a Servant can only be within the confines of that strange place? Unable to materialize in the Real World even with the presence of a Master? Well, there was a way to circumvent the restriction by using one of the three usable Command Spells, but considering those were her trump cards for emergency situations, it was best not to do so.
Still… All three Command Spells had returned, even though she had used up at least two in the Holy Grail War, she decided not to look a gift horse in the mouth.
"Ouch," Hakuno winced, her injury was still present. It wasn't too bad, but tending it would let it heal overnight. She limp-walked her way out of the room and down the stairs, heading to the small kitchen and preparing an icepack that should do the trick. Considering the unique nature of her body, the injury should heal relatively quickly.
"Dear?" Miss Yuyi had returned home. "Oh, did you sprain your ankle?"
"A bit, I had headed out and accidentally got hurt, but I'll be fine," Hakuno replied truthfully, even if it wasn't the whole story.
"Well, it seems you know how to care for yourself," Yuyi said. "Just keep that icepack on it for a while and get some rest, alright?"
"I will, thanks," The magus said.
"Also, I've brought some packed dinners,"
"Thank you," Hakuno said.
Oh, food! She had lunch earlier in the day but it was a basic sandwich, a good sandwich, but basic. She was curious as to the culinary culture, maybe she should stop by some eateries in the real world?
The only problem was the lack of money.
Mhm… Looks like another obstacle she had to solve…
Her eyes opened wide, the vague recollection of a distant dream had now etched itself on her reality once again. Hakuno Kishinami sat upright and once again, she was in the classroom that made the Velvet Room. The unique coloration of blues matched with the cyberspace designs of the Moon Cell that decorated this odd place was unmistakable. Not to mention, the fiery ongoing flames of a scorch city under a blank of stars just outside the window, finally, of course, the other three residents alongside her.
Igor chuckled, he looked a bit weak but maintained his a professional attitude, "Not a day passes by and already you've made progress, truly an example of one chosen by the Moon."
A stick slammed on a nearby desk, the girl with twin buns, Caroline, "Our Master has complimented you, student! Be appreciative!"
"Thank you?" Hakuno complimented in a confused manner.
Justine spoke next, "It seems you've already summoned forth a Heroic Spirit, the first door has opened."
True to Justine's words, Hakuno Kishinami one of the several doors had opened, but the magus couldn't see what lay within due to a dark shadow that hid the interior.
"What are these doors?" Hakuno asked.
Igor continued, "These doors represent the different branches, each the seven paths made by the wishes you've made at your final moments. As you further work on extinguishing the flames, more of these roads will unlock for you to walk upon."
Wishes? Did she make multiple wishes?
"In a simple explanation," Justine spoke. "As you grow, more Servants shall become available for you to summon."
"But take heed, student," Caroline said. "You can only have up to three Servants active at a time! Any more than that will consume you!"
"Your Servants will respond to your calling in the Metaverse," Justine continued. "For now, the Path of Extra has been opened, but not entirely revealed. All you have from it is a single Heroic Spirit."
"What are the other paths?" Hakuno asked.
"You shall learn in due time," Igor said. "Take heed, these familiars require sacrifice, a penalty of your mystical energy. Although three you may have, it would be wise only for one to be called at a time."
Did he mean that she can only have one Servant in combat? Yet, they mentioned there can be three with her? How did that work? What were these paths? And multiple wishes?
The chime of the bell echoed.
Justine spoke, "It is time for you to leave the classroom."
No, that was too soon! There were so many questions still!
"Be sure not to slack off on your studies, student!" Caroline exclaimed.
Hakuno Kishinami's eyes closed as slumber overtook her...