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Chapter 10
It was inevitable to encounter roadblocks in life. It was what one did with them that mattered. Some viewed the obstacles as tests of their character. Often believing that they could overcome any difficulty presented. The more spiritually inclined saw such moments as a chance to draw strength from their faith. They relied on the assurance that the burden wasn't too heavy to bear.
Darkness, though spiritual, often felt herself a positive enough person and that she could endure any hardship through strength of will alone. She found herself re-evaluating those beliefs.
"Shirou!"
Darkness stood at the edge of an abyss that seemed to go on forever, and a solid wall of black rock was steadily moving closer. She put her hands on her hips and surveyed the hallway, feeling a sinking dread in her stomach. She felt clueless about how they were going to get out of this one—it seemed like sheer willpower would not be enough.
"It's useless. Shirou will never hear us. These walls are too thick!" Megumin said. Sweat beaded on her brow and rolled into her eyes. Darkness's eye stung sympathetically. "We need to do something."
Darkness was open to suggestions. "Wait, maybe there's something in your pack that can help us."
Megumin's face lit up with joy as she unburdened herself, skillfully slipping the coarse straps from her shoulders. The weighty load, no longer pressing against her back, descended with a resounding thud, echoing through the air. "So much better."
Darkness ignored her and hurried to empty the bag. She slung it up and held it upside down without an inkling of strain. The contents spilled forth in a graceful cascade.
"Stupid jocks," Megumin said, voice almost lost in the avalanche of stuff pouring from leathery confines.
Both girls knelt and pawed through the pile. They paused, glanced at each other, looked back down, and sat back. A shared moment of recognition passed between them, unspoken understanding mirrored in their glances. Their gazes returned to the pile, lingering momentarily on a treasure of particular significance.
"Uh. Darkness, are you seeing this? Do you think Shirou knew something like this would happen?"
"I should never have doubted Shirou, such wisdom and forethought!"
Darkness, lost in jubilant thoughts, almost missed Megumin picking up a package, its name printed in blocky white letters:
Portable Bridge
"... I didn't even know they made these," Megumin said, reading the instruction. "Let's see, keep away from children, don't open indoors, may compromise fertility, blah blah blah. Why can't instruction even get to the point?"
Darkness nodded, though felt some concern about the last bit Megumin read. After all, she found herself more and more certain of her desires concerning a particular redhead with a penchant for swords.
"Darkness!" Megumin said, snapping Darkness out of her fantasies. "Pack everything, hurry!"
Time slipped through their fingers like grains of sand, an elusive commodity they couldn't afford to squander. However, Darkness now knew the bags' value, so didn't complain.
Megumin moved to stand at the pit's edge, while Darkness worked. She paused for a moment, holding up an item, a crinkle forming between her eyes. Why would Shirou pack a bright yellow rubber duck?
"Let's hope this works." Megumin said. With a swift, decisive motion, her fingers tore the cord, triggering a surge of arcane energy. A kaleidoscope of mesmerizing colors swirled and danced in the air, a spectacle of mystical forces at play. As if summoned by an otherworldly command, a flurry of objects materialized before her very eyes. Wood planks levitated with an ethereal grace, interweaving and forming intricate structures with astonishing speed. Thick lengths of rope slithered through the air, weaving themselves into knots of remarkable precision. Carpentry tools whizzed and whirred, aligning themselves with uncanny accuracy. It was a mesmerizing symphony of creation. Seconds later, a comfortable bridge stood.
"Hurry, Megumin!"
She didn't need further encouragement. Megumin and Darkness crossed the bridge at a sprint, the hardy boards having no problem supporting their weight.
"Phew." Megumin panted, excitement and effort stealing her breath.
"That worked — "Megumin stopped as before her eyes the bridge began disintegrating. "Well?"
She looked at the instruction still clenched in her hand, scrutinizing them for a moment.
"Huh, one use only... How stupid! Who wants a one-way bridge?"
Darkness looked over Megumin's shoulder as the bridge collapsed with a clatter.
"The Crimson Demons? Isn't that their seal?"
Indeed, printed on the paper, the red-eye denoting a crimson demon product stood out.
"So... Let keep moving, gotta find Shirou and save Kazuma." Megumin hurried off, tossing the instruction over her shoulder.
Darkness hoisted the pack higher and followed.
"Be careful Megumin, we don't want to set off more traps —,"
Shink.
"Whoa!"
Megumin ducked just in time to save her head, but not her hat. She scrambled back, squeaking as more blades swung down from above and licked out from the walls.
"I hope Shirou and Aqua are having an easier time."
"Ahhh, so cute!" Aqua picked up a fox kit and nuzzled its soft fur. "What are you doing in a scary maze? It's not safe."
Aqua, after escaping the dreaded cold, found herself lost and panicking. Until the little fox came along.
It swatted her nose.
She giggled.
"Well, I'm still trapped and lost, but at least you're an adorable animal instead of those scary monsters. Imma name you Charlie."
The fox, Charlie, yipped his white-tipped tail wagging. Aqua squeed, unable to contain herself until Charlie wiggled.
"You want down?"
Charlie nodded.
Aqua carefully placed Charlie on the ground and watched in awe as he cleaned himself. His thick fur was so soft that she couldn't help but reach out and stroke his back, causing him to pause momentarily before continuing with his grooming. As she petted him, Aqua's face lit up with joy. So distracted by Charlie's soft fur, she didn't question that he understood her.
After a time, Charlie stretched like a cat and let out a mighty yawn. With a shake, he skipped away from Aqua's tickling fingers before turning and cocking his head.
"Ahhh, do you want me to follow you?"
Charlie shook his head, and to Aqua's trepidation, seemed to grin. Ok, understanding language, why not? But smiling was weird. It screamed mischief, and not the adorable kind.
Aqua forced a laugh as she stood.
"Well, where's the time gone?." She held up her wrist, showing a nonexistent watch. "I better go. My friends are looking for me and I don't want to worry them."
Aqua stepped back. Charlie followed, tilting his head, smile growing wider.
Aqua's body tensed, and a small, frightened whimper slipped from her throat. She stared with wide eyes as Charlie melted away into nothing, like someone had erased him from existence. Aqua's heart thudded in her chest as fear coursed through her veins — it must have been a monster, and now she was alone with it. Her breath came in quick pants as her gaze darted around frantically, searching for something to protect her.
Aqua paused and realized something. She was a goddess, dammit! A fox shouldn't terrify her.
"Y-yeah, you better run away. I'm a goddess, you hear! Not some lowly adventurer, so you can't scare me."
Despite Aqua's bravado, she continued looking around, and in a moment of intelligence, placed her back against the wall. The corridor looked empty. Could it have run off? More time passed and Aqua began relaxing. It must have run, probably cause it knew no fox could defeat the great goddess Aqua!
Aqua became so distracted congratulating herself for her courage, she never noticed the smile growing above her head. At least, not until she felt something wet, not like rain, plop into her hair. It felt thick and viscous, inching its way down until it dribbled onto her shoulder.
Lips trembling, Aqua slowly turned and looked up. There, clinging to the wall above her, was Charlie. A terrifying smile still spit his face. That smile grew wider as Aqua shook, so wide its face actually split, leaving a gaping maw big enough to swallow her entire head.
With a loud, piercing scream, Aqua fled. However, even sprinting and shrieking, Aqua heard laughing, demented, and high pitched accompanied by the patter of little paws.
"Shirou! Kazuma! Darkness! Anybody!" Aqua sobbed, her fright overwhelming her. Her arms pumped hard, and she skittered around a corner and slid to a stop. Deadend!
'No, this can't be happening. Some random monster can't eat me!' Aqua thought, whirling around to just as Charlie appeared.
Ravenous. That's the word Aqua thought of looking at the dripping maw, the terrifying giggles sending sharp shivers down her spine.
"N-n-nice fox. You don't want to hurt me, right?" Aqua said. She tried forcing a smile. Animals can read expressions, right? Maybe it would see her as nonthreatening and leave her alone. It stepped forward, drool trailing behind its wagging tail.
Aqua whimpered and pushed herself back, fat tears descending her cheeks. 'Damn Kazuma! This is all his fault. Since he brought me here, a giant slug ran me over. Rabbits violated me, two army killer monsters chased me and I've been broke the entire time!'
Aqua panted, working herself into a frenzy, thinking of all the horrible things that happened to her during the last month. 'If I hadn't recruited Shirou, we'd be dead. Dead! But I'm a goddess dammit! I deserve more than survival. I deserve finery, pampering, luxury!'
Aqua's fury was like an inferno, her magic boiling her blood until it seethed and surged with power. She swore to herself that she would never surrender, not until Kazuma paid for his transgressions and she got what was rightfully hers. Her burning rage filled the air like a storm, promising death to any who stood against her will.
Aqua screamed a battle cry so ferocious that the fox's ears flatted and it took a step back. Before the sound faded, Aqua charged, a corona of blue energy surrounding her. "Taste my wrath! God-Blow!"
Charlie yelp and leaped back as Aqua's fist crashed into the floor, unleashing all her pent-up rage, sadness, and suffering. The entire castle shook, the floors and walls cracked, dust exploded into the air.
Aqua knelt and glared, her eyes like blue fire. She growled low in her throat. "I'm going to destroy you, kill the General, collect the reward and live the life of luxury I deserve!"
Charlie must have seen something within Aqua's eyes because, with a shriek of terror, it turned and fled.
Aqua gave chase. "Get back here!"
She could picture it, a manor, all the wine she could drink, Kazuma serving her on hand and foot with Shirou at her side. Everything that stood before her and that dream would die!
As the chase began anew, most would say, Aqua laughter was far more terrifying than any fox's.
Shirou couldn't help but wonder how the guild quantified luck. His guild card showed a luck sat and Kazuma enjoyed bragging that he had tremendous amounts of it. He didn't get it. Strength, sure. Magic, he could picture it. Endurance, why not? But luck? After all, what if someone had bad luck, then having a low score would be better, right? Either way, it seemed luck never manifested positively for Shirou. Hence his current dilemma, as massive walls slammed into place, effectively blocking him off from his friends.
"Shirou!"
They kept shouting his name, but couldn't seem to hear him when he replied. This carried on until all three had apparently given up and begun moving away.
With an oath, Shirou moved further into the castle, hoping to find Aqua, Megumin, and Darkness quickly. But just two steps in, and the world twirled like spinning teacups after an acid hit. Decidedly unpleasant.
However, the spinning ceased quickly, but sensory overload was too much for Shirou. "Blech!"
Well, Shirou could add another projectile to his list.
"Disgusting." A deep, familiar voice said from behind Shirou.
With questionable balance, Shirou leaped forward and spun, almost falling. Shirou forced his eyes to focus. In the center of a vast chamber illuminated by hundreds of smoky torches, Beldia reclined on an ancient throne.
"Shirou Emiya, I commend your bravery, but you were foolish to come so ill prepared."
Belida stood, armor clanking, head, and sword clasped in different hands. "Your earlier attacked proved useless and now you stand in my stronghold, at my mercy."
Indeed, Shirou could see no trace of the damage Hunting wrought hours earlier. "This may be your stronghold, but I'm hardly at your mercy." Shirou brought Dawnbringer up and pushed mana into it. The blade lit up with white holy flames.
"Buhahahah! You think a weak holy blade will save you? I'll admit this morning you caught me off guard, but I've learned."
Indigo light enveloped Belida.
'There it is again.' Shirou couldn't sense magical energy coming from Beldia, though he used magic. 'Some kind of skill to mask the signature? Or maybe…?'
"The Demon King, is he here?"
Beldia flinched.
"Wh-what? Why would the great Demon King come to some lowly region such as this?"
"Everyone knows you're his most trusted bodyguard." Shirou lied through his teeth. "You would never leave him unattended."
"D-don't worry about such things! You should be concerned with the survival of your friends," Beldia said. With a snap of his fingers, the dais his throne sat on spun. The sound of scraping stone filling the room.
"Kazuma!"
Strapped against the throne, Kazuma thrashed, trying to yell past his gag, to no avail.
"Haha! What will you do - Whoa!"
Beldia tossed his head up to avoid Shirou's slash. Well-honed reflexes already beginning to counterattack. A magnificent symphony of sparks burst forth, hovering in the air like fireflies.
"What the hell?" Shirou couldn't read Beldia's blade. He could feel the weight of every strike, and hear the air shriek Beldia's blade cut it. But he couldn't analyze its make or history.
Disengaging with a flourish, Shirou shoved more mana into the sword and sent of wave of holy flames roaring toward Belida.
He didn't flinch as fire wrapped around him, only laughed, catching his head.
"I told you, such weak holy magic is useless!"
Kazuma continued thrashing, shaking his head hard, almost like he was trying to tell Shirou something.
"Where are you looking?" Beldia crashed into Shirou with renewed ferocity.
Shirou swore and reinforced his body, twisting aside to avoid Beldia's lunge. Quick as a snake, Shirou swung at Beldia's wrist, and severed the hand, sword falling to clatter on the floor.
"Ahhh!" A blast of magic sending Shirou skidding back, stopping him from ending Beldia's life.
"That hurt, you little shit!"
Regardless of his apparent pain, Beldia again glowed and his severed hand — sword and all — rose to reattach. He rotated his wrist, blade spinning with ease.
Shirou scowled. "Cheater! I thought holy weapon where supposed to hurt you!" He emphasized his point by jabbing Dawnbreaker at Beldia.
"Me!? I'm the cheater here?" The sheer incredulity in Beldia tone would have been funny, provided you ignored their life-or-death struggle. "You who can spam weapons on a whim, destroyer of two army killer monsters, think I'm the cheater?"
Out of the corner of his eye, Shirou saw Kazuma nodding along with Beldia, having paused his thrashing. Poor form Kazuma.
With an awkward cough. Shirou decided enough was enough. Dawnbreaker faded into specks of blue, and instead clutched in Shirou's hand was a spear.
Shirou felt a shift of energy, and his face contorted into a grimace as he saw the weapon. It was long and vibrant red, with dark crimson designs that traced along its length. Its presence seemed to fill the room with an almost tangible aura, like a thick fog that threatened to choke the breath from his lungs. A smell of iron and death hung heavy in the air.
Shirou's heart pounded, and the world sharpened, his senses going into overdrive. He could smell Kazuma's sweat, old stone, dust and mildew, and an odd spicy odor, like high end perfume. Had Shirou's mind been clearer, he would have questioned the oddity of such a scent, or noticed that distinct lack of smell coming from Beldia.
"W-what is that?" Beldia took a step back, sensing the present danger. "This feeling... It's less powerful than my King, but contains such darkness and bloodthirst."
"This spear has a long history, full of death, destruction and tragedy, but I won't bore you with the details. All you need to know is," Shirou shifted into a low lunging stance and red energy crackled along the spear. "This is my broomstick!"
With a low boom, Shirou shot forward and thrust his spear at a backpedaling Beldia. In any normal circumstance, his retreat would have been enough, but Shirou wasn't wielding a regular spear.
The spear whistled through the air, its aura blazing like a miniature sun. The spear's trajectory created ripples in space that seemed to distort the fabric of reality itself. Everywhere it passed, time and causality trembled in its wake, bending obediently to the spear's command.
Beldia let out a terrified shriek as the spear, emanating waves of electricity like barbed wire, relentlessly pursued him. Sparks flew from his magical barriers every time the weapon made contact. "This isn't possible. This shouldn't be happening!"
"Maybe for you, but Gae Bolg doesn't know the meaning. I thrust the spear, and the world re-wrote itself so it could pierce your heart. There is nothing this spear can't kill. Of course, that makes it exhausting to use, but that doesn't matter anymore."
With a wordless shout, Shirou pumped more mana into the spear and, with a shriek of tearing steel, Beldia armor gave way. The energy of Gae Bolg wrapped itself tightly around Beldia's heart, a symbolic concept only. The spear attacked the parts of a being that gave life, meaning not even undead could resist its sting.
Beldia screamed, as Shirou heaved Gae Bolg up and over his head, sending him flying into the celling.
Shirou panted, almost falling to his knees, sweat running down his face in rivets. The power of Gao Bolg was awe-inspiring, but its utilization exhausting. Even Cu Chulainn, the spear's true wielder, needed substantial time to recover after using such a noble phantasm.
Beldia landed with a clatter, his head rolling away, limp hands no longer capable of holding on. Victory belonged to Shirou.
As Gae Bolg vanished, Shirou wiped his brow and began walking over to Kazuma, who, to Shirou's surprise, continued thrashing manically.
"Kazuma, it's alright, he can't hurt you anymore."
Shirou assumed in Kazuma's panicked state he didn't recognize Beldia's defeat. Fear could remove rationality.
"That's where you're wrong." Shirou froze before turning mechanically to see Beldia doing the impossible. "You're attack was powerful boy, but don't underestimate a general!" Beldia rose. Armor torn and a great hole living where his heart should be, but still he stood.
"You know." Shirou turned to Kazuma, scratching at his head, mouth quirked in a frustrated grimace. "I'm actually impressed by that. And also this fight makes no sense!" It didn't, neither holy nor demonic energy's worked, he couldn't analyze Beldia's blade, or sense any magic coming off his foe.
Kazuma rolled his eyes, which Shirou interpreted as 'Of course,' with sarcasm dripping from every syllable.
Shirou's body burned with a searing heat. He had tried three weapons in his arsenal, each one a finely crafted masterpiece, but none of them worked against this enemy. It was time to bring out the big guns.
Shirou's hand shook as a slab of jagged black rock formed, and the floor beneath him cracked and trembled with its weight. The stone ended in a deadly point that shone fiercely under the light. The room dimmed in the weapon's presence, which glinted with a fierce and primal power.
"If holy fire or a demonic curse didn't work, I'll try brute force instead." A shout of exertion poured forth from Shirou as he flooded his body with mana, boosting his physical abilities to previously unseen heights. "Nine Lives blade works!"
For a moment madness shown in Shirou's golden eyes, and like missile he shot forward leaving ripples of air behind. Shirou swept the titanic weapon through the air faster than any eye could follow, faster than Beldia could scream. And like that, Shirou appeared on his knees behind Beldia, panting hard.
The attack had been perfect; the technique borrowed from perhaps the most powerful swordsman ever to exist.
'So why didn't I feel anything?'
"Well, that should be enough." A voice said, and Shirou's mind skipped. The voice was throaty and seductive, like liquid honey. It flowed over Shirou melodically. He turned and watched Beldia's form shimmer like a mirage before vanishing. At that moment, Shirou understood. The lack of magic, his inability to analyze Beldia's weapon, the outrageous healing ability, invulnerability to holy power. It all made sense, because Beldia never existed.
A slow clap echoed through the chamber, deliberate and mocking. Seeming to appear from nowhere, a woman stood beside Kazuma, her face split in a wide smile.
"The best way to defeat brawn is with brains, don't you agree?" Nine foxtails swished back and forth as the woman walked toward Shirou, green silted eyes glinting.
'A kitsune!' Shirou realized. A being with a mastery over fire and misdirection, known for their cunning.
Shirou tried to stand, but his knees shook like a newborn foal, refusing to follow direction.
The kitsune giggled and reaching down, lifting Spirou's head up with a finger. He could feel the razor sharp nails threatening to puncture neck.
"You're a bad boy, almost ruined my plans, coming here so soon. I expected more time to prepare."
Arm burning with the effort, Shirou batted aside her hand. "It was all an illusion, wasn't it?"
She laughed, high and clear. "Yes, they're my specialty, something the Demon King values. It's why he made me a general." She leaned in close. "I think he'll value you, too. I've been watching, you're special, Shirou Emiya. He loves special things. He'll rewarded me handsomely for bringing you to his domain. But this one…," In a flash, she stood before Kazuma, hand raised high, nails shining.
"No!" Shirou screamed.
Kazuma thrashed, and the hand descended. "Please don't kill me. I can't die a virgin! — " Kazuma cut himself off when he realized he could talk, the robe gagging him fluttering to the ground.
The kitsune giggled, covering her mouth demurely. "I might keep you for myself. Weak and pathetic men are the most fun to play with."
Shirou watched Kazuma's face turn pasty white before a deep purple. It looked like he couldn't decide between terror and arousal. Shirou felt that.
'This isn't good,' Shirou thought, watching the kitsune tease Kazuma. 'I used almost everything I have. It was a bad idea, not waiting to recover after using Hrunting.'
As the fatalistic thought came to Shirou, his jaw clenched. He'd been foolish, rushing off without a thought. Everything about today had been a ruse, perfectly designed to bring Shirou down. He could feel Saber's disappointed glare, it made his stomach twist.
'I can't stop.'
Sword falling from limp fingers, Shirou through shear will alone, forced himself up. "Get away from my friend."
"Hmm?" The kitsune turned back to Shirou, eyebrow raised. "Or what? You've used up all your magic, I can sense it. Though I may specialize in misdirection, I'm still a General of the Demon King. I could kill you easily now." Lances of flame appeared and hung in the air, the threat implicit.
Not good. In Shirou's state, dodging so many attacks would be futile. But he had no choice. Kazuma couldn't fight. Darkness, Megumin, and Aqua were who-knows-where. So, knees shaking, Shirou took a step forward.
The ground shook. It was violent and so unexpected Shirou fell to his knees and the kitsune stumbled.
"What?!" The kitsune said, lips pealing back. "I didn't set any traps that would cause that."
Boom! A blast rang out, muffled, but again, the ground shook even more violently. Was it Megumin? Shirou thought she could only use explosion once, but who else could cause such a blast?
Boom! The air shook, and Shirou's ears ached.
"What is this?!" The kitsune said, pressing down on her fox ears. "No one in your party should be capable of this power."
Now that she mentioned it, Shirou took a deep breath. Yes, he could sense it. Magic, powerful, angry, giving off the scent of stormy air and the wrathful sea.
BOOM!
The wall to Shirou's left exploded, sending stone and dust forth, filling the room.
Shirou coughed, his eyes watering. He stared at the dust cloud and blinked as a fox came sprinting out, howling.
"Naruto?" The kitsune asked. She sounded breathless, shocked. The fox never halted or stopped screaming. It sprinted past the kitsune and into the shadows beyond. "What is happening!?"
Shirou hadn't the foggiest. Turning his attention back, the power he'd sensed became stronger, almost overwhelming. Which is why his jaw dropped when Aqua stepped forward. Her usual kind blue eyes burned with hate, and she cracked her knuckles aggressively before honing in on the kitsune.
"I don't know who you are," Aqua said, looking her up and down. "But I've got a real problem with foxes today. So, if you don't point me toward the Demon King General, I'm gonna shove my fist so far and fast up your asshole it'll trigger a geological event!"
Shirou trembled. Aqua sudden transformation was triggering certain memories he dare not venture close to. He was so busy repressing he couldn't even open his mouth, though to his immense gratitude, Kazuma didn't share the affliction.
"A-Aqua! it's her." Kazuma said, nodding toward the kitsune frantically. "She's the General!"
Aqua's eyes blaze with blue fire, and the kitsune gulped, taking a step back. Aqua smiled thinly and followed. "You're the General? If that's the case, then allow me to ensure the remnants of your brief life be consumed by pants shitting terror."
Shirou blinked. Kazuma coughed. The kitsune flinched before her power skyrocketed and more lances of fire appeared.
"I'm going to make you regret saying those things!" The kitsune said, as she moved past her fear.
With dual battle cries, the two women attacked.
And thus I deliver Chapter 10! Sorry for missing last week, but where this ended felt wrong so I added about 1400 words to round it out. As those familiar with Konosuba know, we've diverged into OC territory with this general, which is exciting for me and hopefully you.
To address the elephant in the room, Aqua...Yah, I'm not sorry. The idea of her being some-kind of berserker was to funny, plus I wrote myself into a corner and needed a way out. Combine that with a recent re-watch of Berserk and HAI YO! Cookies to all who got the reference. If you didn't get it, Youtube it with Susumu Hirasawa. Also, yes, Slap on Titan was reference.
Thank you all for reading and please leave a comment!