Chapter 3: Stratum

As they stepped outside the doors of the elevator, they found themselves on the roof of a large building. The trio could not help but admire the wondrous sight that beheld them. What they saw was a large city, with skyscrapers ablaze with lights. Screens all around showed hordes of people enjoying themselves, revelling as music played from an unknown source. The night sky was lit up with a wide spectrum of jolly colours, shining like stars that rivalled those in the sky. Saber in particular was very taken by the scene.

"What in the world is this?"

This is the battleground of a death game? Emu couldn't help but wonder. He looked at Takeru, and it was clear he was thinking the same thing.

"This is not what I expected!"

In the centre was a large crystal pillar, with specks of light climbing up and down its insides. What looked like glass tubes made up most of the insides of the pillar. Elevators were moving up and down the tubes like the specks of light floating.

"What a wonderful city! What a wonderful festival! But hold on! This is not what I remembered the first Stratum to be."

Emu assumed Stratum means level.

"Umm… Saber. Are you upset?" Emu asked.

"Not at all!" Saber turned to him with an look of pure joy on her face. "I'm surprised."

"The seven stratum of the Sea of the Seven Heavens, fought upon seven battlegrounds. A seven round fight between 128 Masters. Where is the if-you-don't-fight-you-don't-survive tournament? This city… really looks like a city! It even has a festival! I'm very…"

In her joy, Saber could not think of the word to describe how she felt. Then she found one.

"Umu, very interested in this!"

Uh-huh.

It was clear that Emu's mind was on other things. Firstly, why a city? This was a weird stage to select a fight, especially one that was so active. However, upon closer inspection, stranger questions arose in Emu's mind.

Where is everyone?

Despite all the music, there was not a single soul on the streets of the city. If this was a festival, it surely must not be a popular one.

Saber ignored Emu's confused face.

"That over there," She pointed in one direction. "That over there." She pointed at another. "I want to see it all!"

She grabbed the metal handrails and peered down. Then, she heard a whirring noise of an engine above and looked up. A giant aircraft, with headlights, was flying very close to them.

"Yes, Maestro!"

"Maestro?"

Emu was aware that she called him that ever since the beginning, but he still did not know what it meant.

"Umu. You can become one. One who plays me as an instrument, such that even the muses are green with envy."

"So a Musican?"

"You can say that."

Emu remained confused. So did Takeru. Saber noticed their stares and smiled.

"No reaction then?" she asked. Despite that, her face remained smug.

As they walked along the streets of the large city, Saber took long, determined steps, as if she was eager to see as much of the city as possible. Emu, on the other hand… not so much. Although the city was just as marvellous on the ground as it was on the roof, the lack of people on the streets still unnerved him. Takeru was walking alongside Emu, trying to maintain some conversation with Emu.

"Hey, Emu. So, I was wondering. What happened on the bottom floor after I had to hide from the figures? How did you get here? Don't tell me you had to kill someone!"

"No, I didn't. I got killed. Do you remember that guy with the Wakame hair? I found him after I ran up the stairs, and although he told me to follow him to a hiding place, after a while he turned around and stabbed me."

"Stabbed you?!"

"Yes. First in the chest, then many times in the back. I was dying, but somehow I found the energy to stand up and drag myself back to the incinerator. I was being pursued by one of those figures. However, when I got there and fell to the bottom, I saw her sword stuck in the earth. I pulled it out, and she appeared."

"Interesting. But it is definitely different to what happened to me. I got revived as a ghost, but it appear you are still human."

"Yes, but there was something else. When I was lying on the floor, I heard voices in my head telling me to get up and move, and when I got up, I felt like other forces were commanding my legs to move. I was aware of what was happening, but I didn't feel like it was me getting up."

Saber had led them to a table outside an empty pastry shop and, having taken a plate of cakes from what seemed to be a buffet table full of them, sat down promptly on a wooden chair and ate it with relish.

"I don't know much about this situation, but I need to find out." Emu continued. "If something else happens…"

"It's OK. I'm here, and I can help you. Saber is here too. Right?"

"Umu" Saber affirmed, her mouth full of cake.

They continued to wait while Saber finished her cakes.

"A Servant is a powerful being, but because of that, we consume resources just to maintain our physical form."

"What sort?"

"Mana. In a sense, a sort of life force. When in that compressed form your friend put me in, I sense that it was similar to me being in Spirit form, so if I become a burden on you, let me know."

"No, no, it's fine. You're not a burden on me."

"That being said, I plan to retain this form for a little while longer. I think I know where our opponents are."

"You do?"

Well then what was the cake for?

Shut up, she said she needed resources earlier, right?

Saber gave a smug smile.

"Of course. I was not merely walking around to satisfy my curiosity. I was gathering information."

"I didn't notice anything." Emu said.

"Neither did I." Takeru added. Well, about the location of their enemy, at least.

"I did though," Saber responded, her smug smile growing even larger. "Though I am also availing myself fully of this opportunity for enjoyment, but this is a separate matter. Even if the scenery has changed, this is still the first Stratum. In any case, finding our opponents should be our top priority. At least, after I finish this cake."

The trio arrived outside a wooden two-storied tavern. It stuck out from the crowd of buildings given the size and the material of its two neighbouring buildings. In fact, it looked like it was squeezed in, squished by the two buildings. Emu couldn't help but wonder what sort of city designer puts a tiny wooden piece of property in a large city of concrete and glass. The insides were dimly lit, and looked like a pub, with wooden tables and chairs and a bar well stocked with liquor. They stepped down the small flight of stairs leading into the restaurant and walked forwards, led by Saber, ever the confident one.

On the tables were different dishes, from baskets of bread to Spanish seafood paella, and mugs of beer in front of every seat. However, this restaurant was abandoned, without a single person sitting in the chairs. One sole woman with crimson pink hair sat at the bar.

"This seems to be the usual hangout." Saber noted.

"Of our opponents?" So many?

"Of the Masters."

Of course. That made sense. There were after all 127 other contestants in this war. But if so, where were they? That woman at the bar must have answers.

They proceeded towards the bar.

"Just one, huh?"

Saber sighed, and before Emu could stop her, she declared to the woman:

"Take out your sword, O chosen Master! The time has come to fight for your wish with your life at stake!"

No, no, no, no! Do it with more tact! We're only gathering info, how do you know she's a Master? But it was too late.

The woman stayed silent. Then, she started laughing.

"What's with you? Is that how you start a conversation?"

Emu mentally facepalmed.

"I thought you were just wearing a fancy dress for the festival, but might you actually be a real servant?" the woman said, as she lifted the glass she was drinking from and peered through the brown liquid inside it. "Or are you just that drunk?"

"I am not inebriated in the least!" Saber retorted. "If you wish to insult me so, stand and fight!"

Emu stayed silent, embarrassed. He didn't know what to say. Should he cut in and stop the argument?

"Woah, sorry, my bad. You were just saying some outrageous stuff that I just had to respond. So, long term sleep, eh?"

"Let me just confirm something." Saber leaned in closer to her. "You are a Master, are you not?"

The woman replied with a shrug. "Dunno."

"Have you not come here to the moon with a wish?"

"Wish, huh?" The woman looked away wistfully. "That brings back memories. I guess I had one of those. He did too, a long time ago."

A long time ago?

"There is no one on this stratum who wishes to fight. It's over. The Holy Grail War."

She raised her glass.

"To the now-abandoned Holy Grail War!"

Over!?

Emu looked at Takeru in confusion. He was equally shocked. If there was no war, how would they get out?

No. She must be lying.

"In the end, no one reached the Angelica Cage. The Masters in this town have their every need accounted for. There is no reason to fight."

Saber grunted, annoyed.

"Well, if you don't know, I'll tell you. All Masters here on the first Stratum…"

Then she paused. Then she finished her sentence.

"Sold their Servants."

"Sold their… Servants?"

Saber couldn't believe what she was hearing.

"They revoked their rights as Masters."

She pulled a party popper out of a nearby pot.

"You've seen what this town is like. Today is nothing special. Every day of the year, this town celebrates its Masters who have given up on the Holy Grail War."

She pulled the popper. Confetti blew from the top, showering Saber in a rain of coloured paper. Saber remained unmoved.

"Festivities throughout the town. Parties at the pubs. Masters who sold their servants can live out their lives in leisure."

She threw the now-empty party popper. It hit the wall and landed on one of the tables.

"If you transfer your Servant to the government in the Central Tower, you can settle things peacefully. That is how this Stratum is set up. Well, most people eventually get bored and are now holed up in their homes. What about you, unfamiliar Master?"

Emu stayed silent. What the woman said explained the missing people in the city, and if the Holy Grail War really was cancelled.

No.

This is wrong.

What was all that death for then?

"Anyway, hauling a Servant around won't get you anything. On the other hand, you're an attractive woman, so there's always that."

Takeru and Emu did not like the insinuation of that last phrase and shifted in their feet.

"How did this happen?" Saber asked. "Are you not all souls who have gathered on the moon with a wish in your heart? Ending up like this…"

She grunted again and stormed out.

"Is there no one left who still gazes up at the sky?" she muttered.

Takeru ran ahead to try and talk to Saber. Emu turned to leave, but was interrupted by the woman:

"Aren't you going to sell?"

He stopped.

"Aren't you going to sell your Servant?"

Emu turned around.

"I won't. Would you take someone else's limbs to replace your own?"

The woman smiled.

"Well spoken. I feel like I heard that kind of grandeur somewhere else a long time ago."

Huh?

"I'm saying there's still another Master who kept their Servant on this Stratum."

And the woman smirked.

Outside, Saber was waiting with Takeru. Takeru turned to Emu, and Emu made a little smile. Takeru, with a sigh of relief, turned to Saber. She then spoke.

"I apologise. I should not have left before you."

Emu opened his mouth to respond, but suddenly they heard the sound of running footsteps. Saber quickly turned, striking a battle stance. Emu readied his driver, and Takeru materialised his. Then, Emu lowered his driver in confusion

The new arrivals were a group of girls dressed in police uniform, with swords on their belts. They quickly surrounded the trio. Then, the middle girl, evidently the leader, stepped forwards.

"Welcome to the New Ocean City of Cape. We are most happy to have you here, Arrival 404."

Are they like a police force?

"The mayor would like to see you. Please come with us to the Central Tower."

Emu and Takeru were wary, but suddenly Saber gave a cry of intrigue.

"Oh my!" She said, with an eager glow in her eyes. "If it isn't a bunch of good-looking girls who are just my type!"

Emu and Takeru looked at each other.

"Umm… Saber?" Emu asked.

"Yes. I like pretty boys, but I like pretty girls too! Having them around brings up the mood!"

So another element of her deviancy has come out. Truly she is a woman of no shame.

"Thank you," the captain of the police force replied.

"No, thank you!" Saber responded with even more vigour. "Pretty girls for armed forces. The mayor of your city has excellent taste."

Or he's a pervert. Emu shuddered at the idea of what sort of mayor would want a force of pretty girls.

Then again, a force like that can mentally catch their opponents off guard. I better be careful.

"This is most interesting! What do you think?" Saber continued, addressing the question at Emu and Takeru.

Takeru was the first to voice his own thoughts. "It's… an interesting recruitment choice. I wouldn't do that in the Mayor's position."

Emu agreed. "But for now, let's go with them." he suggested.

From far above them, through a telescope, the pig-tailed girl from the bottom floor watched them through binoculars on a roof.

"Aw, he went with them. What a shame. And I hadn't seen a new face in so long."

In an elevator going up the central glass tower, the police girls kept close watch on the trio. Emu was quite uncomfortable with looking at them, and so was Takeru, so they watched the city below shrink as they ascended.

As Emu watched, he noticed his reflection in the mirror. Suddenly, as the elevator passed a horizontal bar, it changed for a split second.

It was smiling.

Not Parado's confident smile, but a malicious one. And its eyes glowed purple.

And at that moment, Emu felt a headache. He shut his eyes.

When he opened them, the room was lit crimson red.

Oh no. It's happening again.

He turned around, but everyone else had gone. Saber, Takeru, the girls, everyone.

The Holy Grail War.

The reflection spoke these words to him. He turned around again.

Yes. It is where we kill each other.

Emu took a step forward and encountered something with his feet. He looked down and, to his horror, a body had materialised. A girl. The one in his dreams. Turning around, he saw more behind him, and turning back, the girl was now lost in a layer of corpses. Emu cried out in shock again.

Carve up the flesh, split open the chest, stab into the heart. It is a cruel and merciless fight. Do you have it in you?

Emu opened his eyes again. The light had returned to normal. He looked around. Saber and the others had returned and were all acting like nothing had happened.

"I'm not sure, but I don't feel like there are any humans in this city." Takeru broke the silence with this observation.

"Yes. They are probably all NPCs. In general, apart from Masters, there are no humans in SE RA PH." Saber responded.

A.I.

"Even in the lowest Stratum?" Emu asked.

"All the teachers. And most of the students."

"I see."

"Why? Did you have any friends there?"

Friends? What do you mean? The friend I thought I had literally stabbed me in the back.

Apart from Takeru, who he knew before this incident, Emu felt that he was isolated from everyone else in the Lowest Stratum. A fish out of water. A man lost in space and time.

"We have arrived at the Mayor's office."

The elevator dinged. They had reached the top level.

The floor sparked with electricity for a brief moment. Emu recoiled.

What was that?

Saber and Takeru noticed too. However, before they could begin to wonder what it was, the police girls shoved them forward through the open doors of the elevator into a hallway.

Emu took tentative steps forward as the police girls led them down the hall. Then the front most one suddenly turned right and opened a door. Emu stepped through.

They entered a large luxurious office, with two marble pillars flanking the centre where a circle of sofas were positioned. There was a desk near the red curtained windows overlooking the city. And leaning on the table, a hologram smirked, arms crossed, waiting.

It was Shinji.

You!

Anger flared up inside Emu as he remembered the knife that Shinji used to stab him in the back. He clenched his fist, ready to leap at the hologram and pound it to dust-

"Stop!" Takeru cried. Emu paused and looked back. The girls had drawn their swords and were pointing them at him. Had he taken even one step, they would have skewered him there and then.

Emu took a breath and calmed down.

"Thank you, Takeru." Emu said. He then turned to look at Shinji. "What the hell do you want, Wakame-hair?"

"Hey, that's not a nice way to greet your friend, Emu" Shinji snarked.

Emu gritted his teeth, restraining himself.

"Anyways, let's get formalities out of the way." He stretched out his arms.

"Welcome to the New Ocean City of Cape. To be honest, I didn't expect you to come up here from the bottom level. After all, the Holy Grail War and wish fulfilment are a thing of the past. I as Mayor welcome your visit."

He walked out and stood looking the Window.

"This is indeed one of the Seven levels of SE RA PH. However," he tilted his head backwards. "that is all old history."

He turned back round.

"Currently, it's a free city outside of SE RA PH's control."

"Free?" Nero exclaimed, shocked.

"A city where Masters can live freely without being forced to fight battles." He tapped some commands in the air and the room went alive with screen depicting people celebrating, relaxing and going about their daily lives. "It even has its own laws and government."

"And what of the Holy Grail War?" Emu asked.

"There's no such thing anymore!"

"And yet you're buying Servants."

Shinji shrugged.

"I'm just keeping an eye out for the seeds of battle. Efficient, no?"

Emu did not respond.

"Servants are dangerous cyber-weapons. Having one is a burden with no benefit. What people need are NPCs. They can be labourers, spouses, even family! Masters only make up a small part of the population. However, in order to provide comfortable lives for all the Masters, the NPCs as the cogs of the city make everything work!"

By now, Emu was starting to get tired of Shinji's ramblings and was waiting for Shinji to shut up. Takeru was also visibly annoyed.

"All you need to do is sign this contract." A sheet of paper materialised in Emu's hands. "This will transfer your Servant to the city government and register you as a citizen. Eternal happiness awaits you."

Emu looked at the sheet of paper in disgust. Shinji waited, his arms crossed. Takeru peered over Emu's shoulder and quickly skimmed through the text. He too didn't like what he saw.

"What happens to the Servant?" Emu asked.

Shinji thought for a moment.

"They don't go to waste, obviously. They are bound, disassembled reused efficiently as resources for the city."

Takeru and Saber were shocked.

"Then the decision is easy." Emu replied without a moment's thoughts. "I refuse."

"What?"

"I won't let you take my Servant and treat her like an object. I won't throw Saber away. Not even for eternal happiness would I sign this." He ripped the contract in two and threw the pieces on the floor.

Shinji stood still silent for a moment. Then he sighed.

"I guessed this would happen. In that case, I have no choice."

He raised his arms and typed more commands.

"Activate Firewall."

The entre office was surrounded by a red cybernetic wall. This time, Emu knew this wasn't a dream. It seems he will have to fight.

"Unfortunately, I'm going to have to eliminate you."

"Impudence!" Saber materialised her sword and prepared for combat. Suddenly, a red wall rose from the ground cutting off Saber and Takeru from Emu.

"Maestro!"

"Emu-sensei!"

Saber swung her sword and slashed the wall. But Emu had vanished, and so had the girls. All that was left was the empty office.

Shinji laughed.

"Saber! Takeru-san!"

"I interfered with both your sense of vision and bearings. You've been alone from the moment you entered this room. Your Master doesn't use any decent barriers. Oh, and Takeru, was it?"

Takeru turned.

"You can see me."

"Of course. I can see you. I have been able to see you ever since you arrived. You think you can hide behind your invisibility? You will have to be eliminated as well."

"How did you know?"

"Did you think I wouldn't notice Emu talking to himself in the classroom? I thought it was something he did, but I had to make sure, so I ran a scanning program on your group which revealed your presence."

He typed in more commands, summoning three more Servants: Darius III, Leonidas I and Fergus Mac Roich. However, they had orange patches on their skin, as if they were also deteriorating into data.

"These are some promising Servants, so I kept them around to use when necessary.. As Beserkers!"

The three Servants roared.

Takeru manifested his driver. "Saber! Return to Eyecon form now!"

"Why?"

"Let us fight together. I can't take them on myself. I'll show you the power of your new form!"

Saber paused. Then, nodding her head, she returned to her Eyecon form and flew into Takeru's hand. He pressed the side button on the Eyecon and inserted it into the Driver.

EYE!

BATCHIRIMINA! BATCHIRIMINA!

As the driver repeated its standby loop, the parka-like form that Saber took when Takeru first converted her body to Eyecon form emerged from the driver. It spun around and posed. Takeru pulled the lever on the side of the driver and activated the transformation. Shinji remained still, curiously watching the sequence.

KAIGAN! SABER!

WIELDER OF THE HEROES' BLADE! LET HER TAKE THE STAGE!

Takeru's form changed to his Transient form. Its face was a blank slate, awaiting the Damashii to gain its Persona. On the chest, the outline of the Ghost insignia glowed etched beneath a plastic-like shell, with glowing orange lines surrounding it in a pattern. The Damashii landed on Takeru, wrapping itself around him like he was putting on a coat. The persona flipped upward onto the blank slate on the form's face, replacing it with the design of the simplified theatre on the Eyecon, giving the Rider a design like a face. The parka was designed like a version of Saber's dress, divided along the front to more resemble a coat.

Takeru had become Kamen Rider Ghost: Red Saber Damashii.

"Can you hear me, Saber?" Takeru asked.

"Umu. I can hear you. Our souls are now connected. I shall give you my expertise. We will fight together."

And Takeru's mind flooded with Saber's knowledge of sword-fighting. It was different to Musashi's, but still very advanced. Takeru materialised Saber's sword and took a stance, similar to the one that Saber would usually take.

"Three against one…" Saber said in Takeru's head.

Shinji inputted commands and the Berserkers charged. With a battle cry from Takeru and Saber, they charged forward.

Fergus swung his drill sword. Takeru saw the strike incoming and quickly deflected it with his own sword. Leonidas thrusted forward with his spear, and Takeru dodged it, running to the side towards Darius. Darius swung his axes down, breaking the floor beneath Ghost. He leapt backwards before they could hit him and backflipped through the air to avoid Darius's second axe swings.

"Maestro!" Saber's voice rung out from the Damashii. "Don't you dare die" They landed on the table and narrowly dodged Fergus's sword. "Before I make it to you!"

On the other side of the wall, Emu was confronted with the police girls.

"It's time for you to die." The leader said, and the girls drew their swords.

Emu drew his Gamer Driver equipped it. He then took out his Mighty Action X gashat.

"Resisting, are you? Well then, we will make your death ten times more painful!"

A familiar wind blew past Emu's face. He smiled. After the horrible sensation of the voices in his head, it was nice to feel a familiar sensation. Genius Gamer M had returned.

"Just try. I'm going to clear this game with no more continues!"

He activated the gashat.

MIGHTY ACTION X!

The game screen appeared behind Emu, and wooden blocks flew out of it, landing in various places around the room. Emu swung the Gashat to his left.

"Henshin!"

He then slotted the Gashat into the driver and opened the lever.

GASHATTO!

GACHAN! LEVEL UP!

MIGHTY JUMP! MIGHTY KICK! MIGHTY MIGHTY ACTION X!

A screen appeared from the front of the Driver depicting Emu's rider form while the character select ring circled around Emu's face. Emu selected his one and the screen moved backwards into Emu. When it passed through Emu, armour parts flew from Emu's body as the Ex-Aid Rider suit formed around him.

Emu had become Kamen Rider Ex-Aid Action Gamer Level 2.

Summoning his Gashacon Breaker in hammer mode, he prepared to fight. The police girls charged, and Emu did the same.

Emu was no slouch in terms of swordsmanship, but the girls moved extremely quickly. Their swords clashed against his again and again as Emu desperately tried to deflect their stabs and slashes. They were not like Bugster mooks at all.

Something's off. Emu thought. He was not fighting at his best. The girls' movements were too fast for him; He couldn't keep up. He was already surrounded, and when he tried to break the circle, the girls, as if controlled by a single entity, blocked his exit and kept him trapped. His arms and legs responded slower to his thoughts.

What happened. Did Shinji do something or…?

Too weak!

And then he realised. He was holding back. The girls looked human. He wasn't accustomed to killing humans as a Rider. All he had experience dealing with were other Riders or Bugsters. Never a person.

Come on, come on, fight!

But he couldn't. His instincts were holding him back, as if it were screaming "Don't hurt them!". He wasn't using enough force in his strikes, and he was mainly fighting defensively.

Dammit, why?

One of the girls found an opening and struck Emu's back. He cried out in pain. Another girl took that opportunity and stabbed him in the front. Both simultaneously held him with their swords while the others slashed him again and again, reducing his health bar until finally, the armour gave way and Emu dehenshined.

Emu fell to his knees, weakened by the pain.

Too weak!

"All together now!" the leader said, and they all stepped forwards and stabbed him in the chest. Blood poured out of his wounds. Emu spat out more blood.

"If you don't want to live in peace, then die! Die die die!"

Those words. Those were Shinji's. The last time I died.

Emu looked down. His hands and coat were covered in blood. Like in the nightmare. Only this time, it was real again.

You're too weak. Your humanity weakens you

The voices in Emu's head intensified.

Humanity killed us. You're not strong enough. We need to be stronger. We shall become stronger.

The corpses reappeared.

We will not die again. We will not stop fighting. Not until our hatred is fulfilled.

He grabbed the swords stuck in him and, one by one, pulled them out. The pain didn't matter to them.

The police girls looked at Emu in shock.

He slowly got up. Inhumanly, like a puppet lifted by strings, electricity sparking around him. His eyes were closed.

"Thank you. You have made us understand."

The girls took a step backwards, a look of fear in their eyes.

"You are telling us to die, right? Well, we can't. Because we…"

He opened his eyes. They were glowing dark purple once again.

"…are already dead."

The blank Gashat in Emu's coat pocket shot out into Emu's hands. The electricity intensified around the gashat and surrounded it. The label flashed, and a new label appeared. It had a design of a person with a chainsaw and a mask on it surrounded by zombies. He activated the Gashat.

DANGEROUS ZOMBIE!

The Dangerous Zombie screen appeared behind Emu. He closed the lever and slammed the new Gashat into the empty slot. Then, he opened it. A black aura began to emerge from the driver. The two screens of Mighty Action X and Dangerous Zombie shot out from the driver and backed into Emu. He jerked backwards as his body glitched, then the aura and electricity exploded from Emu, causing the girls to fly backwards.

DANGER! DANGER!

DEATH THE CRISIS! DANGEROUS ZOMBIE!

A gloved hand cut through the aura, dispersing it. Where Emu once stood now was a white and black demonic-looking armoured figure, his mask cracked on one side, and his eyes glowing menacingly.

Emu had now become Zombie Action Gamer Level X-2.

From afar, the twintailed girl recoiled from her binoculars. She couldn't believe her eyes.

"Deadface…"