Chapter 17: Shards of Steel

Yuya Mirokuji's feet clacked along the dark silent road. Ever since Selesia's boyfriend managed to kidnap their God, someone needed to keep the Gods safe. The old woman had arranged for bodyguards but it was agreed that one of the heroes need to be around in case anything happened. Yuya and Rui had the worst stroke of luck to be stuck on the job. I should be the one out there kicking ass.

Sitting inside the apartment room was boring. Gods were having naps, exhausted from their work. Bodyguards didn't want to play cards with him. What's a man like him who lived on excitement got to do? Maybe a smoke would do some good. A finger reached into the pack to find it nearly crumpled. One stick left, that wont' do. He ought to get a new pack. Perhaps some beer in the process, two birds in one stone.

The nearest store would be across the block. Hangaku was back in hand. There wasn't anything he can't handle. He was Yuya Mirokuji, the Last Boss. The title given by God are never downplayed.

Reading about your life in paper was refreshing though. It's like keeping your own diary and you don't even need to put effort into it. He didn't bother to read up on the other stuff that didn't involve him, invasion of privacy after all. He may be an antagonist but that kind of stuff isn't his deal especially when a lot of it related to Sho. Yuya missed him.

Yuya popped a stick into his mouth as the vending machine responded to his cues. A silver can dropped into the bin for collection. Finally, some Asahi and it'll be good. Maybe he ought to catch up on the next chapter to where he was supposed to appear. It might be fun to see what others have thought about it.

Yuya didn't get the chance to light the cig. "Yo. I heard you've been doing very well." A familiar voice in his ear. That shouldn't be here. He whipped over his shoulder to see the very suspicions vindicated

Yuya spread his arms wide. "Sho? To think you got here and didn't find me all this time. How long have you been here?" His friend, was finally here.

Sho reached for the trio of red metal sticks at his waist. "I finally caught up to you." Flicking them locked the parts into an extended staff. "Time for you to die."

Battle instincts pulled him away from the swipe for his skull. Yuya grabbed his sword and parried the next blow. "Oi, oi. What the hell?"

Sho continued to attack without answer. Yuya stepped back as the strike crumpled the sides of the vending machine. "Can you spare a moment to listen to me?" Sword met staff, holding each other in place. "Seriously, can you just listen to me?"

"If you're willing to offer your life, then sure, I'll listen to you in your dying breath."

Yuya ground his jaw. "That's a rough way to go about it." Warning signs rang in his head. Reflective plastic panels on the machine glinted red. He backed away as his opponent said.

"Bayard." Red spikes shot out from the sheen. Most of it caught out of range, several others in a grouped cluster for him.

"Hangaku." His partner appeared, blocking off the remainder. The spikes disappeared as Hangaku stood guard. He turned back towards Sho. "What if I told you that what you've learnt so far is a lie?"

"No way in hell." Spikes shot from the side, drawing Hangaku's attention. Yuya kept steady as Sho charged forward. Their weapons met into deadlock. "You're just going to lie, just like that other day."

"That wasn't my fault. How long have you been here anyway?" No answer. "If you're not going to listen from me, then who will be answering the questions you have? About why everything happened and et cetera."

"I don't need answers. All I need is your dead body."

"That's totally not happening." Yuya shook his head, shoving back to build distance between them. Bayard revealed itself on a charge right for him. The red armoured centaur carrying the lance. Hangaku interjected in between, meeting the charge head on.

Yuya stepped aside to avoid the flying masses of astrals shooting past. "That hotheadedness of yours, now it's annoying." Yuya glanced around, tapping the speed dial on the phone in his pocket. "If you'd just listen to me and hold still, I can bring our God over here to clear things out. Right here, right now."

Sho shook his head before spinning the staff in a twirl. "Sorry Yuya. I can't let you do that. You'd bring all your friends here after all. It'd be that obvious." Sword met staff before Sho split the weapon into three pieces. Yuya stepped back as he weaved parries against the rain of the nunchaku from all directions.

"You're really letting your anger drive you all the way up the wall."

"Revenge is the only thing I have left, after everything you've done."

Yuya narrowed his eyes. "What, did, I, do?" The answer was renewed fury. Hard pressed, the final boss stepped back for wiggle room as the red astral vanished from Hangaku's shared perception.

"Bayard." From above.

"Hangaku." Both Astrals met, shattering the lamp post above into sparks as the street turned a shade darker.

Sho glanced overhead before clicking his tongue. "Your friends come to rescue you." Bayard vanished as Sho pointed the staff towards Yuya. "Prepare yourself Yuya. The Reaper will come and reap what it sowed." A leap before disappearing behind the corner.

Yuya didn't bother to pursue as fabric flapped behind him. She landed in front of him in a red flashy dress. "Hoshikawa? What the hell are you wearing?"

Hoshikawa turned around, trying to flatten down the hems of her dress. "It's totally not my thing!" Those clothes are totally something worth looking at. Her face were just as matching to her garb. Quite a cutie if it wasn't for bad timing.

Shaking misleading thoughts aside, Yuya went back to the problem. "Are the Gods safe?"

Kanoya answered from behind. "Safe for the time being. Meteora's checking to be sure no one else is nearby. You guys made quite a racket." Kanoya in his pilot jumpsuit dropped down onto the pavement. "So, who's that?"

Yuya clicked his tongue. "Someone who was supposed to be my friend. To think he'd actually be here and raising more questions than I can answer."

Yuya bashed the door aside. Eyes turned towards him but it didn't matter. His god, Yatoji was standing by the table in the living room, getting a cup of coffee. Yuya stepped next to him before jabbing a finger into the man's gut. "You, tell me what's going on."

God's eyes widened with an open mouth as the jab nearly sent him sprawling. Matsubara stepped up beside him. "Woah, calm down. What's going on?"

Yuya kept his glance on Yatoji. "I knew the redheads were after me. But, why, is, Sho, after, me?"

The other Gods blinked. Nakanogane said as they begun to realise the topic. "Didn't you read your story?"

"Me? No way. That'd make things boring if you know exactly what'd happened."

"Then how did you know you were the last boss?" Matsubara asked.

"Didn't have a choice on that part when signboards are marketing the very fact."

Yatoji raised a brow. "That's your problem then. All the reasons are already there."

Hangaku appeared and lifted the man. Yuya stared eye to eye with the man. "I want to hear everything from the horse's mouth. So are you going to tell me the answer or do I need to break a few bones in the process?"

Gai Takarada answered from the table to his right. "Sho Hakua, the main character of your story is finding you for revenge."

Yuya snapped his neck towards Alicetaria's God. "Revenge? What about that? I didn't do nothing."

"Yeah. The story goes that you were a murderer of his precious friends."

Yatoji nodded before pointing towards him. "You are technically the antagonist. In fact that's the entire premise of the story. Hence, the Last boss."

Yuya shook his head. "Oi, oi. This is not funny. What kind of joke are you pulling off?" His best friend is now on a quest to kill him? Their eyes did not betray them. "That sounds like me being framed." Yuya felt his voice turn like gravel. "I'm not taking that kind of stuff lightly."

"Despite how much you may think about it, it is what it is. Trying to deny it will not help the situation," Suruga said.

Yuya clicked his tongue before stepping away. "To think that he was after me for some fun. What a waste."

Matsubara turned towards his colleague. "Yatoji, what kind of relationship are they supposed to have eventually?"

"That's for me to know." Yatoji's eyes remained unmoving. The man shifted his shoulders before answering. "It's part of the later arc of the plot where the real villain was revealed."

Yuya perked up. "Real villain? Now that's something I'd like to hear."

Meteora strode out into the room and asked. "Can we put this information to good use like putting it into the story?"

Yatoji rubbed his chin. "No. Its not meant to be out for at least another eight volumes yet. That would be far too early."

"How long is this eight volumes?"

"Give or take about six months."

Tough luck for Sho to be hunting him for a long time. Even if the guy's up to kill him, no way in Hell Yuya is going to kick the bucket without a fight.

Matsubara rubbed his chin. "You're right. Changing the information now doesn't mean that he would know about it. I believe the current Selesia was based on the animation adaptation. It'll be the same case for Kanoya, they won't know what happened up to the latest arc of the novels."

"The answer's simple." Yuya gave a pat on Yatoji's shoulder. "Whenever he comes around, I'll get this guy to spill the beans."

"I have a feeling things wouldn't be that easy." Matsubara shook his head.

"Nevertheless, it's the best solution. Going around the bush would only lead to more misunderstandings. I have enough of those spinning about now," Yuya said.

"Mirokuji has a point. There is no point in trying to subvert the problem using indirect means. However we must ensure that they aren't interrupted during that point of time," Suruga suggested.

Yatoji murmured silent words before nodding. "That could work."

Matsubara gave a thumbs up. "We'll do our part to get him on our side." The others were on similar note.

"Thanks. Drinks will be on me when we show him the truth." I can finally have my friend together in this world. It's been far, far too long.

"I have to get the orders checked out."

Emiya watched the computer establishing the data transfer while saying. "Right. Any good news Major?"

"Good news, we're getting better at finding Altair's men. Bad, is that we're getting our asses pounded just as fast."

Emiya grabbed a cup of tea. "How bad?"

"Four teams down. Thankfully, not killed but out of the fight."

His lips still felt dry. "Fortunate to survive. Who have you been fighting against?"

Display screens flickered from the updates. Just as the Major said, things were bad. Half of the available strike teams were incapacitated. Three quarters of the drones were wiped out. While more powerful assets remained available, they weren't to be used blatantly.

"Mostly Blitz, somehow he's caught always at the weirdest moments. The knight princess was an occasion but she usually slips away faster than we can call you guys in. We stayed away from the rest as advised."

And nothing to show for. Emiya didn't like the process. Twenty seconds to get the call in. Five minutes afterwards to reach the battlefield before the prey escaped. Overtly optimistic estimation. Siegfried and he were the fastest of the group but they always had warning somehow. This in spite of using Meteora's experimental spells to cloak the drones.

While Emiya could support the fight from long range, there wasn't an effective way to keep Blitz from just making a blitz for it. That included showing the entire city of Tokyo a red cloud light show. Bad for government health.

"Any signs of the Mecha pilot Charon?" Alter and Altair were too dangerous to be dealt with by the JSDF at present time.

"Whatever his machine is packing, it has good ECM tech. My operators can't differentiate between him and a flock of birds before he goes back to ground." Major's word probably have some truth to it. He'd gave a rough glance of the equipment before. Not anywhere close to a specialist but he learnt to get a general feel about them as part of assessing their threat towards his abilities.

Emiya filled a new cup of tea. "Likewise, my observation points hasn't picked up anything yet. Send me your data and I'll see to setup somewhere closer."

Scribbles through the phone call. "Got it. I'd let you know that Command isn't taking the results well so far." Wouldn't be far from the truth having suffered such losses.

"It is to be expected. Fighting insurgents are always troublesome." They weren't easy to get rid of even when cards were stacked in his favour. He'd count on benefiting from the secondary effects first than outright killing off Blitz or Alicetaria.

"Yeah, the Middle East are having a field day on that." This man understood. Asymmetrical warfare needed different approaches to handle them. "Likewise, police struggling to keep the public in order. Parliament demanding this problem to be solved two months ago, what's not to love?"

"End of the world."

A crack of laugh. "Not far from the truth." Major's voice lowered to a rumble. "Intelligence are also picking up interesting reports. We may not be the only nations involved."

Emiya didn't like the news. "Which countries are we talking about?"

"Biggest contenders. USA, Europe, China, Russia. Maybe more."

"That's a problem. How much of an impact are they having on the world?" How much of reality's destruction are related to Altair? How much otherwise? Possible recruitment options or more enemies to handle. What are their options to deal with them?

"Unsure. Intelligence is trying to get the actual meteorology reports from the respective nations but fast and discreet don't mix. All I'm hearing is hearsay from the various combat ops groups."

"We have our hands full as it is." He and Mirokuji would rotate out with Siegfried and Selesia tomorrow. It limited his time here in this impromptu command chamber. "Although, keep me updated on that."

"I'd love to discuss it when I have the data. Same time tomorrow?"

"Let's shift tomorrow's check in to dawn." Best time to get the preliminary information out before patrolling in the field. Several more confirmations and the call was ended.

Emiya leaned back against the chair and watched the blinking displays. More questions had turned up mind, many of them bad.

Are these new Creations happening naturally or by Altair?

How many of these Creations are appearing by the day?

Who can be trusted and whom cannot?

How much time did they have left?

For all those other possible creations…

Who's commanding them?

Daichi stepped through the door, anime music entering his ears. A young maid greeted him as he glanced around and found his target. Waving her off, he walked over towards the table and took a seat. "Not making anymore trouble aren't you?"

Kazuko Minamori, laid back on the chair threw back a smile. "No bro, we're fine and squared away."

Daichi raised a brow. "Since when have you been working for us? This sounds too suspicious to begin with."

"I'm bored being stuck inside a cell so I made a deal." Kazuko lifted his wrist, revealing a tracker. "In retrospect, it may not be much but it beats being stuck in a cell."

"I see. So why are we here?"

Kazuko placed a flash drive onto the table across him. "For now, here's some news for you. I have managed to find some interesting facts that can be useful. The Director and Major already have a copy, this is for you."

Daichi pocketed the drive. "Thanks, I'll take a look at it later. What's it about?"

"Altair, nothing worth killing people for. I heard you're together with Shizuka now."

"Yeah. We're in a relationship." He scratched his cheek. Things have been rather interesting. She had put off with digging into the situation. In return though, some concessions had to be made.

Kazuko chuckled. "Speaking of which, you do look in much better shape."

Daichi lifted his arm. "I had a good teacher." Dodging attacks from a Heroic Spirit and enduring those that hit had rugged him out. Sink or swim situation forced onto him to survive.

Kazuko glanced around before saying. "I've heard what happened so far and it pains me to hear it. If only things would be much easier alas heroes always work something out despite any challenge."

"Yeah, slippery as eels. At the way things are going, it looks like it'll be Plan B after all."

"That means you'll need to be always vigilant. Is he here?"

"Saber's somewhere within reach." The hero was busy looking at some books across the street. "I hope that we can finish things before it comes to it. Once the festival begins, it'll be an all in effort."

"Hope is the leading road towards disappointment." Kazuko's eyes wandered deep into his thoughts. "A battle royale between heroes of different worlds for the world we live in. Sounds rather cliched but facts do not lie." He smiled. "We do so much but in the spite of it all, we depend on fictional characters to save us."

"That's right." Daichi shook his head. "If we told any of our friends, they'd make us a laughing stock."

Kazuko snorted. "This entire thing is complete nonsense, breaking rules of science by the dozens, cheesy with all its ideas. It shouldn't exist but its happening." He reached into his pocket before displaying the ticket. "Kikuchihara had sent me a ticket for the show. Are you going to watch the final fight?"

Daichi raised a brow. "How did you get this before I did?"

"Right place at the right time."

Daichi studied the ticket. Clearly a sample. Still, not bad. A simple diamond logo with the name, Elimination Chamber Festival printed on a blue band. "I don't know if I can watch it from a chair. Fate of the world after all."

Kazuko nodded. "The world will be watching, unaware of the stakes. That'll make all the players in the game excited for it. Unfortunately there's nothing we can do but watch the heroes decide the fate of our world."

"We'll see about that."

Daichi closed his eyes. System Start. Magic Circuit hummed as od flowed along the nerves and across the body. Guiding it along different parts of the body took days of dedicated practice before the next step. Reaching into the nooks and crannies, he guided it to take hold and form. Skin hardened, muscle stretched, bones condensed. Reinforcement complete. He was getting proficient at it. The positives he seen thus far had only been fewer bruises formed and flying into walls far less painful.

"Are you ready?" Siegfried's voice pulled his attention away from within. The Circuit quieted in response. They were at the Dojo. Afternoon was starting to set.

Daichi answered as he made a short hop, far exceeding expectations. "Tell me Siegfried, do I have a chance? Of actually helping more than just this?"

Siegfried approached him. A hard pat on the shoulder. "Everyone has a chance. As I once said, you have your role to play. Excel in it and it will be more than enough."

Daichi minded himself to keep the spell on. "My skills are still horrible in the big picture. These Circuits can barely give you enough. Time's clocking down before we have to fight in the Elimination Chamber." The worry was choking into him. "Can we continue further practice later until tonight?"

Siegfried retrieved a boken to the rack. "Your worries are not unfounded. However, they are just that. Uncontrolled worries and fear that lead to ruin. Meantime, there is a time to prepare and to rest. Constantly pushing yourself will pay a price at the worst moment possible." Siegfried paused before adding. "Sorry Master. I have overstepped my bounds."

Daichi tried to dismiss the sting with a hand. "It's alright. It was a sensible thing to ask. You are far wiser than I am."

"I'm given the years to understand them. However, you have the benefits of knowledge in this world far greater than anyone in my time. Knowledge is a virtue and so are hierarchies that need to be respected."

"Hierarchies huh. Well, I do understand that our relationship by the Holy Grail is set as such." Daichi squeezed a fist close to his chest. "Even so, it wouldn't be such a fair thing. I'd prefer to think that we are partners."

Siegfried paused in thought. "Partners. I'd like that."

Daichi stretched his arms. "Meantime, I can't afford to let you or the others down. I am your weakest link Siegfried and I won't condemn you by getting myself killed by stupid mistakes."

"I understand that the risks for such things was high in the past. However now with the plans Archer and Meteora is implementing, it should be safe for you."

"Not yet. Not until the winning moment. Let's make sure of that." Daichi stood up. "Come let's begin. If we're fast enough, we might be able to join the others for dinner." Magic Circuits primed to his call, a slow cool rev of prana.

"Very well." Siegfried tossed a boken towards him. "Prepare yourself, partner."

What a sorry lot. Blitz Talker stared at the group. The young boy was dozing off at the wall. The knight doing her own thing outside, a frequent occurrence. The other two, he didn't want a headache from them.

Robot guy was sitting on the new benches they've scavenged. Bits of comfort now and then. Cold red eyes staring off somewhere inside dreamland. "Hey." Blitz tossed a bottle of beer to the pilot. "Sitting alone isn't going to make things better."

Charon caught the bottle before opening it. "Thanks."

"You're at least someone who talks. The first guy's just staring at his own world or something. As for the other, I don't even dare getting close."

"Like a bear chained to a pole." Sho said from the other end of the room.

Charon turned towards the young man. "What's your reason to be in this world?"

"I'm looking for Yuya Mirokuji, the one who killed my sister and best friend. I will get him no matter what."

Blitz gave his. "Find my God. Have a nice talk. I've heard you wanted to change your world."

"That's right. I have to change it to save everyone before more people get hurt."

"A hero trying to save everyone? That's a bit far fetched isn't it?"

"Yeah. That's why I'm here old man. The Avalon Brigade had been pushing us hard into a full stalemate. People are dying while the war isn't ending." Charon raised a hand before his eyes and tightened it. "If there's a chance that Revision can change my world, I'm going to take it."

Blitz took a sip."Why do you want to change your world? Even if the world is changed now, it might not matter in the future when you return."

"If that God turns things again for the worse, I'll just come back here and give him a piece of my mind."

"Assuming we can come back. Still, an optimistic mind goes a long way."

Sho hummed. "That's a shortcut way of fixing everything though."

Charon scowled in response. "It might sound dishonourable but do you think fighting is fun? When you see the destruction caused so far, it's not a game." A sigh. "I'm done with fighting."

Blitz tossed the empty bottle to the growing pile. "I can empathise with that. Your reasons are your to begin with. This world of Gods is the key for us to achieve it."

Charon paused before letting off a frustrated sigh. "You're right. Let's just work together with the Princess to make sure we get it."

A rumble in the background. Charon raised the question everyone hated. "Who's turn is it to deal with him?"

Sho leaned against the wall with a sigh. "Not me. I've already done it the last time. Man, that was a pain. That guy would've killed me if he wasn't chained up like that."

Charon stood up. "I need to perform some repairs before I can chip in."

Blitz shook his head and rose to his aching feet. "It's up to the old man again. How the youth have fallen."

Sho pointed at the other side of the building. "Why not ask the knight or the other guy? I mean he's doing nothing else but staring at the stars and mumbling prayers."

"I would love that. Include a jacuzzi with beer and I'm sold. However you don't mix two madmen together." Blitz waved as he walked out. "You two owe me a beer."

Emiya felt the branches crack under his boots. Deep inside the forests of Aikawa, there would be no distractions. Reaching an open plain guarded by groups of trees. He closed his eyes and felt the world surrounding him.

Trees waving their leaves in the winds. Insects crawling across the roots. Small nests for the swallows and the predators that seek them. There was no danger for there was a Guardian.

Emiya opened his eyes and summoned. Kanshou and Bakuya answered the call as he spun. Techniques born from years of battle came to life. Body moved like clockwork, refined across countless decades.

Invisible enemies died to each stroke. Slash and stabs that struck the air and scratch the ground. Each blow avoiding the boundary of trees that circled him.

Spirit and technique, flawless and firm.

Kanshou and Bakuya OverEdged into their long reach, deflecting an imaginary arrow behind. Turning around, arms and leg spun, following the chords of the battle.

I am the bone of my sword.

The archer dived into Unlimited Blade Works. Body continued to work as his mind searched through history. Standing atop the hill of swords, a vast abyss beneath the gears of the world.

Countless Noble Phantasms awaited him. Each carried the weight of their heroes and legends. Their manufacturing, excellence, history and techniques bound within to be used.

Emiya jumped, the twin blades fading away. Black Keys struck the shadows of the trees. Steel is my body and fire is my blood. The red spear of Cu Chulainn spun along his hands. A long sweep of Gae Bolg before more swords appeared in the air around him.

I have created over a thousand blades. Each weapon was projected in turn, brought form to life. More lined up to enter the firing chamber. Memories of their use came mind, those earned by others.

Unknown to Death. Nor known to life.

They fired, digging deep into the soil. A barrage of swords as Emiya tossed the spear through the heart of the tree. The unfortunate tree snapped into half as new blades called for attention. Blades he could not recall seeing yet they are here.

Selecting the next contender, a white blade with red streaks. It unfolded along its side, unveiling true power beneath it. A slash of the sword, burning black streaks to create small fires. Emiya tossed the blade up, letting Clarent deliver its spark of rage into the sky.

Have withstood pain to create many weapons. Clarent faded as the Rapier of the White Knight filled his hands. A spin of the metal before stabbing it into the ground. Lily flowers burst from the ground before blooming in full. Experience from the Chevalier of France entered his Circuits, making the small slashes of a weapon unsuited onto a tree a work of art.

Yet those hands will not hold anything. A flip of the sword, vanishing in midair. Sleek elegance replaced by brute strength. Nine Lives, the hulking sword of a demigod filled his hand. A swing of the sword blasted winds within its wake. The lilies eased to a stop as the wind calmed down. Countless swords still waited within the hill of Blades. Each weapon stood ready to be used. Truly it was just as its namesake, a world of unlimited blades.

So as I pray. Emiya stopped. A gaze to the left, lowering the behemoth of stone. "Was it necessary for you to be here? Siegfried."

Servant Saber appeared from the astral realm. "I am here on my Masters orders. I will do nothing but ensure you have help if it comes to it."

Emiya dismissed his projections. "I don't need it."

Siegfried observed the scars along the ground. "Yes you do not. Just 'insurance' against the danger of this Altair. I understand that she is clairvoyant. That she can know exactly where we are and our actions."

"It doesn't matter that she knows this. We will beat her just the same."

"That I agree, Archer. Would you like to continue?"

Emiya turned towards the exit of the forest. "It's enough. I have what I need."

Author's Notes: Good day and thank you for reading Beyond Worlds.

Now I managed to close off Kazuko. Originally, I wanted to include him and Shizuka as supporting characters but given reviews and likewise more retrospection, there wasn't much space to work with unless I want to add a lot more chapters to the story.

Emiya on his way towards the route of Gar. What lies ahead for him? A whole lot more.

Regards

MarksmanKNG