Hi! Lugal kug-ga here! I am a long time reader but a first time writer.
Imma say this now, I own nothing of the originals portrayed in this fic, I'm merely making an iteration.
And should you see some similarities with other fanfic Authors, it might be because I've…. copied it. Or took some parts of their works and incorporated it in mine. So, credits to them.
Enough of the boring A/N and onwards to the story.
I've committed to finishing this work, should it stop updating for a year, I've probably self deleted. So, sit back, enjoy, and review!
The death throes of the Behemoth resounded over the entire area, the stone bridge was crumbling with a huge rattling noise. And then…… Shirou disappeared into the abyss along with the rubble. That scene played for Everyone in slow motion, especially that of his friends, filled them with despair.
Somewhere in the distance, a scream could be heard. When everyone noticed that the voice belonged to Hiyama, Shizuku grimaced as she was quickly brought back to reality.
"Let me go! I'm gonna bring that idiot back !! I will… I said I'm gonna bring him back! Let me go!"
Towards Hiyama who looked like she was about to jump after him, Shizuku and Kouki desperately held him back, his two lackeys busy keeping the one responsible in check. While Kaori cradled the now unconscious Hajime and started healing him, with Yukitoshi by their side.
If he kept struggling like this, he might injure herself. Nevertheless, they could not just let him go. If they released him, he would definitely jump off the cliff. Hiyama did not have a shadow of his usual Playful attitude, looking completely in rage. No, it might be more appropriate to say that he had a pained expression.
" You can't! Hiyama!"
Because Shizuku could understand Hiyama's current feelings, considering she saw Shirou as more than a friend, she could not find the right words to say. All she could do was call out his name.
"Hiyama! Are you also trying to die? It's already too late for Emiya! Calm down! You'll hurt yourself!"
Kouki tried his best to restrain Hiyama. However, this was not the right place and time to say something like this to the already agitated Hiyama.
"What do you mean "too late", you fuck! Emiya is not dead yet! I'll bring him back, and.. and I'm gonna punch his annoying mug!!"
He fell from the cliff into that bottomless abyss. No matter who looked at the situation, it was already hopeless for Emiya Shirou. However, Hiyama now did not have the composure to think clearly. But, when he turned towards the two people restraining him, his next words choked in his throat. Kouki, his expression, as if trying to stop himself from Crying, scrunched up into a morphed, pained expression. While Shizuku has tears running down her cheeks, busying herself in stopping Hiyama just so she would not break down crying, yet still, her expression showed how she really felt. Ryutaro and the other students also did not know what to do as they just stood around, unable to speak.
At that moment, Commander Meld walked over and wordlessly struck the back of Hiyama's neck. He jerked for a moment before he lost consciousness. Kouki held the now unconscious Hiyama and glared at Commander Meld. Before he was able to complain, Shizuku seized the opportunity and bowed towards the commander, just to not show her tear stained face.
"...I'm sorry. 'sob', Thank you, very much."
"Please stop it…… Save your gratitude for later. We won't let another person die. We will devote our full strength to make sure you leave this Dungeon safely……" turning to Kouki, he spoke. "I'll leave him to you." To which Kouki with a pained expression nodded without complaint.
"Since he wouldn't listen, the commander had to do it. You understand, right? We don't have much time. Before his outburst started to affect everyone's spirit, or before he could harm himself or others, it was necessary to stop him…… Look, we have to open the path, at least until everyone gets out of here…… This is what Emiya would have said."
Accepting Kouki's words, Shizuku wordlessly nodded.
Seeing a fellow classmate die in front of their eyes, had left a deep impression in all the students' minds. Everyone had a blank expression as they looked towards where the bridge used to be. There were even some who said "I've had enough of this already!" and slumped on the ground. Just like Hajime had exclaimed, the group needs a leader right now. After handing Hiyama to one of their classmates, with Hiyama's lackey busy dragging the Struggling and shouting classmate, before being put unconscious by Commander Meld, Kouki raised his voice towards his classmates.
"Everyone! Right now, just think about how to return alive. We are withdrawing!"
The students moved sluggishly in response to his words. The magic formations were still active, and the numbers of Skeletons Soldiers continued to increase. It would be reckless to continue fighting with their current mental state. It was also unnecessary. Kouki shouted with all his might and urged his classmates to escape. Commander Meld and the knights were also trying to encourage the students.
Eventually, everyone escaped by the stairs.
The stairs to the upper level were long. It was so dark that they could not see anything as they continued to climb upward. They felt like they had already climbed more than thirty floors, even their magically enhanced bodies also began to feel weary. Due to the injuries from the battle earlier, the long and gloomy stairs only made the students even more dejected. Just as Commander Meld was considering taking a short break, a huge wall that was engraved with a magic circle finally appeared ahead of them.
The students started to regain their vitality. Commander Meld and the knights quickly approached the wall and started to investigate it. They did not forget to use the Fair Scope. From their investigation, the chance of it being a trap was very unlikely. It seemed like the purpose of the engraved magic circle was to move the wall in front of them. Commander Meld started to chant and poured magic power into the magic circle. As a result, just like the hidden door in a ninja's house, the rock wall rotated with a rumbling sound to reveal a path that leads to the room behind it.
Beyond the door was the room on the 20th floor where they originally came from.
"We got back?"
"Did we get back?"
"We're back… we're really back…"
A sigh of relief escaped from the students in succession. There were a few that burst into tears and others who were embracing each other. Kouki and his party immediately sat on the ground after passing through the wall. However, they were still in a Dungeon. Even if they were low level, they did not know where a magic beast would appear from. They had to escape from the Dungeon before they completely snapped from all that tension.
Suppressing his feeling of wanting to let everyone rest, Commander Meld hardened his heart and made the students stand up.
"All of you! Don't just sit there! You won't be able to get back if you start relaxing here! Try to avoid combat with the magic beasts as much as possible, we have to escape as quickly as possible. Just endure it for a little longer!"
The students' protests of wanting to take a little break was silenced by a glare from Commander Meld. The students staggeredly stood up. Kouki endured his fatigue and took the lead. Centering around the knights, they fought as little as possible as they made their way towards the entrance in one go.
Finally, they arrived at the 1st floor and saw the nostalgic receptionist. They had obviously not even spent one day in the dungeon, yet many people felt like it had been a long time since they last passed through here.
This time, the students revealed genuinely relieved expressions. There were even students who sprawled out in front of the square, overjoyed that they were still alive. However, a group of students – Shizuku, who was wordlessly following along, Yukitoshi still carrying the unconscious Hajime with Kaori, Kouki, Ryutaro, Eri, Suzu, and the the two lackeys now carrying Hiyama after passing the classmate to one of the soldiers– had dark looks on their faces.
Commander Meld made a report at the reception area while keeping a sidelong glance at this group of students. The new trap they discovered on the 20th floor was too dangerous. Although the stone bridge had collapsed, they didn't know if the trap was still active, hence the need to report it.
Additionally, Shirou's death must also be reported. Commander Meld was having a hard time preventing his sadness from showing. But even then, he couldn't help but let out a sigh.
~~~~~~~~~~
After the group returned to Holward, they dejectedly returned to their rooms. There were a few students who were discussing, but the majority of them had already fallen into a deep sleep.
And then there was Hiyama Daisuke. He left the inn by himself and was now facing the unknown classmate who casted the spell which blew back Shirou and Hajime. The unknown classmate was hanging on chains by the hand , unmoving, inside a cell. If his fellow classmates saw him like this, it would seem like he was in despair. Which he is……
". Fuck, fuck, fuck! I-It was his fault! For a fake… t–that mother fucker… because of him, because of him! Oi, system! Get me the fuck out of here….. Fuck..fuck Shirou, fuck those two small fries, fuck everyone…because of them…my junior!...no, calm down, I just need to get out of here…yes, after I get out of here I'm gonna fucking fuck those bitch till they can't live without my dick anymore…. I'm gonna find that fucker and kill him in the most painful way possible…..I'm not wrong… hehehe."
With his dark grin and clouded eyes, he kept talking to himself..
The fireball that veered off course and hit Shirou and Hajime was indeed casted by this classmate.
In order to not get exposed, this classmate timed his shot very carefully and casted a homing fireball aimed at Hajime, but was dodged thanks to Shirou. In that chaotic barrage, it would be very difficult to determine who casted what, he thought, and he would jump after following when Hajime fell. Unfortunately for him, his luck wasn't on his side.
Just then, Hiyama called out to him from outside the cell..
"... so it really was you. Why did you do it……Shirou hasn't done any fucking thing for you to try and fucking kill him."
"W-Who?"
The fellow classmate looked up in a panic. Then he saw that the one who hailed him was Hiyama.
"... The fuck are you doing here……" he said, his hatred palpable.
"answer the fucking question….hah, Murderer-san? What made you do such a fucked up thing? You've always been a Fucking loner, still, Emiya Showed you Fucking kindness, so Why'd you do it?"
Then in response to Hiyama's question, That person lightly laughed, as if having just watched a comedy. Although Hiyama wanted to go inside and just fucking kill the bastard, he still needs to know why he did it, one of their classmate did die after all, yet this person was acting like nothing happened, and instead brooding about something different, which some snippets of the monologue he heard often only when Hajime and Yukitoshi, kept talking about their hobbies.
"...Heh, did you know. I have knowledge of the future?" The classmate asked. To which Hiyama kept quiet.
" That Emiya Shirou wasn't supposed to exist in this world. And You're supposed to be the one who casted that fireball." That got Hiyama's attention, which the classmate saw and grinned.
" Hajime was supposed to be the only one on that bridge, and the one who fell. After that he found something which gave him extreme power which made him able to kill this world's god….."
"..."
" You see. Hajime knew you were the one who casted the spell. And so, he came back, just to kill you and fuck Kaori in front of your corpse." He said with a chuckle.
" Quite the scene to be honest." Hiyama's eyes twitched, yet his stone cold expression didn't change.
"...so you're saying, Emiya is still alive?" Hiyama asked
The classmate shrugged, making the chains clanging echo in the cell.
" …maybe, knowing who he is, I'm certain he's still alive."
"...why are you telling me this?"
At Hiyama's question, the classmate's grin became more pronounced despite his bruised face.
" Because, I know what you desire and make it come true. Because I know how to obtain a power capable of killing gods, and because I know the future of this world." Then his eyes became serious, yet his smile remained.
"So, what say you? Just agree and I'll tell you everything." Like a devil's whisper, it entered Hiyama's ears. He felt obliged to agree, he was tempted to agree, and most of all, his desire said so.
"... fuck you." Yet, he declined. His stoney expression is not changing.
"... shit! Why! You'll gain power! Become the strongest! Why wouldn't you agree?!" The classmate, now sporting an expression of desperation and agitation, shouted at Hiyama.
"... you are merely a fucking loser. Thinking you are the center of the universe after obtaining powers after being summoned in another world. How could I you even do what you said you would do? If you could even fucking do it in the first place." Hiyama scoffed and showed a mocking smile.
" Fuck! I would if I had time! And if only you bastards didn't stop me back there I would have become the strongest!! Just say you agree and I'll do it!" Now becoming more agitated and thrashing around.
" And like I said. Fuck. You. And I've already given up on Kaori. There's already someone I liked anyway. Seems like you, knowing the future, is pure bullshìt. Though I agree, Emiya is still alive." He smirked, enjoying the classmates' apparent agony. But Hiyama didn't expect what happened next.
"You! You!.. Aaaahhggghhhghuuhhhggaaahshrrrnnngggrrhha!!!!!!"
After glaring at Hiyama, he began thrashing more and more, then his eyes bulged out, his veins showing. Then…he stilled.
Hurriedly calling the guards, they determined he was dead. Cause, was apparently due to frenzied Magical power. It seemed like the classmate was casting some kind of spell, but due to it failing, the backlash killed him, exploding from the inside, much like how eating demonic beasts apparently looked like. But, no one found anything of the sort when they checked, so Hiyama was deemed innocent.
The death of the classmate didn't have much of a reaction from the rest of the class, they seemed relieved even, but still, they've decided to not tell Aiko about it.
Looking up at the now star-covered sky, Hiyama sighed. "Damn……"
Hiyama wanted to forget about it, but regardless of how he denied it, that scene will never be forgotten; The expression of Shirou when he fell into the abyss. It was impossible to find the words to describe it……he was fucking smiling.
Right now, all the students were exhausted and slept like logs. After they calmed down and understood the reality of Shirous' death, they could easily discern Shizuku's feelings. Shizuku didn't really conceal it, though, it seemed like either Shirou was that dense or merely ignoring it. Moreover, just looking at Shizuku's haggard face, they would unconsciously think of the cause. Hiyama's careless act put him in a dangerous situation.
"Heh, just wait Emiya, we'll find you and bring you back. … Then I'm gonna beat your ass for worrying everyone."
Then he went towards his quarters to rest, the event earlier in the day already forgotten. Who's willing to even remember someone not worth remembering. This time, there was no one who bothered him.
———Shirou POV
The sound of rushing water filled the area. A cool breeze lightly brushed against his cheek, yet despite that, he didn't feel cold at all, instead the temperature was comfortable. Might be what Aesir said about nature's blessing. There was a solid sensation against his face Shirou raised a groan as he woke up.
The pain ran through not just his head but also his entire body. Shirou furrowed his brows and propped his upper body up with both arms.
"Ow~ This is… I'm not sure I'm ever getting used to this sensation…"
Holding his unsteady head with his hand, he studied the vicinity while trying to recall what happened. The surrounding was dim, but thanks to the illumination of the green light stones, and it was not like he couldn't see anything. Before Shirou's eyes was an underground river about five meters wide. His lower body was submerged in the river, and the upper body was caught between protruding rocks at the river bank. It seemed like he also lost his bow, because he couldn't see it anywhere near him.
"That's right… the bridge… it collapsed…then in that world…then Aesir."
His groggy mind finally caught up with the events that had taken place. He realized the only reason he was still alive after such a fall was due to an amazing stroke of luck. During the fall he found many holes along the cliff wall, moreover, jet of water would occasionally spout from those holes. They were like a series of geysers. Shirou didn't know how many times he had been blown away by those jets of water, slamming into the walls. In the end, he was pushed into a tunnel that resembled waterslide and was flushed to this place. It was an unbelievable miracle. However, when he was blown into the tunnel, Shirou hit his head and lost consciousness. It was unbelievable how such a miracle took place.
"Either way, I am still alive…let's try something."
Skimming through the memories..or Knowledge? Of Aesir, he spoke an Aria, and despite saying it for the first time, it felt natural, like he's been saying it for years.
".. trace on!" he said after some concentration, then in a burst of blue sparks, a sword appeared. A white blade with a cloud pattern with a symbol of yin yang on the hilt, and black handle. It was Bakuya, the sword made by Ganjiang of China.
He took a moment to admire the sword, marveling at their craftsmanship. And scanning his body, it seems like he now has another magic system available, seeing that he now has his 27 magic circuits, all glowing with magical energy, different from the magic power which seems to come from his body itself.
He was submerged in the cold underground water this whole time. The feeling of wet clothes is quite uncomfortable despite not being able to feel the cold temperature. Shirou pulled himself out of the river immediately and took off his wet clothes with a frown . He only left undergarments on and wrung out his other clothing. Using his 【Projection】 skills, he projected a lighter and some firewood.
Before he received Aesirs powers, if he needed to create a fire He would have to use the 【Spark】 magic. This was a simple magic that even children could perform with a ten centimeter magic formation. However, not only did he not have a magic stone that increased the magic's efficiency, Shirou's proficiency in different magic was almost zero. So the only way to cast the spell was to draw a magic circle that was more than five meter in diameter with a large amount of complex magic formulas. Which is impractical, that's why he's now thankful for Aesir and his skills.
"'sigh', I would have died even if I've survived the fall if it weren't for this power."
The sighing seemed to have become a bit of a habit recently. Nevertheless, he still laid his clothes near the fist-sized flame invoked by him while bathing in its warmth.
"I wonder where this is… I should have fallen a considerable distance… Will I be able to make it back?"
Sitting down beside the fire, he watched as the flames danced with his clothes hanging on the projected stand, he contemplated what to do next.
"I have to do something, I must get back to the surface. With my current self, I should be able to do it, everything will work out."
Shirou's face became determined after he muttered some encouragement to himself, all the while staring into the flames.
Fucking hell. I almost threw my phone, when editing Arifureta chapter. I've cut instead of copying, so yeah. Lost half of the story. ()
... but I managed to salvage it! I just rewrote everything again, but, everything was changed from the first one.
(̥̥̥̥̥̥̥̥̥̥́̀)...a~ah, I wanna die.