Grapple with current opponent. Strike coming from the back. Lean forward at a close to 90-degree angle. Slight graze, acceptable, counter with own swing and likely amputate the limb.

Mind's Eye (True). The ability to calmly grasp the enemy's strength, the situation, and deduce the available means of survival. Not the result of talent, but through his lifetime of fighting opponents far stronger than he was. Even as a Counter Guardian he could never quite compare to a vast majority of Servants in raw power.

Parry, kick away. Lower guard and blades to side. Present center and head as open targets.

Fighting as he did had its risks. A single miscalculation, one misstep was all it would take to for a fatal blow to land. It wasn't a way of fighting for anyone that valued their life. He never did touch much stock in his though. Besides, it was best to have a chance of winning by putting one's entire life at risk than inevitably falling after being continuously cut up in a drawn-out fight.

This was why he preferred to end his fights quick. Just because he could analyze his opponents didn't mean his opponents weren't capable of doing the same given enough time.

Archer threw his blades at a Shadow Servant. As he created a new pair he leaned back as another took a swing at him. He took a slight cut to his shoulder and replied by gutting it with his sword.

Four left. One crippled.

Some blows were unavoidable, that was fine, so long as it wasn't fatal or affected mobility. It was the inevitability of fighting four Shadow Servants at the same time and trying to kill them as quickly as he could.

As it was, Kyoko was dealing with her own Shadow Servant fairly well, but the rest of the Magical Girls were severely outnumbered by the Black Feathers and the twins.

Felicia slammed her hammer knocking down several Black Feathers. However, the opening she presented allowed another to strike her in the belly with their chain. Felicia was able to get up and swing her hammer again, though there was now a bleeding cut on her side.

Reckless and dangerous. Could do a lot of damage but she needed support.

All four remaining Shadow Servants charged him. Before they could reach him though several bolts flew at them. One of them was forced to turn around and deflect the bolts leaving an opening in their charge.

Archer glanced at Iroha who received a small cut on the leg from a Black Feather she had turned away from.

Even when besieged by several Black Feathers, she was still set on helping her allies rather than dealing with the opponents in front of her. She ended with a good number of wounds from her efforts, but her efforts weren't in vain at least.

With the charging Shadow Servants out of sync he was able to step in and weave between their blows. He parried the one with a missing arm then led another Shadow Servant's blade straight through its chest. He jumped away and began firing from his bow.

Three remaining. The arrows weren't meant for them though. They struck down the Black Feathers that had been harrying Iroha.

Simple repayment of a favor. Plus, she reminded him of someone he happened to like.

Her Servant was getting cut up. Granted it was likely intentional and probably an acceptable risk for Archer to take those hits rather than draw out the fight, but it still wasn't that Kyoko wanted to witness. Unfortunately, she couldn't do anything about it until this Shadow Servant she was fighting was dead.

It was this thing, probably a child wielding some sort of woodcutter's axe, but damn if it wasn't strong. If she wasn't blocking it with her spear the axe would've sliced through her like butter.

Kyoko stabbed her spear into the ground and pumped Od through the shaft. Flame erupted from the ground as pillars, burning and temporarily putting the Shadow Servant off balance. She smiled as she pulled out spear out and prepared to thrust, only to have it deflected by a black chain and sickle.

"Stop getting in my way!" Kyoko shouted in frustration as she blasted the Black Feather with a fireball only for another to jump at her from above. She had to twirl her spear around and use its shaft to block a swing coming overhead. Another one then came for her while she was being occupied.

They knew jumping on a Servant would just get them killed. Instead, they were letting the three remaining Shadow Servants keep Archer at bay while they went for their true target.

Get the Master and you get the Servant.

The sound of a flute reached her ears and by the time she realized what it was, it was already too late. Kyoko's head was left ringing as the sound Magic or whatever it was began to bash around in her skull.

Those twins and the flutes they used as weapons were incredibly dangerous. Sharp notes created soundwaves that pushed Yachiyo and Felicia back any time they tried to get close to them. Lighter and more intricate melodies could also create sound directed to mess with and immobilize targets in an area. As for how Kyoko could tell the difference, well blame that music theory class she had to take as an elective.

"Damn it," Kyoko cursed as another note struck her head. The Shadow Servant had recovered and threw its axe at her. She blocked it with her spear, but the sheer force of the throw knocked her weapon out of her hands.

Crap.

Kyoko backhanded a Black Feather in the face and grabbed the other's weapon before they could swing it. Hand to hand was not her forte though and all she could do was grapple with the girl as the others slowly closed in.

This was bad.

She was about to use a Command Seal when the Black Feather was suddenly skewered in the side by a spear. Not hers though. This one was blue and silver with plenty of engravings and jewels dangling off it. Then ten more of the same spears came and rained down on the Shadow Servant.

Taking the chance given to her, Kyoko tackled the Shadow Servant as it was knocking spears aside, drove it into the ground, and began punching it in the face with a Reinforced fist. She landed a few good punches before it kicked her away. It then took a spear to the face.

"Thanks," Kyoko said begrudgingly as she got back up.

"They're focused on you," Yachiyo said as she walked over and tossed Kyoko's spear back to her. "I'm assuming it's because you're his Master?" The Magical Girl gestured towards Archer who had taken down another Shadow Servant leaving just two remaining.

"Yea, something like that," Kyoko admitted as she grabbed her spear and batted aside another Black Feather.

Yachiyo lifted her weapon aloft and multiple copies of it appeared in the air around her. She then swung her weapon down and sent the spear towards the remaining Shadow Servants. Archer replied in kind with his own Traced armory of swords. Besieged by bladed weapons turned projectiles on both sides, the remaining Shadow Servants were quick to fall.

"We need to find a way to deal with those twins," Yachiyo said. "They're blocking the path to the Uwasa and they know that we're on a timer."

"I'm assuming earplugs aren't going to work?" Kyoko grit her teeth as another melody caused her ears to ring.

"Not likely no," Yachiyo replied as she shot out several spears at the twins only for them to be knocked aside by a shockwave.

"The area works to their advantage," Archer said as he walked up to them. "Plenty of echo and surprisingly good acoustics for a sewer."

"Are you going to enjoy the music or are you going to blast them with a Noble Phantasm already?" Kyoko asked.

"Can't risk collapsing the sewer or getting us caught with something too big," Archer mused as he observed the twins. "The shockwaves are short ranged, and their mental attacks will likely only work if that sound reaches our ears."

Yachiyo crossed her arms. "You're saying we should overwhelm them with an even louder sound?"

"… Should I start screaming then?" Kyoko asked. She could be quite a shouter when she needed to be.

"I have a more efficient solution," Archer replied as he held out his hand and created… a gong.

A giant Chinese Gong.

Kyoko and Yachiyo didn't even need a warning to cover their ears.

Archer summoned a mallet, grabbed it with both hands, and slammed it the gong straight center. The ear shattering roar reverberated throughout the sewer and completely overwhelmed whatever noise the twins created. They tried blowing on their flutes again, only for Archer to do the same. This repeated, again and again, until the rest their group quickly closed the distance on the twins.

"I'd suggest you surrender," Archer said with his gong prepped once more. "You Soul Gems don't have any magic left in them."

"Fufufufu."

"What's so funny?" Kyoko asked Tsukuyo. Or wait, was it Tsukasa? No, this one actually had a chest so definitely Tsukuyo.

"Yes, that's definitely perfect timing for us," the other flat as a board twin said.

"Right?" Tsukuyo said.

"Huh?" Iroha said.

"You Soul Gems are tainted and that's perfect…" Yachiyo said. "Do you mean…? You… could it be…"

"You are all very fortunate," Tsukuyo said.

"Unfortunate yet fortunate," Tsukasa said. "After all, you'll be able to witness with your own eyes."

"The proof that Kamihana is the place where Magical Girls can be freed."

"Yachiyo!" Tsuruno shouted. Could those two be planning to…!?"

"Yes, it's the same as Tamaki. They plan on bringing that thing out."

Kyoko grabbed the gong for Archer so he could take out his bow and point it at the twins.

"Bringing what out?" Archer asked as he primed his next arrow, this one clearly meant to kill.

"It's a super cool finishing move!" Tsuruno shouted. "Go! Iroha. Bring yours out too!"

"Even if you tell me to, I just can't suddenly do it!" Iroha replied.

"Even if you can, don't!" Yachiyo replied. "If it relies on your Soul Gem being tainted then it's too dangerous!"

Archer fired his arrow, but it was blocked by something strange that began to sprout from both of the twin's bodies. It stretched out, contorted, and surrounded them, until Kyoko could finally recognize what it was.

"Witches are coming out of their bodies!?" Felicia asked.

"Seriously!? Iroha did this!? How the hell are Witches coming out of their bodies!" Kyoko shouted.

Kyoko. Archer's eyes were wide. Where do Witches come from?

Don't they just show… up… you don't think?

If this is the fate they wished to be freed from…

"This is a reflection of our emotions," Tsukuyo sat trapped within a gilded cage. "Something released from within ourselves."

"This is our Doppel," Tsukasa floated, drowning within a marble of water. "Proof that we can be freed."

"Now, as we please…"

"Now, as we wish,"

"Isolate us from all noise!"

"Disconnect us from all bonds!"

The twins in their new Witch-like forms flew up in the air. Kyoko barely had enough time to toss the gong aside before Archer grabbed her and carried her out of the way from the incoming projectiles.

"I don't think your gong is going to work anymore!" Kyoko shouted to Archer as he carried her against his side. They along with the rest of their group were busy evading or deflecting the constant stream of red and blue magical bullets.

"I'm aware," Archer said as brought out Heracles's stone axe with a single hand and threw it at the twins like the world's largest boomerang. They were forced to evade, briefly interrupting the stream of bullets and allowing him to toss Kyoko to the front of the tunnel that led to the Uwasa. He then pulled out his bow once more and began firing. "I'll hold them off! The rest of you deal with the Uwasa before your time runs out."

"Archer, I don't think you can handle those two by yourself!" Kyoko shouted, ignoring the slip of paper that fell onto her head.

"We'll hold them off," Yachiyo said as she joined Archer's side. "The rest of you go!"

"Got it! Let's go!" Felicia shouted.

"Right behind you!" Tsuruno followed.

"Stay safe," Iroha said as she followed the two.

Kyoko gripped her fist. Yachiyo was strong, strong enough to be able to fight at Archer's side at this moment. Kyoko knew this… and it frustrated her.

"He's strong and he's been at this longer than all of us combined…" Kyoko said to Yachiyo. "But he's suicidal and doesn't give a damn about his own life. He has a long history of sacrificing himself for the sake of others. You stop him from doing that! You keep him safe!"

Yachiyo nodded. "I will."

The two stared each other in the eye for a brief moment before Kyoko finally turned around and made her way towards the Uwasa.

"Hrunting."

The pitch-black arrow flew through the air and continuously sought its target. Tsukuyo's attempt to evade it were in vain as it flew directly for her and struck the sphere surrounding her.

"Tch."

The Doppel's defenses were surprisingly tough though. Hrunting was able to crack the sphere slightly, but before it could pierce any further Tsukasa rammed her sphere into the arrow and broke it in half. He might've been able to pierce it with successive shots, but they focused their fire on him before he could do so.

As he evaded Yachiyo tried to strike them from behind only to be pushed back by another shockwave as they blew on their flutes. She tried using her own barrage of spears turned projectiles but those dealt minimal damage after bouncing off their shells.

To make matters worse, the shells seemed to be regenerating from whatever damage they had received. That meant that-

"We need either a concentrated strike to break through their defense or hope we can outlast their Doppels," Yachiyo finished his thought for him as they dodged and deflected yet another simultaneous barrage from the Doppels.

"The latter means leaving the Uwasa to Kyoko and your friends. Can they handle it?" Archer asked as he threw several pairs of his blades into the air. Triple Linked Crane Wings might not break the shells, but it could certainly knock aside a good number of bullets heading their way.

"If the Uwasa is as strong as the previous one we've fought." Yachiyo deftly deflected several projectiles with her spear. "Then I'm not certain. Not with the Magic they've used up already."

"Iroha can use a Doppel, correct?"

"Yes... but."

"She'll probably just use it anyway despite your warning, if it means protecting her friends. And if your friend uses her Doppel, then will she be able to defeat it?"

"It's… likely yes."

Good, that meant that Kyoko was likely then he was at the moment despite the countdown. Now all he had to do was survive this… and maybe have a little fun in the process.

"So, you do think of Iroha as a friend," Archer commented as the twins suddenly reared their Doppels back before flying toward them in an attempt to run them over.

Yachiyo glared at him as she jumped over Tsukasa's Doppel. "Are you seriously trying to tease me?"

"Might as well, while I still have the chance," Archer smirked as he wielded Heracles's axe once more and used it to absorb the blow of Tsukuyo's sphere. He then reared his weapon back and swung it like a baseball bat, slamming the Doppel and sending it straight toward the other twin. Didn't seem to do much damage granted, but the jarred expressions from being bounced around and the annoyed looks they sent him after made it more than worth it. "Also trust me, if someone like that is fond of you, then you're probably never going to chase them away."

"You're surprisingly casual about all of this. Wasn't your Master worried?"

Archer shrugged as he used the axe as a makeshift shield against the next barrage. "I've been at this for a very long time. Kyoko worries about me more than she should. Besides the situation is bad but it hardly goes up to top ten worst things I've gone through."

"Did you survive all of them?" Yachiyo asked. "I'm assuming as a summonable spirit of legend that you're capable of dying multiple times."

"… Usually."

"Unfortunately, I don't think death is going to be as temporary for me."

Archer sighed. "People die when they're killed," he muttered under his breath.

"What?"

"Nothing. Just… nostalgia."

"Huh… this really is different from a Witch's barrier," Kyoko commented as she made her way through whatever realm the Rumor had created. Compared to a Witch the design of this place felt almost more… deliberate. As if it had been carefully constructed, no matter how insane it seemed to be.

This time Kyoko caught the piece of paper as soon as it appeared.

00:20

They needed to hurry but-

"Gyah!" Iroha screamed as another bat hit her face.

"Ouch!" Felicia shouted as she was smacked in the head by another falling rock.

Apparently now that they were inside the Rumor's home anyone who drank the water was now subject to its misery.

"Why haven't I been affected though?" Kyoko asked herself. Nothing unfortunate happened to her yet, which was oddly strange considering the Luck stat that she and Archer likely shared.

"Ah!"

Kyoko turned to Tsuruno who punched her palm. "My magic makes me super lucky! Maybe that's why you're not affected, because you're close to me."

"There are Rumors coming!" Iroha shouted as a large group of… owls in buckets of water came to attack them.

They quickly moved forward to fight and things quickly devolved into chaos soon enough.

"Aaah! Felicia, don't hit me with your hammer!" Iroha shouted having apparently developed a Pavlovian fear response to said weapon.

"I'm sorry! I dropped it!" Felicia shouted as she somehow tumbled over Kyoko's spear.

"Get out of the way!" Kyoko shouted as she did her best not to accidently skewer the mercenary.

"Iroha get on!"

"Waaah! Tsuruno let me go!"

"Wait no! That's perfect!" Kyoko shouted. "Everyone huddle around the Genki girl!"

"Genki Girl!?"

It turned out that yes, Tsuruno's luck did apparently cancel out some of the Uwasa's misery. Granted they had to huddle very closely to Tsuruno, and Iroha seemed very uncomfortable riding her shoulders, but it was better than the alternative.

Eventually they arrived at another wide area where the Uwasa high above on a raised platform. It was a giant gold cup with a large eye attached to its toe. It overflowed with a sweet liquid whose scent permeated the area. Hovering above it were a medley of gigantic monstrous flies that were apparently attracted to the Uwasa.

They barely had time to observe it though before a giant boulder slammed down in front of them and knocked them all over.

"What the hell!?" Kyoko shouted.

"We were lucky!" Tsuruno exclaimed.

"How was that lucky!?" Felicia shouted.

"If it didn't bounce off that other over boulder there we would've been pancakes!"

"What other boulder?" Felicia asked.

"That one!" Iroha shouted as she tackled Felicia out of the way.

Soon they were all being assailed by a constant stream of debris from above. It also seemed that the closer they got to it the worse things got.

"Can you get a good shot from here?" Kyoko asked Iroha as she rolled under another giant rock.

"I tried!" Iroha replied as she continued firing at the Uwasa. "It's tough."

00:10

"We're running out of time!" Felicia shouted.

"I know that!" Kyoko shouted.

This was bad. Tsuruno was the only of them who was closing the distance on that thing, but even she was starting to have her progress impeded by the flies and debris. It seemed that her luck was starting to hit its limit.

"Tsuruno, it's too dangerous! Get back!" Iroha shouted.

"How can I be the mightiest if I can't save you from this curse!" Tsuruno shouted. She didn't stumble even as her body was being cut up by the falling debris.

"Are you an idiot!" Kyoko shouted. "Get out of there! Stop playing the hero, we'll figure something else out! And how are you even going to get up there anyway!"

Tsuruno didn't answer as she started using the falling boulders as stepping stones to reach the Witch.

Kyoko simply stared in shock. Why didn't she think of that?

Tsuruno jumped from boulder to boulder, relentless past the falling debris. She swung her body, opened up her fans, and let loose her flames. A majestic yet fearsome dance that was just as likely to burn away its user as it was to burn away the rubble around her. It was impressive, beautiful almost, and Kyoko was almost rooting for her.

Unfortunately, a bright flame burned out quickly, Kyoko knew that quite intimately. It was why she wasn't surprised when the flames faltered for just a moment and allowed a large rock to strike her on the skull.

"Tsuruno!" Iroha shouted as the Magical Girl began to fall.

Kyoko simply shook her head and turned away. There was nothing they could do. Soon the Genki Girl's body would hit the ground and be buried by the rubble. All that mattered now was trying to find another way to defeat that Uwasa.

Then Kyoko felt it. An energy coming from Iroha. The same one that the twins had been emitting.

Kyoko grabbed Felicia by her scarf and high tailed it out of there.

"What are you doing!?" Felicia shouted. "We need to help!"

"Trust me! We do not want to get caught up in that!" Kyoko replied as she dared to look back.

It started with her hair. It extended, lifted itself up, and began to tangle itself into countless large threads. The threads then became large bands of cloth.

Iroha was aware this time. Of the change her body went through. Of the terrible form she would have to take.

The cloth became her bindings, that wrapped around her eyes and ears, made her blind to the world around her. Blind to herself, so that she would not have to look upon it.

Her body was jerked into the air, almost as if being strangled, and she could feel her Doppel take shape around her. It's shape casting a dark shadow over everyone who stood beneath it.

Giovanna. The Doppel of Silence.

A cuckoo, a parasite, that refuses to look at it itself. That hides away from anything that it does not wish to see or hear, all while calling for someone. Cowardly and afraid of acknowledging the reality it concealed. The reality it tried to conceal with its cloth.

And she let it.

The bindings flew out, quickly closing the distance between it and the platform. They caught Tsuruno and gently lowered her to the ground. Then they enveloped the sky. Covered the area above, catching all the rubble that fell and tossed it aside.

Finally, she moved. Giovanna sprung itself forward, using its cloth as leverage. It flew into the air until it towered high above the Uwasa.

The Uwasa tried to attack, send out its flies, and spray her with its poison.

The pain, the anguish, the doubt, Giovanna ignored it all as it gathered its cloth above her. Even as she was being torn apart, she continued wrapping it until it formed a giant ball.

Then she swung.

Giovanna struck, pulverizing the Uwasa in an instant and completely collapsing the platform where it had once stood. It then attacked. Again and again, until all traces of the Uwasa finally faded. Until she was the only monster remaining.

Her job done, she gently lowered herself to the ground and released her form.

It was there that the bindings around Iroha's eyes finally released themselves and she was finally allowed to breathe.

"They sacrificed to demons that were not gods, to gods they had never known, to new gods that had come recently, whom your fathers had never dreaded," Kyoko whispered to herself as the Doppel faded and the world returned around them.

"What are you saying?" Felicia asked.

"Nothing… just realizing how messed up this Contract actually is."

A/N

Enjoy the new chapter. Also thanks to Ryouko, Inkrael, and Bacon on the ANAI discord for editing and helping me brainstorming a few new ideas.

Also just to clarify due to recent confusion, most of the new characters are from Magia Record. A Madoka mobile game that used to be in NA before the server was shut down. The Japanese servers are still open though and there are youtube videos with translated character stories and main story for those interested.