I in no way shape or form own Fate/Stay Night or Overlord ( オーバーロード). They belong to their respective owner. Fate/Stay night is property of Type-Moon, and Overlord ( オーバーロード) belongs to Kugane Maruyama. And I in no shape or form make a profit of writing and publishing this.

And here's the next chapter!

While I may have not written much over the years, the story never completely left my mind. Most of the time, it was usually a mess or scattering of outlines and ideas that I would write down or make notes of. It was only recently when I found the time to actually write that I was able to cobble together the story from them.

Oh! I'm also on Spacebattle as well if anyone's interested, so pop on by if you'd like. The thread format makes it both easy and fun to respond back to anyone in a timely - I say timely, but this is me we're talking about here - fashion and help grow the discussion.

I don't have too much to say here as I did before, so please do enjoy the chapter! As per usual there'll be a more expansive Author's Note.

Beta'd: Dante Evans

Word Count: 17,627


Chapter 13: The 9th World Champion Tournament III


The noise refused to die down as the very walls of the stadium vibrated, and they weren't going to stop any time soon.

In contrast, Shirou's return to the lobby was marked by silence and stares from the rest of the competitors.

"Yo!" Warrior Takemikazuchi came from behind, slinging his arm around the magus's shoulder and bringing him in close. His boisterous laughter echoed throughout the hall. "Ha-ha! Not going to lie, I was a bit worried for ya' during the last half of the fight, but I knew you had a plan and an ace up your sleeve. Never doubted you for a second, Emiya-san!"

"I would hope not; otherwise, I might've been forced to rely on you to win this whole thing, and well..."

"Oi, what's that mean, you lil' sword spammer?!"

The armored Heteromorph tightened his hold as his other hand gave the magus a good-fashioned noogie. The two struggled, laughing all the while.

The other Players watched on with silent, judging looks, but the two friends paid them little mind.

Shirou broke free of the samurai's hold, his eyes scouring the waiting lounge.

The hallway area was quite spacious, with ample seating and a generous amount of room for the contestants to relax. However, the majority of the fighters chose to keep to themselves, positioning themselves far away from others, standing with their backs against a wall, or sitting down with their watchful eyes alert to anyone around them. Shirou found the prevailing mood within the waiting wing to be excessively somber and fraught with tension, even for a competitive tournament such as the World Champion Tournament.

Shirou felt a hand on his shoulder, gently shaking him from his thoughts.

"C'mon, let's find a spot to park our butts down for a bit and get comfortable. It's going to be a good five minutes before the next round starts."

"A five-minute intermission? Why so long?"

Warrior Takemikazuchi shrugged.

"Hell, if I know. I don't make the rules."

With a small frown, Shirou took a step forward. A grimace flickered as a dull ache flared up in his left arm where The Mountain had struck him during the match. When the match concluded, all the damage and injuries sustained disappeared, but even at full health, the pain lingered, his body remembering the pain that was still all too real for him. He flexed his fingers, spying a quiet, empty seat out of the corner of his vision.

Shirou quietly made his way over. His guildmate joined him, and the two sat in silence. A small sigh escaped him as he leaned back and made himself comfortable. On one of the many viewing holographic screens, the two analysts continued their commentary on the previous fight while segwaying into the next match.

As he sat there, the world around him slowly turned into white noise. His eyelids grew heavy, and for a moment he allowed them to close, figuring a short rest wouldn't hurt.

And so, all was quiet.

"Emiya-senpai..."

Shirou jolted, his eyes snapping open. He was sitting in the living room at the table. He blinked, looking around, expecting a certain golden archer, only to see Sakura coming from the kitchen and carrying a small tray of food.

Shirou made to get up, but a strained pain shot through his arm, stopping him. Looking down, he saw his arm lightly wrapped in bandages.

Brows knitted in confusion as to how or when he got hurt.

Ah, he remembered now...

He had accidentally injured his arm during practice, and Sakura offered to cook for him, and he agreed.

His kouhai made her way to the table, a small, happy smile gracing her lips as she set the table. Taiga was already seated, helping and hurrying it along so as to feed her voracious appetite. Saber softly chided the school teacher for her decorum. Meanwhile, Rin watched on with a bemused look, shaking her head at the two of them.

Shirou blinked. When did they get here...?

Sakura sat next to him and helped to feed him, despite his insistence that he could do it on his own.

She wouldn't take no for an answer, and so he relented. Shirou sat there with a light, embarrassed blush as Sakura fed him her homemade porridge, smiling and preening with every spoonful. Taiga helped herself to a healthy serving of food while finding the time to snicker their way. Rin dined cordially as ever, but he could see her peeking at them from the corner of her eye. Even Saber smiled warmly at the sight while fighting with the Tiger of Fuyuki over the lion's share of the food.

They ate and made merry, laughing and talking.

They talked for hours…

Or was it minutes…?

It didn't matter. He was content to bask in the moment with each other.

"Emiya-senpai."

Sakura called to him.

He turned to look at her. She smiled, but she was also crying.

Shirou blinked.

He opened his mouth to ask her what was wrong. Why was she crying? Only, nothing came.

He noticed as well that it was only them.

Where did Saber, Rin, and Taiga go?

"Wake up, Shirou…"

"Em...Em...Emi...Emiya-san!"

With a gasp, Shirou jolted awake at the call of his name, jumping to his feet, only for a comforting hand to stop him. Wide, dichromatic eyes darted around, trying to find traces of those familiar, pleasant purple locks.

"Woah, easy, I got you." Warrior Takemikazuchi held on to the magus as he slowly regained his senses.

Shirou said nothing, trying to control his breathing and beating heart. A hand gripped his chest. It was just a dream.

A figment of his imagination that his mind conjured.

Nothing more...

Right?

"I-Is...something the matter?" He said, regaining his voice.

"I think I should be asking you that. You've been knocked out cold for practically the entire first round."

"Are you saying I slept through all the matches of the first round?!" Shirou's eyes widened, and panic seized his heart at the news. "W-wait! What about your match?"

"The last match ended not too long ago. My match is starting in just a bit. I exactly wouldn't be here to be your alarm if I'd already lost." Warrior Takemikazuchi joked before getting serious.

"You were out like a light. I tried waking you a few times, but nothing worked. It was like you were dead to the world or something. You were also muttering something, but I could barely make it out."

Hearing all of this, Shirou swallowed. He could feel his friend's frown and worry wafting off of him in spades.

Inwardly, Warrior Takemikazuchi was starting to think that Touch Me might've been onto something back on the 8th Floor.

"Emiya-san, tell it straight, are you alright?"

"I'm fine." He defaulted.

"Shirou..." His fellow weapon enthusiast gave the faker a poignant look, worry threaded in his tone. His grip on his shoulder tightened in concern. They'd already done this whole song and dance before, and he'd rather not have a repeat.

Shirou opened his mouth, only for a sigh to leave it. A hand rose, nursing his face as he collected his thoughts.

"I'm not too sure what to call it. When I close my eyes, I just… drift away. Sometimes I dream, other times I get these flashes, and for some I blank the time away."

"Is this something serious?"

Shirou offered a helpless shrug.

"It comes and goes..."

Before Warrior Takemikazuchi could ask any further questions, an announcement played.

"Will the contestant, Warrior Takemikazuchi, please make his way to the entrance? I repeat, contestant Warrior Takemikazuchi, make your way to the entrance for your match or you will be disqualified."

The two guildmates shared a look.

"We're seriously going to talk about this once this whole thing is over."

Shirou reluctantly nodded.

As Warrior Takemikazuchi turned to leave for his match, Shirou gave him one last regard.

"Good luck in your match."

Warrior Takemikazuchi turned back to his friend. "Who needs luck when you have skill?" He replied, his bravado returning.

Shirou couldn't help but smile at his friend's confidence.

The two friends exchanged claps as Warrior Takemikazuchi headed off to the arena.

Once he was out of sight, Shirou allowed himself a moment to sigh. He slouched in his seat, his hand rubbing his forehead to ease the residual grogginess.

Shirou felt fatigued, unusually so — more than what was expected. He didn't take that as a good sign, considering the tournament was only just beginning. The magus was left uncertain as to where such tiredness came from, whether it be from the emotionally charged talk with Zelretch, the stress of the upcoming matches, the tournament itself, or perhaps all of the above.

Some part of him whispered in his ears, urging him to find a nice, cozy spot and sleep the day or week away.

That's right… Rest… No more doubt, no more worries. Let all your troubles disappear…

The magus shook his head and slapped his cheeks.

Rest would come later. Right now, there was something more important.

He tuned back in time as the shoutcasters announced the last match-up.


[—][—][—][—][—][—][—][—][—]


"AFTER SEVERAL GRUELING AND WILD MATCHES, IT'S FINALLY TIME FOR THE FINAL MATCH OF THE FIRST ROUND! AND WHAT A MATCH UP WE HAVE HERE TODAY FOLKS!"

"Indeed! Marking his third foray into the World Champion Tournament, this Player nearly took home the championship title last time. Now, here he comes again. The question is, will he be able to succeed where he once failed, or will he fall before he even has a chance to begin?!"

"HE EMBODIES THE SAMURAI CODE OF IKKEN HISSATSU - ONE STRIKE, ONE KILL! HOWEVER, WILL IT BE ENOUGH TO EARN HIM VICTORY IN THIS TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS?! HE IS THE ONI OF DESTRUCTION, THE MONSTROUS BUSHIDO... LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I PRESENT TO YOU THE ONE AND ONLY WARRIOR TAKEMIKAZUCHI - THE MASTER OF NO SECOND STRIKES!

From the smoke and fireworks, Warrior Takemikazuchi made his grand entrance, following the shoutcaster's explosive introductions.

Warrior Takemikazuchi – Lvl: 100 — [No Second Strikes]

Warrior Takemikazuchi walked towards the arena with his head held high and confidence radiating with every step. He raised a clenched fist to the air as he strode forward. The roar of the crowd surrounded him, a chaotic mix of cheers and boos that he absorbed in equal stride.

"Wow, Takemikazuchi-san sure is popular." Suratan commented, seeing the support thrown his way in comparison to Shirou.

Where Ainz Ooal Gown's sole Humanoid member received mostly boos, the reception for Warrior Takemikazuchi was more evenly split between positive and negative. A surprise, considering most of the Demi-Human and Heteromorphic competitors received a slightly more negative reception from the stadium's audience.

"Hmm? Oh, that's right, you joined a little bit later, so you wouldn't have known." Tabula muttered, catching Suratan's attention.

"Huh? Whatcha mean, Tabula-san?"

"Takemikazuchi-san used to be quite the popular figure in the tournament and PvP scene. He got quite the renown and reputation, especially when he got to the finals of his World Champion Tournament. He slowly stopped participating in tournaments when Ainz Ooal Gown made its debut, dedicating himself to the guild from then on." Said the Brain Eater, surprising his guildmate with that tidbit.

Standing in the arena, Warrior Takemikazuchi brandished Takemikazuchi MK 7. He planted his sword in front of him, his hands resting on the pommel of his mighty weapon as he stared ahead.

"WARRIOR TAKEMIKAZUCHI IS RARING TO GO! HOWEVER, WHILE HE MAY BE A MONSTER ON THE BATTLEFIELD, WILL IT BE ENOUGH? FOR WHAT IS A MONSTER TO A MACHINE?!"

"A first-time contender in this tournament of champions, and yet, here he is. He has fought in several tournaments and competition, but has never made the cut. Until now! The question is, does he have what it takes to win it all or he will fall to the samurai's blade like so many before him?

HE TOO IS A MASTER OF THE BLADE, BUT WILL HIS SKILL BE ENOUGH TO FELL THIS MONSTER TODAY? LET'S HEAR IT FOR THE AUTOMATA OF DESTRUCTION, THE MECHANIZED MAYHEM, WELCOME THE WAR MACHINE, DEUS MACHINA!

With a heavy stomp, the smoke and pyrotechnics parted, revealing Warrior Takemikazuchi's opponent.

Deus Machina – Lvl: 100 — [The War Machine]

Throughout the tournament, the audience was treated to a myriad of Players, be they Humanoid, Demi-Human, or even the occasional Heteromorphs. However, unlike many of the other competitors in the tournament, the one that stepped forward wasn't a being of flesh and blood but rather a creature of steel.

Deus Machina's character model was angular and blocky, but still defined by the general humanoid outline. The avatar was entirely mechanical in nature and comprised a multitude of different parts. The closest description that could be given was as if someone took a mech from a mecha anime and downsized it.

Deus Machina boasted heavy-plated armor across the avatar's chassis. This armor was particularly concentrated around the chestplate, shoulders, and legs, giving the impression of a formidable and imposing figure. The rest of the body was muscular and bulky, further enhancing the impression of strength and power. Running along the back and concentrated in the shoulder and leg regions were vents and thrusters.

His armaments were on full display, giving a glimpse of the arsenal of destruction he wielded. Four missile pods were fitted on the Player's body, two located at the waist on each side and one on each shoulder, with each pod carrying two missile canisters, numbering eight in total. Mounted on his left hand was a three-barreled chain gun. A sheathed katana rested at his side, the sheath magnetically clipped to his waist. At the guard of the sheath, there was a trigger. Lastly, the most conspicuous addition to the roster of weapons was the long, cannon-like barrel that was segmented into three prongs that peaked over his right shoulder, with capacitors and electric coils running down the back.

Deus Machina's armor followed a grey and silver color scheme with accents of red, blue, and gold, along with paint weathering to give it a stroke of roughness. The Player's head was angular and sharp, with the forehead boasting a golden metallic V-shaped horn, one that resembled a samurai's Kabuto helmet of old. The faceplate was completely stoic, with his eye-optics being a brilliant, shining emerald.

'Deus Machina… God Machine.' Shirou mentally translated. Derived from Deus Ex Machina, no doubt.

Quite the lofty name.

The question was whether or not the Player would live up to it.

The magus first thought that the Player was using a Powered Suit. However, that didn't seem to be the case.

For starters, Powered Suits weren't viable in competitive play, with the strongest suits possessing stats equivalent to level 80 characters and were typically outperformed by Players with even Legendary grade equipment. Secondly, while Powered Suits provided a wide range of abilities, its weaknesses were several. They were classified as Full-Body Armour, which meant that it didn't stack with the Player's equipment, in addition to any items, skills, or spells that the Player could normally use being restricted when the Powered Suit was equipped. Powered Suits were useful for low-level Players, but were far too cumbersome for higher levels of play, especially in a tournament as competitive as the World Champion Tournament.

More than likely, Deus Machina was an [Automata], a playable racial class variant of [Automaton], one with a bevy of unique job classes to go with it.

They were generally known for their diverse builds, allowing Players to spec towards whatever they liked. This generalist approach allowed them to be versatile, but they do not excel at any specialty when compared to other classes or character builds.

From what he remembered hearing from Amanomahitotsu and Perororoncino, the build and play style were added to YGGDRASIL in the same expansion that introduced the Power Suit into the game following the rising interest of the Valkyrie's Downfall expansion pack that came before it.

Despite YGGDRASIL being predominantly a game with a high fantasy setting, the developers introduced more sci-fi elements into the game over the years to attract more people into playing. Powered Suits and the like were added during the time when mecha fighting games were growing in popularity, and the developers wanted to cash in on the trend and draw in people from that player base as well. This was a strategy that sort of worked out, as while the community for them remains quite niche, they still constitute one of the most dedicated groups in the player base.

'A powerful all-rounder versus an hyper-offensive specialist.' Touch Me thought, watching from the World Champion seat.

Within the arena, the two Players remained where they stood, each sizing up the other with a calculated gaze as the roar of the audience urged them on.

Warrior Takemikazuchi said nothing; instead, he took a step forward. Seeing this, Deus Machina quietly did the same.

The two Players walked forward and stopped within arm's reach of each other.

Standing face-to-face, a comparison could be drawn between the two fighters. Deus Machina rivaled Warrior Takemikazuchi in bulk and stature, with the Bujin edging slightly over the War Machine in height thanks to his horns.

They were like two mighty titans, their presence filling the arena and thickening the tension.

With such close proximity, the audience was curious to see what would happen next.

Before each match, following the introductions of the fighters, there was a brief interlude where the Players could speak with their opponent.

Throughout the first round, this pre-fight period involved all manner of trash talk from the Players. Everything from biting insults to over-the-top boasts. There was even one match where the Players got physical before their match even started.

The two remained silent, and for a while, it seemed as if they were going to keep it that way. However, it was Warrior Takemikazuchi who made the first move and broke the tension.

"Let's have ourselves a good match."

Warrior Takemikazuchi held out his hand.

Deus Machina glanced at the hand before returning his gaze back to Warrior Takemikazuchi.

"Likewise, and may the best Player win."

The two fighters exchanged handshakes, a sense of mutual respect passing between the two swordsmen as they walked their way back to their spots.

"What a refreshing degree of sportsmanship between Warrior Takemikazuchi and Deus Machina." Said Sam.

Many in the audience grumbled, feeling a bit disappointed that they wouldn't see anything interesting or exciting. Nevertheless, the feeling passed as a new excitement was about to take place next.

"WELL, WITH THAT OUT OF THE WAY, LET'S GET THIS PARTY STARTED! LET THE FINAL MATCH OF THE FIRST ROUND BEGIN!" Bob exclaimed, and the audience's roars joined in.

Light bloomed from the arena floor. Both competitors kept their gaze locked on their opponent, even as their world gave way to blinding white light.


[—][—][—][—][—][—][—][—][—]


The light receded, and Warrior Takemikazuchi blinked, taking in the new reality around him.

He was standing on top of the roof of a building. Down below, the wide, open street stretched onward. A hub of urban landscapes greeted him. Everywhere he looked, there were buildings, low and high-rise buildings, and shops. Far in the distance, he could see the outline of towering skyscrapers, creating a beautiful contrast against the clear blue sky. The closest comparison he could give was that it resembled Shibuya in its general layout, with its open maze-like streets.

The sun was out in full force, its warm rays illuminating everything in sight, with pockets of fluffy clouds drifting lazily across the vast expanse of the sky.

A duel timer appeared, counting down from ten.

As the timer counted down, Warrior Takemikazuchi took in the scenery, both enjoying the quiet splendor while also committing to memory the general layout of the area.

Initially, the Heteromorphic Player found himself almost disappointed by the selection of the battlefield.

Throughout the first round, both the audience and fighters were treated to a wide range of stages that showcased the diverse environments where the matches took place. From a vast desert to a desolate snow-covered plain, to a grand underwater temple, and many more. The most unique stage he'd seen yet was a destroyed space station where the two Players had to fight it out using wreckage and debris as their ground and be constantly looking out for air bubbles to avoid taking continuous damage due to suffocation within the vacuum of outer space. Compared to all that came before, the stage for their match seemed mundane in comparison.

The fleeting feeling that he experienced was quickly replaced by a feeling of appreciation. Although not particularly extraordinary, there was a charming simplicity to the stage, one that was more down to earth in comparison to the more fantastical setting that YGGDRASIL had to offer. It was a refreshing reminder of something familiar - modern and easily recognizable.

As he looked around the downtown area, the samurai couldn't help but be reminded of his hometown, if it wasn't constantly choked by dark smog and black clouds. He could easily imagine the vibrant energy and bustling activity that would fill the streets in his mind.

A part of him wanted to step back and relax, to enjoy the sight that the stage had to offer. Unfortunately, he still had a match to win.

Warrior Takemikazuchi's eyes scanned the surroundings, finding no trace of his opponent. Such a fact would've been alarming, but the armored Heteromorph paid it no mind.

The beginning of the matches weren't always straightforward, like it was with Shirou and The Mountain's match, where they were set facing one another. A majority of them actually started the Players off in different locations, a fair distance away from one another. This setup allowed for dynamic encounters, as depending on the fighter's action, one could get the jump on the other or set up traps and encounters to get the edge over their opponent.

With a loud buzz, the timer hit zero, and Warrior Takemikazuchi was instantly on the move.

He raced across the rooftop, his powerful strides and leaps allowing him to easily cover the gaps between each building. The resounding clank of his heavy armor echoed through the air with each bound and landing, adding to the intensity of his movements.

With eyes and ears keenly attuned to his surroundings, the stalwart warrior remained ever-vigilant for any telltale signs of his mechanical adversary. Yet, a full minute elapsed without any indication of the presence of Deus Machina.

Warrior Takemikazuchi came to a halt as the buildings receded. Standing at the edge of the rooftop, he surveyed his surroundings with a watchful eye. As he peered out over the cityscape, he beheld an expansive street plaza stretching out below him. The winding roads leading to other parts of the city were lined with parked cars, their empty shells a testament to the solemn stillness that permeated the once-vibrant locale.

The streets were vibrant and open, but devoid of any signs of life. It was peaceful, but eerie. A snapshot of what it was like in the past, but if it had been meticulously scrubbed clean of anything that would suggest it had once been a bustling hub of activity, leaving behind only a sanitized, lifeless echo of its former self.

The quietness would soon be broken.

His ear twitched, catching a faint sound. A whistling in the air.

He craned his head as the noise grew louder and louder.

In the distance, he spotted a missile canister rocketing towards him.

Gripping Takemikazuchi MK 7 with both hands, Warrior Takemikazuchi prepared his skill. Before he could activate it, the canister's shell detached, unleashing a barrage of micro-missiles — fifteen to be exact — in a wide spread.

His eyes widened as the missiles flew towards him faster. He quickly forgoed his attack, jumping over the side and descending rapidly. The missiles exploded across the rooftop, sending a shower of debris everywhere.

Warrior Takemikazuchi landed on a car; the vehicle flattened from the force of his fall.

He ran across the street, his eyes alert for any more incoming ordnance. As he made his way across the crossing, another sound reverberated through the air. The blaring roar of an engine, accompanied by the sound of powerful thrust.

From the cloud of smoke, Deus Machina made his appearance. The War Machine was a sight to behold, with bright blue flames bursting from the thrusters that propelled the metal behemoth through the air.

The three-barreled chain gun hummed as it revved up. A soft whirr sung out - a melody for the buzzing cacophony.

Deus Machina fired upon Warrior Takemikazuchi. The rounds tore through the air, unleashing a storm of lead.

"[Swift Stride], [Deflection], [Bullet Evade]!"

Using a combination of skills, Warrior Takemikazuchi swung his blade as he ran, his arms going through the motion. The incoming fire was deflected, but not completely. However, thanks to his heavy armor, he took no damage besides a tiny bit of chip damage.

Warrior Takemikazuchi ran towards a car as Deus Machina circled him from above, the stream of bullets flowing ceaselessly as the mechanical Player pushed the advantage.

Reaching it, his leg stomped the trunk of the car, flipping it up as the Bujin used it as a makeshift shield.

Countless holes riddled the car, turning it quickly into Swiss cheese, with a few billets pinging off his armor. It wouldn't last, but Warrior Takemikazuchi never intended for it to.

His eyes tracked Deus Machina, mentally charting his speed and path.

His hand gripped the roof, metal creaking under his grip. He threw the ruined car into the air.

The throw wasn't accurate; it was far from it, but the sight of a hunk of metal flying towards him was enough to make Deus Machina steer off his course, avoiding it with ease. Exactly as Warrior Takemikazuchi intended.

"[Kamaitachi: Swift Wind Sickle]!"

He swung Takemikazuchi MK 7 downwards with both hands, unleashing a fast shockwave slash.

Deus Machina would show off his maneuverability as his side thrusters ignited, allowing him to perform a quick boost, dodging the attack. With another burst, he boosted forward towards his foe, his hand falling to the handle of his katana.

Warrior Takemikazuchi stood his ground.

"[Stride Breaker]!"

"[Full Strike]!"

Deus Machina crashed into Warrior Takemikazuchi, their skills clashing. Despite his best effort, the Heteromorphic Player was forced back, his feet digging into the ground, leaving deep grooves along the street as he was pushed back.

The two swordsmen locked blades in a tight embrace, their bodies pressing aggressively forward, two forces of equal strength matching and stalemating.

The high-pitched hissing vibration, accompanied by a shower of yellow and red sparks, filled the air as the blades vied for dominance.

Warrior Takemikazuchi scrutinized Deus Machina's blade, allowing him to identify the weapon.

'An HF blade!' He recognized, and a Divine class one at that.

High-frequency blades, or HF blades, as they were commonly referred to, were a category of swords that were known for their speed and high damage. In flavor text, they were weapons that made use of high-frequency vibration, hence the name. A powerful current vibrates through the blade at such intense speed that the weapon destabilizes the target's molecular bonds, allowing it to forcefully slice through anything. This special property was what attributed to the weapon's high damage value and allowed them to shred through a weapon or equipment's durability.

Balancing out their advantages, HF blades' durability was among the lowest in the game. They degrade at a faster rate than any other weapon in the game and require constant repair and maintenance. This was doubly true for the higher-tier blades and the requirements to create one.

Divine class HF blades required a substantial amount of materials and Data Crystals, more than the typical Divine class weapon or equipment. The amount of effort and resources required to make, upgrade, and maintain one to the maximum stats could be used to create two other Divine class items of equal worth.

Warrior Takemikazuchi had a couple himself, but they were Relic and Legendary class weapons only. He didn't see much point in investing in making one when his Takemikazuchi series could do the job just as easily and be less of a resource sink.

However, if one were to put in the time and effort, then it was a powerful weapon to have.

Warrior Takemikazuchi broke the stalemate, forcing Deus Machina back.

His eyes fell to his sword, immediately noticing a tiny, chipped part of the weapon's edge falling off despite only a brief initial clash.

A common tactic to use was using the HF blade to break an opponent's weapon, rendering the opponent weaponless and allowing the user to press the advantage. Despite his Takemikazuchi MK 7 being an equally Divine class weapon, Deus Machina's HF blade held a slight edge over Warrior Takemikazuchi's own blade.

Where many other Players might find themselves worried, Warrior Takemikazuchi was the exact opposite. A surge of excitement swelled within at the prospect of the foe before him.

'Then I'll just have to beat him before it becomes a problem!'

"C'mon!" He shouted. "Let's dance!"

Warrior Takemikazuchi pressed the attack, committing to a full offensive. Deus Machina followed suit.

"[Razor Edge]!"

"[Full Sabre]!"

"[Blade Rush]!"

"[Reverse Clap]!"

"[Shock Slasher]!"

"[Impact Striker]!"

"[Sword Rush]!"

"[Slash Drive]!"

The two highly skilled warriors clashed their swords furiously, releasing a barrage of powerful skills that echoed throughout the streets. The air shook with a deafening roar as crimson and golden lightning met, accompanied by the screeching of metal with each powerful exchange.

The sound of their master-crafted blades swinging with speed and ferocity filled the air, creating a pitched whistle that resonated through the surroundings.

Despite the ferocity of their duel, neither Player had landed a significant blow on the other. Occasionally, a swift slash from their opponent would clip their shoulders or bodies, but their swordsmanship and agility were nearly equal. They continued to showcase their impressive skills, executing swift slashes, tricky feints, and timely parries as they engaged in the deadly dance of the sword.

'He's good.'

That was the thought that ran through the minds of Warrior Takemikazuchi, Shirou, Touch Me, and many others.

What made Warrior Takemikazuchi truly dangerous wasn't simply his hyper-aggressive gameplay, but how he supplemented his playstyle with his exceptional skills and mastery of kenjutsu. Any amateur could swing a weapon around, but there was more to fighting beyond swinging a sword and using an attack skill to do all the work. His years of training and fighting with and against the likes of Touch Me and Shirou have honed his skills to greater heights.

The fact that Deus Machina was able to contest the Nephilim samurai spoke volumes of his own skill with the blade.

'But…'

"[Raikiri: Lightning Cutter]!"

Warrior Takemikazuchi purposely left an opening, baiting his opponent in as he swung his blade. The Heteromorph performed a counter riposte, knocking the crimson katana away and landing a powerful diagonal slash with his skill across Deus Machina's chassis in one fluid motion. Sparks and wires were exposed from the gash.

'I'm better!'

The Automata faltered, taking the first significant damage since the match began, his HP dropping a fraction.

Warrior Takemikazuchi pressed the advantage, forcing Deus Machina back.

"[Circular Flash]!"

He pulled back Takemikazuchi Mk 7 and instantly swung in a circular arc.

Deus Machina swiftly boosted backwards, evading the attack completely and increasing the gap between them by a few meters.

"[Archer Missile]!"

Another missile canister fired, and the outer shell immediately fell away, dispensing its miniature payloads.

"[Supiasurīarō: Spear Three Arrow]!"

A spectral aura flowed forth from Warrior Takemikazuchi, forming a massive bow with three spectral, spear-like arrows notched.

He clenched his fist, releasing his arrows against the missiles.

The two attacks collided, producing a powerful explosion that rocked the street and kicked up a massive cloud of smoke.

The Bujin charged out of the smoke, giving chase to his target.

"You're not getting away that easily!" Warrior Takemikazuchi shouted.

Deus continued to quick boost away, trying to maintain distance with the aggressive samurai.

"[Bullet Burst]!" His heavy chain gun roared to life with a loud flurry of bullets.

Warrior Takemikazuchi used the same combination of skills as in the beginning against the heavy machine gun fire, deflecting the barrage as he gave chase.

The distance between them shortened.

Seeing that none of his armaments weren't doing any good, Deus Machina employed a different method of halting the samurai's pursuit.

His other arm reached out and flipped a stationary car as he continued firing while quick boosting backward down the street, sending the vehicle bouncing towards the relentless Heteromorph. He didn't stop at one, as two more cars joined in.

Warrior Takemikazuchi dodged one of the incoming cars by swerving to the side. Another bounced, and he dodge-rolled under it as it flipped over him.

"[Cleave]!"

The last car was cut into two. As the two halves flew past him, his arm shot out and grabbed onto the frontal half of the car by the roof.

He gritted his teeth as he pulled with all his strength and threw that half of the car right back at Deus Machina in one swift move.

Deus Machina's optics widened in surprise at the unexpected counter.

"[Shield Matrix]!"

A bright, transparent blue barrier formed around Deus Machina in the shape of an octahedron.

The front half of the car slammed into the barrier, flattening against the defensive skill before exploding. Through the smoke, Deus Machina remained unharmed, the shield showing no sign of damage whatsoever.

Warrior Takemikazuchi closed the distance in an instance.

"[Vorpal Strike]!"

He brought down Takemikazuchi MK 7 with his skill, the attack striking the octahedral barrier with significant force. The shield rattled, but it maintained its strength.

Warrior Takemikazuchi delivered a flurry of swift slashes, seeking to find a chink or break through the defensive barrier.

The barrier held strong, resolute against any impending threat. A change that was in stark contrast to the Automata's previous actions, where he had taken measures to create some distance between himself and the Heteromorph.

'The shield's powerful, but the trade-off is that you can't make any moves while it's active.' Warrior Takemikazuchi reckoned.

Effectively, Deus Machina was a stationary target. In which case, the Nephilim fully intended to use that to his advantage.

"[Lethal Cut], [Flowing Axel], [Kashira Blow]!"

[Lethal Cut] landed with a swift horizontal slash, which flowed seamlessly into [Flowing Axel], which saw Takemikazuchi MK 7 land several more slashes, ending with [Kashira Blow], which delivered a strike with the pommel of the blade.

On its own, [Kashira Blow] was a weak offensive skill that saw very little use. However, it was one of many skills that Warrior Takemikazuchi made frequent use of. Specifically, making use of the skill's animation frames and allowing him to weave his more powerful skills together into a combo to increase his DPS.

With Deus Machina remaining stationary, [Kashira Blow] landed quickly, the attack registering instantly, which he then weaved into his next skills.

"[Shoulder Bash], [Yamāntaka]!"

The Defeater of Death, Daiitoku Myo-o, materialized over Warrior Takemikazuchi, smiting Deus Machina with his massive club.

At the same time, he used [Shoulder Bash], making use of the skill's fast attack frames.

Both skills landed simultaneously, and this time, cracks spread across the upper and frontal sections of the barrier.

"[Violent Flash]!" Golden lightning weaved through Takemikazuchi MK 7 as he swung at the weakened sections, breaking through the barrier.

The lightning-infused blade dug deeper into Deus Machina's shoulder, exposing more internal wiring and machinery, and sparked a shower of electrical discharge. His HP dropped into the high yellow with the direct hit.

"You didn't think that would be enough to stop me, did'ya?!" Warrior Takemikazuchi grinned.

Before he could pull his weapon back for another swing, the azure barrier shimmered before dissipating, freeing Deus Machina.

The Automata wasted no time, his hand grabbing onto the lightning blade to prevent Warrior Takemikazuchi from pulling back. At the same time, he pointed his gun-mounted arm right at the Heteromorph's chest.

"[Chain Burst]!"

Deus Machina fired point-blank into Warrior Takemikazuchi's chest.

The Heteromorph gritted his teeth as the hail of bullets clattered against his chest plate. It felt like a stream of tiny marbles was hitting his chest - an uncomfortable feeling, to say the least.

Despite his passive resistances and heavy armor, his HP was gradually decreasing under continuous fire.

Warrior Takemikazuchi attacked with a frontal kick, driving Deus Machina back and separating them. The two Players stumbled backward, but where Deus Machina attempted to recover his footing, Warrior Takemikazuchi brought his whole weight around, stomping forward with a swing of his blade.

Deus Machina brought up his HF katana, his other hand pressing against the back of the blade to help stabilize his grip. He blocked and halted Warrior Takemikazuchi's slash.

"[Cloudburst Grenade]!"

Warrior Takemikazuchi heard a 'fwoomp' sound effect, his eyes immediately tracking the small, cylindrical canister that fired out of Deus Machina and into the air. He watched as it spun through the air, reaching its zenith quickly before falling back down with light flowing out of the gaps.

He instantly pulled back and braced himself, bringing up his blade into a defensive stance. But instead of an explosion, the grenade exploded with a flash as dense smoke filled the area.

A thick cloud of gray smoke consumed Warrior Takemikazuchi's line of sight, making him lose sight of his opponent.

The smoke obscured everything in his vision.

"[Whirlwind Slash]!"

He swung Takemikazuchi MK 7 in a sweeping arc, generating a miniaturized tornado with arcs of lightning coursing through it. The skill also generated slashes that shot outward, slicing through the air.

It helped to disperse the smoke, allowing him more visibility.

However, Deus Machina was nowhere to be seen.

"Where are you?" He muttered under his breath, his eyes scanning the smoky surroundings for his opponent.

His ears twitched, catching a machinery-like clicking sound.

"There!"

He charged forward, undaunted.

The smoke receded, and through the gaps, he spotted Deus Machina's V-shaped horned head ahead of him.

"Gotcha! [Raikiri: Lightning Cutter]!"

As the distance between them closed, Warrior Takemikazuchi prepared one of his powerful skills, fully intending to cut him down.

"Takemikazuchi-san, don't!" Shirou exclaimed, jumping up to his feet.

But from the waiting wing, his words of warning would go unheard as he and the audience watched what happened next.

In his haste, the armored Heteromorph neglected to take into account the possibility of the mechanical Player waiting for him.

The shroud of smoke still partially concealed him, namely his torso and arms, and, by extension, his weapon. Upon separation, Deus Machina sheathed his HF blade and took a stance, waiting for his opponent to come sprinting ahead as he knew he would. His right hand rested on the katana's handle while his left lay on the sheath, a finger resting on the trigger.

The two warriors came face to face, and by the time Warrior Takemikazuchi took notice of Deus Machina's stance, it was already too late.

At the last second, just before the purple lightning-infused slash could land, his mechanical finger pressed down on the trigger.

"[Trigger Draw: Jetstream]!"

A single, loud bang was heard across the entire city, followed by a deafening silence.

Warrior Takemikazuchi was knocked off his feet, his back skidding harshly against the street as he traveled a fair distance backward. His vision swam, and his sense of balance was thrown off as a moment of intense vertigo overtook him. Smoke hissed from the slash mark that stretched diagonally across his chest and pauldrons. The attack dropped his HP down into the yellow.

'W-what the hell was t-that?!' He thought wildly and breathlessly, his mind racing to try and make sense of what just happened.

The force behind the counter quite literally knocked the breath out of him.

While Warrior Takemikazuchi was left bewildered by what had just happened - something that'd happened so fast that not even he registered what happened - those watching the match unfold had a different perspective.

Just before the samurai's attack made contact, Deus Machina pressed down on the trigger on his sheath alongside the activation of his skill. A loud and powerful bang resounded out, his electrifying crimson HF blade firing out of the sheath at extreme speed.

Deus Machina channeled the spontaneous speed and explosive power into his swing, matching and even overpowering Warrior Takemikazuchi's attack in an instant.

Deus Machina stood tall, his arm still outstretched from the force of the empowered swing. The top of his sheath, which housed the barrel and trigger, hissed with hot steam. Crimson electricity crackled and coursed through the HF blade, the air popping from the heat and energy that it emitted.

With the audience, many of them were clamoring in their seats. Throughout the fight, they watched as the two Players fought with near-equal skill, strength, and ferocity. When Warrior Takemikazuchi gained the edge, many thought that would be it for Deus Machina. Only for him to reveal another move in his arsenal and knock the Bujin flat on his back. And just like that, the scales tipped once again. It was quite the turnaround, and one very few saw coming, which only made the match even more exhilarating as it was anyone's game.

"I see that much hasn't changed…" ShikiHime muttered with a shake of her head.

"Takemikazuchi-san. Get up and move, now!" Touch Me stressed, his body leaning forward in his seat with his hand tightly gripping the armrest.

However, much like with Shirou, his words would reach no one as the World Champions, and the audience was treated to yet another deadly weapon in the War Machine's arsenal.

Warrior Takemikazuchi recovered, slowly lifting his head, his vision righting itself. Amidst the chaoticness of his thoughts, a sense of clarity pierced through the storm of discord.

'Why hasn't he followed it up?' He thought.

With him on his back, he was wide open for Deus Machina's missiles and machine gun, or he could've closed the distance and lay into him with his deadly HF blade.

Just what exactly was he planning…?

And then he heard it—a heavy clank and a sharp buzz in the air.

Warrior Takemikazuchi's vision focused on Deus Machina, who remained where he was with his body hunched forward. The sun's ray glinted off the lengthy gun barrel mounted on Deus Machina's shoulder, which was pointed directly at the downed Heteromorph. The electric coils and capacitors of the gun thrummed with building energy.

In that instant, all of his instincts blared to life, adrenaline flooding his body, overtaking the previous weariness.

He hastily rolled, stumbling back to his feet and dashing to the side.

Deus Machina discharged his ultimate attack.

"[Flash Step]!"

"[Kaiser Impact]!"

From the very beginning, the moment Warrior Takemikazuchi laid eyes on his opponent, he instantly latched onto the weapon peaking over his shoulder. Given its general shape and aesthetic, he had a fair idea of what kind of weapon it was and the danger it represented. Throughout their fight, he kept it at the forefront of his mind, always vigilant, with a plan in mind should it ever come to it.

It was this caution that allowed him to react in time, even amidst his disorientation.

He blinked forward, covering only two meters in distance, but it would be just enough to get him out of the attack's path. And just in time too, as not even a fraction of a second later, Deus Machina fired.

An azure lick of thunder flickered between the coils and capacitor. Electricity and power crackled and bounced between the narrow space of the three-pronged barrel, building up to an intense level.

A piercing, blinding bolt shot out from the barrel, achieving supersonic speed in a fraction of a second.

Warrior Takemikazuchi felt it before he heard it.

He ran, only for his vision to tilt and turn upside down. A sense of weightlessness took over. It felt as if he was floating through space for a moment, untethered by the law of gravity that anchored him to the earth below. The sensation passed as his body jerked, propelled forward by the shockwave of the attack. What followed next was an ear-shattering, thunderous boom that threatened to leave him deaf.

The force behind the shockwave was so great that everything in front of Deus Machina that was not heavy enough or bolted down within the vicinity of the trajectory of the attack was blown away. Chunks of the street broke off, pieces of the sidewalk scattered, cars flipped, windows shattered into thousands of pieces, the sides of buildings collapsed, and much more.

Warrior Takemikazuchi may have dodged a direct hit, but he didn't leave unscathed as the force propelled him through the wall of a building. The roof collapsed into itself, burying the armored Heteromorph in a layer of rubble.

In the distance, there were several tall buildings and skyscrapers clumped together. [Kaiser Impact] traveled unimpeded and punched through them as if they were wet paper, leaving a massive, gaping hole in the center. A second later, the structural integrity of the buildings collapsed in on themselves.

The raw power and destruction displayed were nothing short of jaw-dropping for those watching.

For Ainz Ooal Gown, many of the members slumped back in their seats, relief filling them. That was way too close…

Warrior Takemikazuchi's head emerged from the rubble, wobbly and disoriented, but no worse for wear.

Within the deafening, all-consuming silence, a sudden, sharp hiss echoed through the emptiness.

He looked around, taking in the devastation, before his eyes landed on Deus Machina.

The mechanical Player remained in his previous position, unmoving and dull. Bursts of hot steam were expelled from the various gaps across the avatar's body. The warped coils dislodged, falling to the ground with a thud as new ones rose to replace the old ones.

It took the Nephilim's mind half a second to realize what exactly he was seeing and another half before it clicked inside his head.

Warrior Takemikazuchi broke out of the rubble with upmost haste and sprinted forward.

'One… Two… Three…'

He closed the gap between them as fast as he could.

'Six…!'

Just as he reached him, Deus's Machina's emerald eyes flashed to life, and he burst into action. He brought his HF blade around, and red and yellow lightning intermixed as the two blades clashed.

"Tsk!" Warrior Takemikazuchi clicked his tongue.

He was so close, but now he'd at least had a cooldown time to assign to the weapon. He just needed to find a way to make use of those six seconds…

'Eight seconds.' Shirou thought, having accurately timed the cooldown duration.

For such a destructive weapon, it would've required an equal drawback. After firing the railgun, Deus Machina would be locked in place, unable to move or react for those eight seconds. Shirou surmised that the physical reaction of his body shutting down and the steam being expelled were visual cues to indicate the cooldown time.

Eight seconds was a lot to ask of a Player, especially in PvP, where one second could spell the difference between victory and defeat. But seeing the power and devastation his railgun wrought, the trade-off was more than fair, even if it wasn't a direct hit.

'You can think of it almost like a Super-Tier Magic.' Touch Me drew a comparison in his head.

The railgun was undeniably powerful but quite situational, similar to the usage of Super-Tier Magic. Both required discretion and set-up, with Deus Machina needing to anchor himself down first to prevent himself from being blown away by the recoil and taking aim before firing.

'In that case, that means he can't just spam the attack and has to be very careful with when to use it.'

Touch Me wagered that Deus Machina could fire his railgun a total of three times at the minimum and four times at the maximum. Having five shots was too high, especially considering the power behind such an attack that could one-shot a Player with a direct hit. One or two was too few, and if that was the case, then the Automata would've likely kept it hidden until he was absolutely certain that the attack would land, rather than take the first chance he did. Three or four made sense, but that meant that the War Machine had a match-finisher in his back pocket to whip out if needed.

Warrior Takemikazuchi may have dodged the first, but the rest of the match was still in the air.

Deus Machina performed another quick boost, propelling himself backward and jumping as his thrusters ignited, allowing him to hover. He retreated while firing on the armored Heteromorph with [Bullet Burst].

Rather than giving chase, Warrior Takemikazuchi followed his lead. He deflected the incoming machine gun fire while retreating, moving with the grace and speed of a seasoned warrior.

Deus Machina rounded a street corner, hiding behind the adjacent building. Meanwhile, Warrior Takemikazuchi slipped into a nearby alleyway, his back pressing against the brick wall.

A momentary lull settled over the battlefield. Both Players used the respite to catch their breath and recover, preparing for the next phase of the fight.

"[Nanomachine Recovery]!"

"Activate: [Boost Magic: Sacred Grace]!"

A swarm of tiny lights raced across Deus Machina's chassis, repairing the damage and bringing him back to full HP.

One of Warrior Takemikazuchi's rings, the [Ring of Nibelung], glowed, and a spell circle appeared, restoring his armor and healing him back to full health.

The ring was a gift from his friend and fellow blacksmith, Amanomahitotsu, who argued good-naturedly that he should have some items for utility rather than have every single equipped item on him be kitted towards solely pure offensive.

A notion that the samurai playfully scoffed at. It was either go big or go home for him.

Of course, that didn't mean he outright ignored his longtime friend's advice. For all his showboating, even he recognized the necessity of having a fallback, just in case.

"Quite the intense skirmish we just witnessed. Both fighters have shown their skill and strength, but I reckon Deus Machina edges slightly over Warrior Takemikazuchi in their last bout. Warrior Takemikazuchi will need a new plan of attack if he wishes to compete with Deus Machina's deadly arsenal." Came the analysis from Sam.

"I have a plan… Attack!"

Warrior Takemikazuchi sprinted out, rushing down the street with a new set of skills to boost his speed and endurance.

Many would've called Warrior Takemikazuchi out for being reckless, charging head-long into the enemy who'd shown himself capable. But the Nephilim did have a plan in mind. A very simple one at that.

His opponent's arsenal was tough, particularly his railgun. In that case, he'd just have to prevent Deus Machina from even having a chance to use them against him!

Deus Machina boosted out from the corner, putting one another in clear view of the other.

"[Archer Missile]!"

He fired another missile canister. However, instead of firing at his opponent, the Automata's target was the side of an office building just ahead of Warrior Takemikazuchi.

Chunks of debris fell, and the Heteromorph halted, lest he be flattened by the rain of rubble.

A cloud of dust obscured the street, cutting off his line of sight from his opponent.

Suddenly, Deus Machina burst forth from the smoke, his thrusters propelling him forward as he took to the offensive.

The two exchanged a few slashes, with Deus Machina parrying one of Warrior Takemikazuchi's swings. Instead of following through with his swing, the Automata pulled back his sword while his other hand unclipped his sheathe and wielded it.

With his finger firmly on the trigger, Deus Machina held the sheathed HF katana and blade aloft.

Warrior Takemikazuchi, remembering the outcome of their previous clash, reacted instinctively, quickly bringing up Takemikazuchi MK 7 to defend against the impending attack.

However, this was what Deus Machina wanted him to do.

Deus Machina quickly boosted forward, hitting the Heteromorph with a shoulder bash, staggering the samurai, and giving him the opening he was looking for.

"[Trigger Draw: Haze]!"

The trigger sheath fired, and he swung at lightning speed, far faster than before, but with a noticeable lack of power.

However, such a fact proved trivial as the crimson high-frequency blade sliced through Warrior Takemikazuchi's right arm with precision ease, taking his arm at the halfway mark. Time seemingly slowed down as the towering samurai could only watch in stunned disbelief as his severed arm flew and tumbled to the ground while Takemikazuchi MK 7 flipped through the air and landed a fair distance down the street, the blade stabbing the road.

"OH NO! SOMEONE GIVE HIM A HAND, BECAUSE IT LOOKS LIKE WARRIOR TAKEMIKAZUCHI HAS BEEN… DIS-ARMED!"

"That was a low-hanging fruit, and you know it, Bob."

"IT WOULD'VE BEEN A GREATER SIN FOR ME NOT TO MAKE IT, SAMMIE! DO YOU KNOW HOW RARE THESE HANDS JOKES ARE?!"

Ignoring the commentator's banter, the two Players locked eyes.

Despite the swift injury dealt to him, Warrior Takemikazuchi didn't panic, compartmentalizing his shock and surprise as his mind prioritized a singular objective.

As one, they turned towards where Takemikazuchi MK 7 was planted.

Warrior Takemikazuchi sprinted as fast as he could, but Deus Machina overtook him easily thanks to his thrusters boosting him forward.

The mechanical Player reached for the weapon first and pulled it free.

Warrior Takemikazuchi could only watch as the Automata reared his arm back and, with all his strength, threw his beloved weapon away. Takemikazuchi MK 7 flew, flipping through the air and gradually becoming smaller and smaller as it disappeared into the distance.

The Bujin skidded to a stop, his mouth left agape.

"R-really?!" Warrior Takemikazuchi complained, sounding more annoyed than fearful. "Dick move, man."

Deus Machina responded by pointing his gun at him, the gun barrels whirling with deadly intent.

"Oh shit…" He squeaked.

He immediately took off running as Deus Machina unleashed his ranged armaments, a barrage of bullets, and a swarm of missiles from another [Archer Missile].

"[Oni Armor], [Seeping Spirit]!"

An orange aura enveloped him as he ran, the two enchantment skills helping to bolster his defensive stats as bullets pinged off of him. He also managed to scoop up his severed arm in time.

He bolted to the side, crashing through a storefront display window. He darted deeper into the building as the missiles pummeled the exterior. Rubble and smoke clouded the area, showing no sign of the retreating warrior.

Despite the clear advantage, Deus Machina did not give chase. Instead, he took to the air, landing on the rooftop of a building that overlooked the entire area. Sheathing his blade, he crossed his arms and waited, silent and watchful, across the empty cityscape.

"Now then, what will you do now, Warrior Takemikazuchi-san?"


[—][—][—][—][—][—][—][—][—]


"This is bad… This is REALLY bad!" Amanomahitotsu repeated, his claws snapping anxiously.

"No shit." Said Ulbert, a hint of concern laced in his usually dry droll tone for his guildmate.

On the holographic screens, it displayed Deus Machina perched atop a building, content to remain as he was, with Warrior Takemikazuchi running through the back alleys. He stopped after realizing that Deus Machina wouldn't be giving chase. The audience watched on as he mutely placed the severed hand over the stump, light blooming from the [Ring of Nibelung] as he used another healing spell. And just like that, the limb was restored and was as good as new.

For the moment, peace settled over the city.

All eyes were on Warrior Takemikazuchi, wondering and waiting to see just what exactly he would do next to get out of such a predicament.

None were more concerned and speculative than Ainz Ooal Gown, with the various members discussing what he could do to possibly turn the fight in his favor.

"He needs to retrieve his sword. There's no other way for him to even think of winning without it." Said Tabula, his webbed fingers steepled together as he sat leaning forward.

"He'll need to find it first, and good luck with that." Yamaiko grunted, her leg bouncing up and down restlessly while she sat.

"Hold on! He still has plenty of skills that he can do plenty of damage with." Peroroncino spoke up.

"Aye. There's no way Takemikazuchi-san's going to take this lying down." Nishikienrai agreed, sitting with his arms crossed. "If he can get in close, then he can turn the tides in his favor."

"If being the key word here." Punitto Moe pointed out. "Machina-san would be a fool to let someone like Takemikazuchi-san free reign to get in close. He's no slouch with a blade either, but he holds the range advantage. There's nothing in Takemikazuchi-san's skill list that can match his ranged attack or even come close to it."

"And that's not accounting for any other weapons or surprises Machina-san might have hidden away." Added Bellriver. "He can attack at range, chipping away at Takemikazuchi-san's HP, fight him up close with greater mobility, or just snipe him with that railgun he got. He has options; Takemikazuchi-san doesn't. Not unless he wants to risk it all and charge him head-on."

"Knowing him, that's very plausible." Bukubukuchagama commented.

"What do you think, babe?" Destana asked, seeing Momomga silent throughout the discussion.

"I'm… unsure." He said, and that pained him to admit.

The guild was divided. The majority of them were of the opinion that he needed to retrieve his sword to stand a chance against Deus Machina. A feat easier said than done. The rest believed that he had the means to seize victory even without his trusty katana, but it wouldn't come easily, not without some very high-risk plays.

Shirou and Touch Me's opinions mirrored the guild's consensus. The virtual magus believed that Warrior Takemikazuchi needed to retrieve his sword to increase his odds of winning. However, this would prove to be a daunting task, with Deus Machina no doubt being on the lookout for any attempt to sneak past him in the direction where Takemikazuchi MK 7 had been thrown. The World Champion believed that his friend and rival had the means to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat, but the critical question that lingered was how he could achieve this feat without his sword.

Everyone had their own thoughts and opinions, including Deus Machina, who was waiting to see what his opponent would do next and react accordingly.

Hiding in the dark alleyway, with his back pressed against the wall, both figuratively and literally, the true thoughts of Warrior Takemikazuchi belonged to him and him alone.

A whirlwind of emotions swirled within him, but the most prominent of all was excitement.

A toothy grin stretched across his face. The look on his face - it was not one of resignation or frustration, but rather determination.

Despite the odds stacked against him, he hadn't given up just yet.

Like everyone else, Warrior Takemikazuchi faced similar conclusions on what he should do next.

But instead of being bogged down by the seemingly only two options available, he instead decided to make a third alternative.

'When in doubt, improvise!'


[—][—][—][—][—][—][—][—][—]


Minutes passed by in silence as Deus Machina waited to see what his opponent would do next.

Like everyone else, he reasoned that Heteromorph would try and make an attempt to retrieve his weapon. Hence, he took to a vantage point to make sure Warrior Takemikazuchi didn't sneak past him.

Yet, nothing had happened for the last few minutes, leaving him confused.

"Hey!" A faint shout echoed through the air, drawing him out of his thoughts.

He looked ahead, catching an orange silhouette in the far-off distance.

"[Zoom]."

He activated a skill, his vision magnifying.

Warrior Takemikazuchi stood on the rooftop of a building.

The two Players stared at one another from across the battlefield.

With his zoomed-in vision, he saw Warrior Takemikazuchi giving him the middle finger, followed up with a 'come at me' gesture with his fingers.

He then turned and jumped off the side of the building, disappearing from the Player's sight.

Deus Machina frowned, wondering just what exactly the Heteromorph had planned.

There were only two directions for the match to continue. Either Deus Machina goes after him or Warrior Takemikazuchi comes to him instead. And if the samurai was running away, in the opposite direction of where he threw his sword, no less, then that left only one option left for the Automata to take.

With a quick boost, he followed after his opponent.

There was no rush in his movement, keeping to a semi-languid pace as he traveled. He kept a watchful eye and ear for any signs of his adversary. For all he knew, the Bujin might be leading him on in an attempt to juke past him. That, or lead him into a trap.

Even without his sword, Deus Machina would not underestimate a Player of Warrior Takemikazuchi's caliber, advantage or not.

For the audience watching, the holographic screens focused entirely on Deus Machina, leaving the happenings of Warrior Takemikazuchi as a complete mystery.

Hopping from building to building, he found himself entering a different district - an entertainment district, if the stores and surroundings were any indications.

As he traversed the new section of the metropolis, the buildings receded as the street below opened up. All the winding roads led to a massive parking lot, with vehicles of all shapes and sizes parked randomly. A large, expansive mall lies ahead of him. Adjacent to the mall, a towering hotel complex loomed.

He boosted off the building, landing in the parking lot. He casually made his way forward, his eyes darting all around in hopes of catching his surprisingly elusive opponent.

The possibility that Warrior Takemikazuchi might have given him the slip crossed his mind, only for him to catch something out of the corner of his eye.

With a quick boost, he evaded to the side, dodging a spectral spear. The attack obliterated a nearby car, engulfing it in flames and smoke. Alarms blared out from the surrounding vehicles, filling the air with a cacophony of sound.

The attack had come from the direction of the hotels.

'There you are.'

Deus Machina blasted forward, taking to the air.

The hotel complex consisted of three separate buildings, each one tall and slender. These buildings were arranged in a triangular formation. The positioning of the hotel buildings formed three vertices, creating gaps between them that provided access to a spacious courtyard at ground level. This courtyard was the heart of the complex, featuring a stunning fountain at its center that served as a unifying element for the paths leading to each of the three hotel buildings.

He hovered in the center, high in the air, as the three buildings surrounded him.

'Where are you hiding?'

He spun in place, casting his gaze from one building onto the next.

As he performed a full sweep, his audio receptors caught a sharp 'whoosh' sound.

Using his thrusters, he boosted upwards, dodging the skill [Supiasurīarō: Spear Three Arrow]. His head instantly snapped in the direction from which the attack originated.

He looked ahead. There, his eyes tracked a shadowy silhouette running down the long stretch of hallway through the lined windows.

Deus Machina did not know why Warrior Takemikazuchi chose this location, but it was evident that he had a plan. Charging in after him would be playing into his hand.

In that case, the War Machine resolved to end the match right then and there.

Deus Machina tilted forward, his railgun coming to bear. At the same time, all of his thrusters activated, igniting a sea of thruster flame. Brilliant blue electricity crackled as the barrels lit up with energy.

"He can fire his railgun while midair?!" Herohero exclaimed, a shock mirrored by the rest of Ainz Ooal Gown.

"[Kaiser Impact]!"

The piercing bolt punched through the hotel building, vaporizing a good chunk of the main structure. What remained of the hotel was practically ripped from its foundation due to the force and shockwave of the attack, sending debris flying in all directions.

The other two hotels in the vicinity managed to remain standing but were not spared from the destruction either. Their windows shattered into thousands of tiny pieces as cracks and fractures ran down the sides of the buildings, with chunks falling off.

Amidst the devastation, a massive cloud of dust and debris expanded outward, lowering the visibility of everything within the surrounding area.

What Deus Machina employed was by no means complicated nor extraordinary, but the method by which he used it could almost be classified as a secondary technique, so to speak. By overclocking his thrusters, he harnessed the force they generated as a counterbalance against his railgun's immense recoil. This innovative technique enabled him to fire the weapon while remaining mobile, instead of just being anchored to the ground. This granted Deus Machina greater flexibility in his use of the railgun, which made it his true trump card.

However, it comes with the caveat that Deus Machina was left in a more vulnerable position than if he were to use the skill from on the ground.

Power flickered and faded from Deus Machina's frame as his mechanical body expunged bursts of hot, white steam. Gravity swiftly took hold, and he plummeted into freefall, unable to move his body during the eight-second cooldown duration.

The Automata wasn't concerned, believing that the match would be called and he'd be transported back into the arena as the victor.

An assurance that lasted for only a second before he realized that something was wrong.

'Why haven't they declared me the winner yet?!'

Suddenly, something heavy slammed into him, knocking him out of his stupor.

It was Warrior Takemikazuchi!

'How?!' Deus Machina exclaimed internally.

Although he was immobilized, his eyes could still move around. His gaze turned back towards the ruined hotel, trying to make sense of what he was seeing. His eyes widened upon seeing a shadowy silhouette of Warrior Takemikazuchi standing in the air, unencumbered by the laws of gravity. The silhouette flickered and faded away.

"Hell yeah!" Nishikienrai jumped from his seat, fistpumping in the air, much to the confusion of everyone else.

'Thank you, Nishikienrai-san!' Thought Warrior Takemikazuchi.

The maneuver that he used was taught to him by none other than his good friend, Nishikienrai. Besides Shirou and Touch Me, the Nephilim sparred with Half-Golem on the regular. The two often trade ideas and tips with one another following their bouts, with the samurai picking up on a few tricks and advice from the ninja.

As Nishikienrai would say, "There's nothing wrong with winning a fight by beating the crap out of your opponent, but sometimes a little deception is in order."

Having reached the hotel complex first, Warrior Takemikazuchi quickly positioned himself at the remote end of one of the upper floors of one of the hotels. The moment he fired his ranged skill, knowing full well that Deus Machina would dodge it easily enough, he used another skill, [Shade Doppelganger]. This particular skill was taught to him by Nishikienrai himself and was one of the few utility skills in his repertoire. The skill creates a shadow duplicate of the user. It cannot attack, nor could it be used defensively, and it could only carry out a singular action.

The samurai made his shade run down the lengthy hallway towards the other end, intentionally putting it in clear view to draw his opponent's focus.

With Deus Machina's attention focused on his shade, Warrior Takemikazuchi used the opportunity to relocate to the other hotel building adjacent to him. While separated by a gap between them, he managed to leap across to the other side with ease. However, he knew he had to hurry to reposition himself if he wanted to take advantage of the brief window of opportunity that was to come.

When Deus Machina fired his railgun, the shockwave that followed shook the remaining two buildings to their foundations.

Warrior Takemikazuchi stumbled from the tremors, and for a moment, he feared the building would collapse regardless. Thankfully, it held, and he was able to get into position.

From there, he ran, building up speed while also using some skills to boost his speed and stats as he leapt through the broken window frame, catching Deus Machina mid-fall.

Momentum carried them as the two Players slammed through the side of the last hotel on the other side, smashing through several walls before crashing onto a hallway on one of the high-end floors.

Deus Machina could only watch, a prisoner in his own body, as Warrior Takemikazuchi recovered first and ran right at him with his hand outstretched.

He first thought that he was going in for an attack, only for his target to be revealed.

Warrior Takemikazuchi's hand grasped the handle of his HF blade, pulling it out of the sheath.

Just as the crimson katana was pulled free, the eight seconds were up, and Deus Machina immediately burst into action.

He stomped forward, hitting him with a shoulder bash, staggering the samurai. His arm shot out, grabbing onto the HF blade's hilt.

The two Players fought for dominance, pushing and shoving, slamming each other into the walls as they tussled.

Deus Machina briefly managed to overpower the samurai, wrestling his weapon back from his grip and kicking him back.

He swung his blade, only for his swing to abruptly halt and struggle.

Due to their large frames, the hallway they were in was just barely able to contain them. There wasn't enough room for him to swing his blade, leading it to be caught against the wall, the high-frequency blade cutting deep into it.

Warrior Takemikazuchi had no such trouble as he swung with his fist, landing a clean right hook, followed by a swift left hook.

Deus Machina tried to back up to put some distance between them, but Warrior Takemikazuchi wasn't going to let him go that easily. The warrior's arm stretched out, clasping onto a nearby door and ripping it off of the hinges. He hurled it towards the Automata, leaving him with little time to react as it smashed into him.

He staggered backward as wood and splinters covered his vision, further disorienting him.

"Rarr!"

With a roar, Warrior Takemikazuchi charged forward, both his arms outstretched and his hands open. Deus Machina reacted automatically, his own hands opening up and catching his as he halted the samurai's charge.

What ensued was a contest of strength between the two warriors, their hands locked in a fierce struggle, their feet leaving deep indentations on the floor.

The thrusters running along Deus Machina's back sputtered but ultimately didn't ignite.

Another repercussion of his aerial rail fire technique was that it drains the majority of his energy gauge, which powers his quick boosts and thrusters. While they do regenerate over time, the regeneration rate takes time. It was why he was always conservative with his flight and quick boosts, making sure not to use more of his energy than he needed.

He had to be tactical with what he had and needed to make the call to see if it was worth it or not, but he was indecisive.

His indecision manifested as hesitance, which gave Warrior Takemikazuchi the opening he needed.

Calling upon further strength, he won the stalemate, pushing his opponent back as they bulldozed through the hallway and out of the wall.

They fell from a great height, crashing through the roof and stained glass rooftop of the mall adjacent to the hotel. Even as they fell, they continued their struggles. Unfortunately for Deus Machina, Warrior Takemikazuchi won the struggle, leading to him being on top as the ground drew ever closer.

They slammed onto a walkway, with the mechanical Player taking the brunt of the damage and breaking through the floor.

He crashed onto the ground level, his HP dropping all the way down into the mid-yellow. Lying there, he had a clear vertical view of the mall and saw just how high of a fall they fell. The mall was large, with nearly two dozen or so floors that stretched upwards.

His hand clenched, panic shooting through him as he realized that he had lost his weapon.

His optics scoured the surrounding area, desperately searching for his weapon. He found it on the ground, several meters away from him.

Deus Machina instantly got to his feet and boosted towards it.

Reclaiming his weapon, he next looked for Warrior Takemikazuchi, finding the Heteromorph on the walkway on the second floor. He had let go just before they hit the walkway.

"See ya'!" He said playfully, giving the mechanized Player a two-finger salute before taking off.

Deus Machina quickly gave chase, using a quick boost to jump onto the second floor.

They ran deeper into the mall, with Warrior Takemikazuchi in the lead thanks to his head start, forcing Deus Machina to use his thrusters to catch up.

He saw the samurai turn a sharp corner up ahead. He boosted forward, turning the corner in time to find a store kiosk, one of many that populated the mall's hallway, hurtling towards him.

The kiosk slammed into him, sending him flying backward into the large display window of a clothing store and crashing through the interior.

While surprised, Deus Machina recovered quickly and easily enough.

"[Nanomachine Recovery]!"

Pushing the kiosk away, he stood up and used his skill again, storing his HP back to full for good measure.

Exiting the store, he continued his chase. Luckily, he didn't have to search hard for his opponent's whereabouts as he followed the trail of footsteps left behind. It led him to a department store.

Upon stepping inside, he was greeted by an array of colors and fragrances emanating from the various perfumes and colognes on display.

He cautiously made his way forward, into the store, his grip on his katana tightening.

Walking past the various racks and merchandise, he was met with the sight of a pair of escalators situated in the center of the department store. He gazed up towards the open space, observing the escalators connecting and ascending towards the upper floors.

To the side was a crooked sign that had been altered to where an arrow pointed upwards instead of forward as it was originally positioned.

Deus Machina looked at the sign and back at the upper floors.

"[Archer Missile]!"

Firing his fifth [Archer Missile], it launched straight upwards, unleashing its payload against the uppermost floor and ceiling. The entire store shook from the force of the explosions, with dust and pieces of the ceiling raining down.

At the same time, he activated his thrusters and, with a single, boosted jump and thrust, made it to the top floor, using the explosion and smoke to conceal his movement.

Landing, he scanned his surroundings. The entire floor was covered in dust and smoke, but there was no sign of his foe.

Suddenly, something flew out of the sea of smoke.

"[Ignition Blade]!" He used a skill, swinging his HF blade and slicing through whatever it was that was thrown at him.

An explosion of fabrics filled his vision, surprising him.

They fell lazily to the ground, with a few landing on his large frame. In particular, one landed on one of his horns and slide all the down, partially covering up his vision. His hand reached up and pulled it off, allowing him to see just what exactly it was.

It was a pink, frilly thong.

What was thrown at him was a steel display basket filled with undergarments. Hanging off of him from head to toe were an assortment of colorful panties and underwear.

In that moment, Deus Machina's mind blanked out at the sight before him. Reflexively, his other arm reached out and grabbed the other end, giving the thong a stretch.

"Kyaaa! Pervert!" A high-pitched scream ripped through the air.

"Ww-w-wait! It's not what it looks like!" Deus Machina instantly panicked, his normal voice leaking through.

Turning in the direction of the scream, he found no one.

It took him a fraction of a second before he realized what was wrong.

Before he could react, Warrior Takemikazuchi tackled him once again from behind, knocking both of them over the railing and plummeting towards the ground.

Landing with a crash, the two separated.

Deus Machina let out a low growl. This was the third time he found himself knocked flat on his back, and he was getting tired of it.

However, that was a secondary concern compared to what he saw in Warrior Takemikazuchi's hand when he recovered. His sheath.

Emerald's optics widened, his head whipping down to his waist to find that it was indeed gone.

'He must've grabbed it when we were falling…!'

"[Nio Vajrapāni: Benevolent Vajra Kings]!"

Warrior Takemikazuchi used his skill, manifesting the Nio Guhyapada and Nio Narayana, with both Nio wielding electrically-charged vajra swords.

"[Shield Matrix]!"

Deus Machina hastily brought up his defensive skill, defending against the powerful combined lightning attack. It protected his HP, but the force behind the attack flung him deeper into the store, upending display desks, racks, and stands. He collided with a wall, being partially embedded in it.

Through the transparent hard light barrier, the Automata watched as Warrior Takemikazuchi clipped his trigger sheath to his own waist and took off running.

Deus Machina dropped the barrier as quickly as he could, giving chase yet again.

Unlike before, where Warrior Takemikazuchi purposely left a trail of footprints to lead him on, this time he seemingly disappeared once he left the store.

Deus Machina searched for him, running up and down the different paths and traversing the various floors for his opponent.

It took him a few short minutes before he finally found him.

Standing on a walkway on the third floor, it overlooked the center court of the mall. And there, standing out in the open in the middle, was Warrior Takemikazuchi. Curiously, what looked like a collection of long metal pipes dotted the area, stabbing the ground around the Heteromorph.

He wielded one in his hand, a substitute for his sword, as he tapped it against his shoulder.

"`Bout time you got here. I was starting to get bored." Warrior Takemikazuchi called out.

Deus Machina's optics swept the area, finding nothing else out of the ordinary.

The smart play to make would be to use his ranged armaments to attack, especially since Warrior Takemikazuchi was completely out in the open. But considering his track record so far in the match, the mechanized Player didn't place much faith in them.

Deus Machina briefly glanced at his railgun. With his vantage point, he had the seemingly perfect opportunity to end it once and for all. However, he was hesitant.

Warrior Takemikazuchi survived not just one, but both of his [Kaiser Impact]. A feat that very few could boast. They say that third time's a charm, but was he willing to risk it?

After everything he'd seen, it wouldn't surprise him if the Bujin had something else up his sleeve. And there was still the mystery of why he took his sheath in the first place…

Thirty seconds flew by as Deus Machina considered his options.

In the end, he boosted forward, jumping off the walkway and landing at ground level.

To be certain and safe, he'll end the match with his own two hands; that was the decision he made.

Slowly, the mechanized Player made his way over to his opponent.

"Finally decided to stop running, have you?" Deus Machina quipped.

"Indeed. For this is where you will meet your end, my friend." Warrior Takemikazuchi gripped the metal pipe with both hands, taking a basic forward stance.

Hearing this, Deus Machina couldn't help but scoff under his breath. His grip on his HF blade tightened as he took a stance. He figured he'd humor the samurai before dealing the coup de grâce, bringing their match to an end.

The two warriors edged closer, and once in range, they unleashed their skills.

"[Helm Splitter]!"

"[Shift Striker]!"

Warrior Takemikazuchi's skill, [Helm Splitter], landed first, striking with an overhead swing at Deus Machina's head. The metal pipe lit up due to the activation of the skill, but while it may register as a weapon, it was pitiful in comparison to his Takemikazuchi MK 7. The damage dealt was insignificant, matching the strength of the 'weapon' in his hand.

Deus Machina ignored it, landing a clean strike against the Nephilim. He tried to defend with it, only for his high-frequency blade to cut through the pipe like a hot knife through butter, leaving a long gash across his chest plate. His HP dropped into the low green.

Warrior Takemikazuchi discarded the metal pipe and hopped back, his open palms outstretched and grabbing onto two more.

"[Dual Strike]!"

"[Geist Strife]!"

He swung the metal pipes in an X fashion, meeting the Automata's swing. They held their own for half a second before the crimson katana cut right through, slashing down the samurai's left side, cutting through the pauldron, and into his shoulder. His HP dropped into the mid-yellow.

Warrior Takemikazuchi jumped back and threw the two pipes at Deus Machina, which he swatted away easily enough. The Heteromorph reached for a longer pipe, wielding it like a staff.

He swung it, hitting his opponent in the side to no effect. He then attacked with a thrust, an attack that Automata easily repelled using a skill, shortening the metal pipe and landing another blow on him. His HP dropped into the red.

Warrior Takemikazuchi reeled, dropping down to one knee, his neck left wide open.

"Your head is mine!" Deus Machina shouted, holding his HF blade high over his head.

His crimson blade fell, like an executioner's blade, liberating the Heteromorph's head from his neck and bringing the match to a close…

Or at least, that was what he thought.

'Huh…?'

Deus Machina's swing stopped.

He was confused, but the answer quickly revealed itself.

Warrior Takemikazuchi stopped Deus Machina's swing completely by intercepting it. The metal rod pressed against the pommel of the katana mid-swing, its momentum halted by the counterforce being applied from his thrust.

"Word of advice: don't commit too much to a full swing, or else you leave yourself open." Warrior Takemikazuchi said, offering a surprising piece of advice.

Deus Machina quickly pulled back, going in for another swing, but the samurai was ready for him.

With a twirl, he flipped the metal pipe completely, bringing the other end around and up, striking his opponent's chin from below within his blindspot.

Deus Machina's vision jerked upwards, his downward swing continuing sloppily.

Warrior Takemikazuchi discarded the metal pipe as he stepped into Deus Machina's guard. Before the swing could be completed, the War Machine felt a pair of hands grab ahold of his sword arm, and the next thing he knew, he felt his heavy body being lifted up and his vision flipping.

'That's…' Shirou's eyes lit up in recognition at the maneuver his guildmate revealed.

The samurai performed a one-armed shoulder throw, throwing his opponent over and onto the ground and following it up by delivering a brutal kick to the back of the head.

Deus Machina lurched, tumbling in a forward roll as he hastily recovered. His grip tightened, fully intending on using his quick boosts to recover and press the attack. The only problem with that plan was that he felt nothing but empty air between his fingers.

His emerald optics dilated, snapping to his empty hand before snapping to Warrior Takemikazuchi to find his high-frequency blade in his hands. He had disarmed him mid-throw.

'Thank you, Emiya-san!' Warrior Takemikazuch thanked him in his head.

The disarming technique that Warrior Takemikazuchi just performed was taught to him by none other than Shirou. This came about after a friendly duel between them some years ago. It was what the magus used to win their bout. Afterward, the Nephilim asked him if he could teach him the move. He figured that such a technique might one day be useful.

How right he was!

"OH, HOW THE TABLES HAVE TURNED! IT IS DEUS MACHINA'S TURN TO BE DISARMED!"

"Another one, really?"

"SCREW YOU, SAM. MY JOKES ARE HILARIOUS, AND YOU KNOW IT!"

Deus Machina instantly brought his chain gun to bear. He knew that trying to retrieve his weapon would be more hassle than it was worth. Besides, Warrior Takemikazuchi's HP was low, and he only needed a few more attacks to finish the Heteromorph off.

"[Heavy Bu—!"

"[Senkū]!"

Warrior Takemikazuchi swung, slicing at Deus Machina's forearm, right where the heavy weapon connected to his arm. It was a clean slash, severing it and leaving the mechanical Player bereft of another one of his weapons.

"Rgrhh!" Were it possible, Deus Machina's face would twist into a nasty grimace.

The Automata boosted backwards, firing another [Archer Missile].

"[Battō: Torrential Waves]!"

Warrior Takemikazuchi drew back the blade, sheathing it before drawing the high-frequency katana in an instant. He launched a spherical torrent of crimson slashes that sliced apart the missiles before they even got in range, detonating them and catching the War Machine in the resulting explosion.

The two warriors stood poised at a distance, a moment of reprieve settling after the changing tide.

"She handles like a dream." Warrior Takemikazuchi whistled, appraising the weapon.

He twirled the high-frequency blade in his hand, getting a feel of its weight and deftness. It wasn't too light, nor was it heavy in any area; it was perfectly balanced. His other hand ran down the smooth, crimson surface of the katana, mesmerized by the flicker and crackle of crimson electricity coursing through the peerless blade.

"Does she have a name?" Warrior Takemikazuchi asked, a sense of genuine curiosity bubbling through for the craftsmanship of the weapon.

"...HF Blade Custom #63517." Deus Machina answered after a momentary pause.

"Well, that's a boring name." He said flatly. "A beauty like this deserves a worthy name. How does Crimson Moon sound? Or maybe Blood Veil would be better?"

"Why don't you make your own, and then you can name it whatever you want?"

"You know what? I think I will! Hope you don't mind me taking some inspiration."

Despite the casualness in their banter, tension mounted as Deus Machina's mind raced. He was so close to victory, yet so far away. He needed to do something, and quickly, if he wanted to have a chance at winning.

With Warrior Takemikazuchi's HP in the red, it would only take a few decisive attacks to beat him. However, armed with a weapon again, it more than evened out the odds against him.

Several ideas crossed Deus Machina's mind. He could try getting into melee range and use what other offensive skills he had left to chip away at his opponent's HP. Or, he could use the close proximity to fire his remaining [Archer Missile], even if it meant being caught in the explosion itself. He still had one more usage left of his [Nanomachine Recovery], so he could afford to be reckless so long as it meant Warrior Takemikazuchi's HP dropping to zero first before him.

However, that was going off the assumption that he could pull this off before Warrior Takemikazuchi could blitz him down before he could enact his gambit.

And knowing the samurai's skills and intensity, such a reality wasn't outside the realm of possibility.

The ending of the match was a coin toss, and one that Deus Machina wasn't ready to make.

However, the same couldn't be said about Warrior Takemikazuchi.

"Say, this match has gone on for long enough, don't you think?" He asked suddenly, sheathing the HF blade. "Wh'da say about bringing the first round to a close with a bang?"

Seeing this, Deux Machina was confused.

"Don't look so confused." Warrior Takemikazuchi chuckled. "We both know that you've got only one option left."

He jerked his head, gesturing to the railgun on his shoulder.

"So I say, give it your best shot."

The Automata's confusion only grew.

Warrior Takemikazuchi wanted him to use his railgun, but he also sheathed the HF blade, leaving him seemingly defenseless.

Just what was he planning…?

And then, an errant thought popped into his head.

One so outlandish, so ridiculous, and so absolutely insane that it wouldn't leave his mind. And yet, as he stared, matching the armored Heteromorph's gaze, he realized exactly what his intentions were.

"You… you're insane!" Deus Machina exclaimed, disbelief coloring his words.

"I'd like to think of it as more of a gamble." Warrior Takemikazuchi responded candidly.

"Question is…"

He took a stance, his knees bent, his core centered, and his body pressed forward. His left hand gripped the sheath with his finger on the trigger, while his open right hand hovered just in front of the blade's handle, poised for action.

"Are you game, or not?" He challenged.

The air around them grew heavy with anticipation as a deep, tense silence echoed as the air stilled across the battlefield. The two combatants locked eyes, each waiting for the other to make the first move.


[—][—][—][—][—][—][—][—][—]


For the audience watching, many were left confused by Warrior Takemikazuchi's vague words of challenge and Deus Machina's reaction. Why were they just standing there, and what exactly was Warrior Takemikazuchi planning?

The next ones to figure out what Warrior Takemikazuchi intended were none other than Touch Me and Shirou. And their reactions couldn't be any more different.

"There's no way... Why would he...? He can't be that reckless! He wouldn't…!?" Shirou muttered frantically to himself.

The other competitors in the waiting wings looked at the magus, wondering just what exactly he meant.

"Of course he would." Touch Me let out a subdued chuckle, leaning comfortably back into his seat.

The other World Champions glanced at him, curious as to what the paladin found so amusing. The only one who seemed to have figured it out was ShikiHime.

"No fucking way…" ShikiHime's head snapped back and forth between Touch Me and the screen, adding to the other's confusion.

"Oi! Mind sharing with the rest of the class what's going on?" Duskindal called out.

However, ShikiHime's eyes were glued to the screen.

As the tension between Deus Machina and Warrior Takemikazuchi mounted, the audience grew increasingly restless and annoyed by the prolonged standstill. In the midst of their frustration, scattered ideas began to surface in their minds - some idle, some fanciful - but gradually and collectively, a single idea began to take shape among them.

It was a possibility so incomprehensible that it beggars disbelief, and yet it seemed to gain credibility with every passing moment.

Especially for the members of Ainz Ooal Gown.

The guild members looked to one another, as if trying to reassure the others and themselves of what was to come.

It was no secret that Warrior Takemikazuchi was a risk-taker and daredevil of the highest order, but surely not even he would be that crazy… right?

Surely he wouldn't risk his match and victory on such an insane stunt if he wasn't confident…

Right…?


[—][—][—][—][—][—][—][—][—]


Warrior Takemikazuchi remained in his stance, unwavering and awaiting.

Deus Machina too took a stance, his feet anchored and his railgun leveled solely at the samurai, energy and electricity humming steadily, ready to be unleashed.

They remained as such, reminiscent of a standoff between two gunslingers or a duel between two samurais.

Time was immaterial to them, for all that mattered was their opponent in front of them.

The victor would be decided by what was to come next. The question was: who would make the first move?

Railguns operate on the principle of using electromagnetic force to rapidly accelerate a projectile to high velocities. Its destructive capabilities lie not in any explosive ordinances but rather in the projectile's immense kinetic energy to penetrate through anything in its path. Unlike, say, a laser or plasma beam or an attack made of magical energy, the railgun's projectile was solid and tangible.

Theoretically, the HF blade's high oscillation rate could allow it to catch the projectile. However, the practicality of this idea was highly dubious. Something that seemed plausible in theory and something that could be executed successfully were two vastly different concepts.

Even with the trigger sheath's explosive quickdraw, the railgun was exponentially faster than it. Warrior Takemikazuchi's timing needed to be absolutely perfect; if he was even off by even one one-thousandth of a second, he was dead.

This was the fact that baffled everyone.

What he was attempting was the height of lunacy. Everything was stacked against him, and yet he wouldn't back down.

Deus Machina's composed demeanor conveyed confidence, but inwardly, anxiety and nervousness were consuming him. He was silently sweating, his muscles twitching with tension.

On the other side, Warrior Takemikazuchi was still and mediative. He had his eyes closed to his opponent. Such an action would've been a death sentence, yet it worked out in his favor as it made his opponent hesitant.

For Warrior Takemikazuchi, the world around him ceased to exist as he concentrated solely on the present moment.

The distant, numbing ringing that permeated the air silenced.

He let go of his thoughts, his worries, his excitement, his promise to Shirou, his opponent, everything.

Everything ebbed away, fading into a welcoming darkness.

But within the void, a vivid image began to take form in his mind's eye.

A solitary tree stood tall and proud, surrounded by lush foliage. The soft pitter-patter of rain fell gently upon its branches, trickling down to the ground below.

Beside the tree lay a serene little pond, its surface shimmering with the raindrops that danced across its still waters. A single branch from the tree stretched out over the pond, its leaves rustling in the gentle breeze.

His vision fixated on a single leaf, and as he watched, a solitary droplet of rain landed upon it. The droplet clung to the leaf's surface for a moment, then began to slide, pulled inexorably downward by the force of gravity.

As it slid, he could see the world reflected in its miniature form, distorted and blurry yet still somehow beautiful. Unencumbered by the weight of the world

The droplet reached the leaf's edge. It rested there, for a minute or perhaps no more than a second, he could not say.

With a soft plip, it fell into the pond below in slow motion.

It splashed against the surface of the pond, a single ripple dispersing from the center that stilled the pond.

In that singular instant, Warrior Takemikazuchi pressed the trigger as his eyes opened to the world of the living once more.

"[Kaiser Impact]!" "[Trigger Draw: Raiden]!"

What happened next would remain a highly debated topic within the game until its eventual shutdown.

Many argued that Warrior Takemikazuchi acted first, pressing down on the trigger and spooking Deux Machina into reacting and firing a fraction of a second later. Others claimed that it was Deus Machina who fired first and that Warrior Takemikazuchi had reacted just as quickly in response. The debate over who initiated it first was a matter of mere milliseconds, making it a contentious and arbitrary point of discussion. And then there was the belief that they did it simultaneously, whether it be by a stroke of luck or mere happenstance.

Whatever the truth may be, there was no denying what happened next.

And like a flash of lightning, the outcome was decided in an instant.

Deus Machina's railgun unleashed its piercing bolt. The immediate shockwave that followed shattered all the glass and windows around him as the blast expanded outward.

In a flash of crimson lightning, the blade fired with a resounding bang. The hilt slid into his awaiting arm as his fingers instantly grasped it. In a single fluid motion, his arm channeled the blade's momentum, guiding the slash with precision and speed as he quickdrew.

The slash carried through, catching the projectile as it reached him at the upper end of the high-frequency blade's edge. Due to the extreme speed of the projectile and the quickdraw, there was no resistance as the crimson katana cleanly sliced the projectile in half.

Momentum still carried the two halves forward, their trajectory veering off slightly due to the action of the HF blade.

One half missed Warrior Takemikazuchi's cheek by a hair's breadth. The other missed as well, hitting only the tip of one of his horns and taking a part of it with it. They flew down the hallway of the mall, punching through the various shops and walls and leaving a wake of destruction on their path. Thousands upon thousands of fragments of glass fell from the windowed ceiling, descending like a deadly hailstorm.

The Heteromorph still took the brunt of the direct shockwave. He stood his ground even as the force of the shockwave threatened to send him flying, his feet leaving deep indications on the floor.

Warrior Takemikazuchi's HP dropped. And for a moment, it seemed as if that would be it, until it stopped. Leaving only a mere sliver of health points left.

Everyone, from Deus Machina to the audience and viewers watching and even the World Champions, couldn't believe their eyes.

It was an impossibility. A one-in-a-million chance, and Warrior Takemikazuchi took that one-in-a-million chance and won.

While everyone was left speechless and/or in abject awe, what Warrior Takemikazuchi was feeling was indescribable.

His entire arm was numb and trembled feverishly. His legs shook uncontrollably, threatening to give out beneath him at any moment. His vision was blurred, and his ears rang with the sound of his own heart pounding in his chest. Yet, that was nothing compared to the adrenaline coursing through his veins and dopamine flooding his brain.

It was like a wave of energy that consumed his entire being. He never felt more alive in his entire life than he did in that moment.

Power faded from Deus Machina's body as his emerald eyes flickered and dulled. Steam was expunged from his body as he faltered and stilled.

Warrior Takemikazuchi had eight seconds, more than enough time.

He ran, closing the distance between them in an instant.

"[Slash-All]!"

"[Razor Edge]!"

"[Asura's Slash]!"

"[Brilliant Blade]!"

"[Sunderer]!"

Warrior Takemikazuchi swung the high-frequency blade, delivering skill after skill upon vulnerable Player. Deus Machina could do nothing but watch as his HP dropped.

Instead of feeling panic or anxiety, all he felt was a sense of acceptance. The moment Warrior Takemikazuchi survived his trump card, he accepted his fate. In the face of what'd just happened, there was no conceivable way he could've possibly topped that even if he tried.

It was clear who the victor was.

Just as the eight-second cooldown duration ended, the Automata's HP was reduced into the low red, and Warrior Takemikazuchi readied the finishing strike.

He pulled the HF blade back, unclipping the sheath and sheathing the katana once more.

Light returned to Deus Machina's optics as the two warriors exchanged one final look.

The trigger sheath fired, and with a clean slash, Warrior Takemikazuchi separated Deus Machina's head from his body.

Oil spurted from the gaping wound. The spark and electricity of the HF blade ignited the oil, setting it ablaze. The fiery halo swept around them, a bright and vivid mix of crimson and scarlet pink flames.

"Damn, GG…" The severed head of Deus Machina managed to say as he fell, giving Warrior Takemikazuchi one last look of admiration before his body shattered into polygons.

"Aye, to you as well." The Bujin responded with equal respect.

The world around him cracked, giving way to blinding white light. He was back within the stadium.

Takemikazuchi MK 7 stood a meter away. He walked over and retrieved it, and only then did the brains of everyone there kick-start back up.

The sound that erupted from the stadium was nothing short of explosive, one that outstripped everything before it. An overwhelming cacophony that drowned out everything else. The audience was screaming with such intensity that their throats ached, yet they continued to scream. Their cheers were devoid of any articulation or purpose, mere primal noises and raw emotions that resonated across the stadium, the town, and even beyond.

Amidst all the pandemonium, the loudest voice belonged to none other than Ainz Ooal Gown. Their members were jumping with unbridled joy, punching the air, and embracing each other in camaraderie as they chanted Warrior Takemikazuchi's name.

"I… I… I don't… Folks, I genuinely do not have any words to say..." Sam stuttered, unable to speak or convey his thoughts about the spectacle they had all just witnessed.

"WELL, I DO. THREE IN FACT. HOLY! FUCKING! SHIT!" Bob added, contributing to the roar of the crowd. "LET IT BE KNOWN THAT WARRIOR TAKEMIKAZUCHI IS A MAN OF HIS WORDS, PEOPLE. NOW THAT'S HOW YOU END THINGS WITH A BANG! THE VICTOR OF THE FINAL MATCH OF THE FIRST ROUND GOES TO WARRIOR TAKEMIKAZUCHI!"

The roar of the crowd accompanied him as he walked back to the waiting wing.

Basking in the stunned awe of his fellow World Champions, Touch Me sat with his arms crossed and his head held proud.

'Well done, Takemikazuchi-san.' He nodded.

"That… That was bonkers…" Shikihime said breathlessly. She sat at the edge of her seat, her hands slowly unwinding from how hard she was clutching the armrest.

Despite the complete disbelief coloring her voice, there was an undeniable hint of excitement and eagerness in them.

"You know, I'm sure he'll be more than happy to take you up on a rematch if you ask." Said Touch Me.

"Don't tempt me with a good time, Touch Me-san." She chuckled, and all could hear the grin in her voice.

Entering the waiting wing, he ignored the attention of the other Players as he walked over to where Shirou was waiting for him.

"Yo~" Warrior Takemikazuchi greeted with a wave.

"That… that was undoubtedly one of the most reckless and stupidest things I've ever seen you do." Shirou said without any preamble.

And that was saying something, considering all the things he'd seen the samurai suggest or do throughout their years together.

"Ah, if it's stupid but it still works out, then is it really stupid?" He countered smugly.

To which Shirou simply grunted, relenting on the matter. It would be extremely hypocritical of him to give his guildmate a hard time when he had quite the storied history of insane and reckless decisions himself.

But it was the principle of the matter!

The near-heart attack he had while watching wasn't worth it.

However, he would be lying if he said that he wasn't both happy and hyped up by Warrior Takemikazuchi's instant turnaround. Reckless as he may be, there was no denying that the Bujin had a flair for the spectacle and knew how to put on a show and make a fight engaging from beginning to end.

Unbidden, a small smirk came to his lips as the two friends joked around.

The first round of the World Champion Tournament concluded.

And many were to follow.


Omake: Alternative Summoning's III

"Servant, Saber. I ask of you, are you my Master?"

Shirou looked at the Saber Servant.

In front of him stood Saber, but not his Saber. No, who he had summoned was none other than King Arthur. Behind the wielder of Excalibur were the other Knights of the Round.

"It's strange." His sonorous voice rang out, surprising everyone that the NPC could speak. "This is the first time I've met you, and yet I feel as if I've always known you. What is this feeling in my chest..."

"It's because I possess Avalon." Shirou answered.

"Avalon?" Arthur muttered, his eyes glancing down at his Excalibur before fixing on Shirou.

"I see... You are my Scabbard..."

A moment passed as the two stared, almost longingly, into the other's eyes.

"Huh..." Yamaiko said. "Didn't know you swung for the other team, Emiya-san."

He turned back to look at his guildmates, confused.

"Swing for the other team? What are you talking about."

Peroroncino fidgeted awkwardly in place.

"Senpai... Um... Well, you said you were the sheath, right?"

"Yes?" Shirou raised a brow.

"And if the other person in the relationship is the sword..."

Peroroncino trailed off.

Shirou stared at him for a few seconds. One could easily imagine and hear the dots appearing and aligning before it clicked.

A sword goes into a sheath.

"W-w-wait! It's not like that!" Shirou sputtered, blushing.

Before anyone else could say anything, the sound of heavy breathing filled the air.

As one, everyone turned to find Bukubukuchagama panting.

Although it was impossible to see it, all could tell that was her face flushed. Rolls of the slime's gelatinousness slime rolled down her body, the equivalent of drool leaking from the corner of her lips.

"King Arthur and Shirou-kun... Steamy BL action... Shirou-kun's a bottom..."

"You bloody slimy lusty bitch!" Mordred exclaimed out of nowhere, surprising everyone. "Just cause you are a puddle, doesn't mean you have to get wet over a married mom!"

"M-mordred?" Shirou looked at the Knight of Treachery.

"No one is getting in the way of me getting head pats and Mother telling me that I am a super special, good boy!"

"For Queen Shirou!" Mordred drew Clarent, rallying the other knights.

The other knight chanted the same cry, drawing their own swords.

"For Queen Shirou!"

"W-wait! D-don't!" Shirou's cries would go unheard as the Knight of the Round charged.

The resulting clash would be fixed and forgotten about pretty easily. However, the ordeal would forever leave a scar on Shirou's psyche and a be a source of infinite teasing and amusement from the rest of the Ainz Ooal Gown.


Author's Note:

And this concludes the second fight and chapter. Hopefully, it was an enjoyable read.

Thank you to everyone who reviewed the last chapter and all the PMs sent, giving your thoughts and opinions on the fighting and layout for the chapter. It was a bit of a mixed bag, both good, bad, and in-between, but it helped me to see where some areas were lacking, where some could be trimmed, and generally improved on. So thank you all for that. Let me know if the implementation this chapter works better. I think it does; it doesn't feel too clumsy or blocky with text while including reactions and insight from the other character without lingering on them too much.

As for the tournament arc and the fights to come, I understand many have apprehension regarding how many fights there are, as well as the length. Which, given my track record, is a well-founded fear. Not all the fights will be super technical, and will mainly focus on the spectacle of it all. Namely, making the fight enjoyable to read and unfold. As such, not much will be made in the way of development narratively. The chapters will be packed back to back with action.

Also, I won't be doing every single match between Shirou and Warrior Takemikazuchi. I'll be mainly focusing on the prime tournament matches. Shirou had his match and Warrior Takemikazuchi now has his, to establish himself and have some fun with it.

The next match will be, well, you'll find out in the next chapter.

Next Chapter: The 9th World Champion Tournament IV