The library was cloaked in the stillness of the early hours, the dim light from a desk lamp illuminating the scattered books and maps on the table. Tomoe stirred as he felt a hand shake his shoulder.
"Wake up," Shinji's voice cut through the haze of sleep, firm but not unkind. Tomoe groaned and sat up, rubbing his eyes.
"Already?" he asked groggily, glancing at the clock on the wall. It was late—too late to be doing anything but sleeping, yet here they were.
"It's time for round two," Shinji said, his tone brimming with resolve. He gestured to the table, where the Saber card rested, now glowing faintly with its restored power.
Tomoe's eyes widened, and he reached out to grab it, feeling the warmth of its energy in his hand. "It's back…" he murmured. For the first time since their defeat, hope flickered in his chest.
"Before we go," Shinji interrupted, fixing him with a serious look, "are you sure you're ready? Fighting a Servant like Atalanta isn't something to take lightly. You saw what she's capable of."
Tomoe met Shinji's gaze, determination gleaming in his eyes. "I'm fine. I can't back down now, not after everything that's happened."
Shinji nodded, satisfied, and unfolded a map on the table. He pointed to the spot where they had fought Archer earlier.
"She won't stay in the same spot," Shinji began, tracing his finger across the map. "After our confrontation, she's bound to relocate. Servants of this war is always on the move to find prey."
Tomoe leaned in, watching as Shinji crossed off several areas. "Fields, docks, and the shopping district are out. No one's there at this hour," Shinji explained. "And these spots," he marked areas near their previous battle, "are too close to where we fought her. She won't risk being cornered again."
Tomoe frowned, his mind racing. "So where does that leave us?"
Shinji tapped a specific area near a middle school and its surrounding residential zones. "Here. It's far enough from our last encounter and close enough to potential victims. If I were her, this is where I'd go hunting next."
Tomoe nodded, his grip tightening on the Saber card. "Then that's where we'll go."
"Hold on," Shinji said, pulling a wrapped bread roll and a carton of milk from his bag. He handed them to Tomoe.
"This is…?" Tomoe asked, confused.
"Eat it," Shinji said flatly. "You need to recover your energy. We're going to need every bit of strength you've got."
Tomoe hesitated for a moment, then took the food. As he ate, Shinji began to pack up the materials on the table.
"What's the plan?" Tomoe asked between bites.
"I'll explain on the way," Shinji replied. He hesitated for a moment, then added, "And this time, I'll join the fight directly."
Tomoe raised an eyebrow. "You? But I thought—"
"Don't get the wrong idea," Shinji cut him off, his tone sharp. "I'm not doing this because I want to. It's because I have to. My spells are… limited right now."
Tomoe didn't press further, sensing the frustration beneath Shinji's words. Instead, he focused on finishing his meal, the weight of their task settling heavily on his shoulders.
Once they confirmed their plan, their resolve unwavering, they left the library and headed into the silent streets of Fuyuki. The cold night air bit at their skin, but neither of them faltered. The battle ahead would be their hardest yet, but they were ready—or at least, they had to be.
For both of them, failure wasn't an option.
Z
The streets of Fuyuki were eerily quiet as Shinji and Tomoe made their way toward the middle school district. The occasional flicker of streetlights cast long, shifting shadows that seemed to follow them as they walked. The tension between them was palpable, but Shinji broke the silence.
"All right, listen up," Shinji began, his voice low and steady. "Here's the plan. First, we're going to force Atalanta to use her Noble Phantasm."
Tomoe blinked, confused. "Noble Phantasm? What's that?"
Shinji sighed, clearly expecting the question. "A Noble Phantasm," he explained, "is the crystallization of a Servant's legend. It's their ultimate weapon or ability, unique to their identity and tied to their fame in history. Think of it like their trump card—something they pull out when they need to turn the tide of battle."
Tomoe tilted his head, processing the information. "So, it's like their ultimate move?"
"Basically," Shinji replied, nodding. "But here's the catch—it takes a huge amount of energy to use. If we can force Atalanta to activate hers, it'll leave her significantly weakened. That's when we strike."
Tomoe frowned, his mind spinning. "But how do we even make her use it? Wouldn't she just avoid using it unless she's desperate?"
"Exactly," Shinji said, resuming their walk. "That's why we need to push her into a corner. Make her think it's the only way to deal with us. And once she does…" He trailed off, gesturing a neck chopping motion with his hand.
"…I'll distract her and hold her back so you can deliver the finishing blow?" Tomoe guessed, his tone tinged with skepticism.
"Exactly," Shinji confirmed, though his tone carried a hint of smugness.
Tomoe narrowed his eyes. "Why do I have to be the one to hold her back? Why can't I finish her off?"
Shinji turned to him, his expression sharp. "Did you forget what happened last time? You lose your weapon every time you go all out with that Noble Phantasm of yours. I saw it—your sword shattered. If that happens again, you'll be defenseless."
Tomoe opened his mouth to argue but quickly shut it. Shinji's logic, as much as he hated to admit it, was sound.
Shinji pressed on. "I'll handle the final strike. Assassin may not be the strongest in direct combat, but stealth and precision are my strengths. While you're keeping her busy, I'll get into position and take her down before she knows what hit her."
Tomoe exhaled deeply, letting go of his initial frustration. "Fine. I'll follow your lead."
Shinji smirked, satisfied. "Good. Just don't do anything reckless this time."
"Right back at you," Tomoe shot back, though his tone was more playful than hostile.
As they approached the middle school district, the air grew heavier, charged with an unspoken anticipation.
Z
The middle school district was hauntingly still under the glow of streetlights. Tomoe and Shinji walked side by side, their footsteps muffled by the eerie quiet. The tension was almost tangible, a weight pressing down on them as they scanned their surroundings for any sign of their target.
Shinji's eyes darted to every corner, alert and calculating. He clutched his tome tightly, muttering to himself as he worked through possible scenarios in his head. Tomoe, on the other hand, was struggling to focus. The monotony of patrolling through empty streets was starting to get to him.
"How does she do it?" Tomoe suddenly asked, breaking the silence.
Shinji glanced at him, annoyed. "Do what?"
"Disappear like that," Tomoe continued, waving his hand as he tried to express his frustration. "One second she's there, and the next she's gone. It's like she's a ghost or something."
"She's not a ghost; she's a Servant," Shinji replied flatly. "Archer-class Servants are known for their agility and speed. If we're going to corner her, we have to be smarter, not faster. You've seen how dangerous she is in close quarters, too."
Tomoe groaned, tilting his head back to look at the sky. "This would be so much easier if she just showed up and said, 'Hey, I'm over here!'"
Shinji smirked despite himself. "Yeah, because that's exactly what someone who's hunting humans would do. Keep dreaming, Enjou."
They walked a bit further, their eyes scanning the darkened windows of the surrounding buildings. Tomoe couldn't help but glance at Shinji out of the corner of his eye, he had something to asked and considering that he may not survive the night he night as well asked.
"Hey… Shinji," Tomoe began hesitantly.
"What?" Shinji replied without looking at him.
"You seem like the kind of guy who knows… stuff about girls, right?" Tomoe asked awkwardly, scratching the back of his head.
Shinji stopped dead in his tracks, turning to give Tomoe a look that was equal parts disbelief. "Stuff about girls? Are you serious right now?"
Tomoe raised his hands defensively. "Hey, it's not like I've got anyone else to ask! You're the closest thing I've got to an expert here."
Shinji sighed deeply, pinching the bridge of his nose. "We're in the middle of trying to hunt down a Servant, and you want to talk about girls?"
Tomoe shrugged sheepishly. "It's not like we've got anything better to do right now. Besides…" He hesitated, then mumbled, "I was kind of wondering about Caren."
Shinji raised an eyebrow. "Caren? Seriously? You've got a death wish or something?"
Tomoe flushed, glaring at him. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"It means you're wasting your time," Shinji said bluntly. "She's not the kind of person you can just 'woo.' You'd have better luck trying to date a hungry tiger."
Tomoe frowned, his cheeks still red. "You don't know that. Maybe she just needs someone to understand her."
Shinji rolled his eyes. "Good luck with that. You're going to need it."
Before Tomoe could retort, a sudden heat flared in his hand. He looked down to see his Command Seal glowing a bright red.
"Shinji—" Tomoe began, but Shinji was already looking at his own hand, where his Command Seal was also glowing.
"Brace yourself!" Shinji shouted.
The world twisted and bent around them, and in an instant, they were pulled into the distorted chaos of the mirror world.
They landed on a warped version of the middle school grounds, where the buildings leaned at impossible angles and the sky churned with dark clouds. The oppressive air of the mirror world pressed down on them, and a familiar chill ran through Tomoe's spine.
"She's close," Shinji muttered, gripping his tome tightly.
Tomoe tightened his hold on his Saber card, his earlier embarrassment forgotten. His heart pounded as he scanned the distorted landscape, ready for whatever came next.
The oppressive air of the mirror world crackled with tension as Tomoe and Shinji simultaneously activated their Servant cards. A flash of light engulfed each of them, and when it faded, Tomoe stood clad in a shining white armor reminiscent of a samurai warrior, while Shinji was draped in the dark, ominous cloak of Assassin. Both were now Servants in their own right, their powers primed and ready.
Tomoe gripped his katana tightly, scanning the twisted surroundings for any sign of Atalanta. The silence was broken by a chilling scream that echoed through the warped streets.
"This way!" Tomoe yelled, already sprinting toward the source of the sound.
Shinji followed silently, his presence barely perceptible as his Assassin abilities masked his movements. They turned a corner and skidded to a halt at the sight before them.
There, standing in the middle of the cracked and distorted street, was Atalanta. Her feline-like ears twitched, and her emerald eyes glowed in the dim light as she held a terrified teenager by the neck. The boy dangled helplessly in her grasp, his face pale and streaked with tears.
Shinji's sharp eyes immediately assessed the situation. "He's still alive!" he whispered to Tomoe, relief and urgency blending in his voice.
Tomoe's heart pounded in his chest as he pointed his sword at the rogue Servant. "Get away from him!" he roared, charging forward with his katana raised.
Atalanta's ears flicked at the sound of his voice, and she turned her cold gaze toward him. Without hesitation, she hurled the boy toward a nearby wall and leapt back gracefully, evading Tomoe's strike.
"No, you don't!" Tomoe shouted, his voice filled with righteous fury as he chased after her, determination burning in his eyes.
Shinji, however, stayed behind. He dashed to the boy's side, kneeling to check his condition. The teenager was alive but unconscious, his breathing shallow. Shinji cursed under his breath, casting a brief glance at Tomoe's retreating figure.
"Don't get yourself killed, idiot," he muttered before focusing on stabilizing the victim.
Z
Meanwhile, Tomoe was in hot pursuit of Atalanta. She darted through the warped cityscape with inhuman speed, leaping from building to building like a shadow in the night. Tomoe pushed himself to his limits, his armored boots clanging against the distorted metal and stone as he sprinted after her.
"Atalanta!" he shouted, his voice echoing through the empty streets. "You're not getting away this time!"
Atalanta didn't respond, her silence as sharp as the arrows she wielded. Her green hair flowed behind her like a banner as she vaulted over rooftops and twisted through narrow alleys, trying to lose him.
Tomoe gritted his teeth, his frustration mounting. She was fast—far faster than he'd anticipated. Each time he thought he was closing the gap, she would effortlessly bound ahead, her feline agility unmatched.
As they passed over the warped remains of a playground, Tomoe noticed her glance back at him briefly. Was that a flicker of hesitation in her eyes? Or was it simply annoyance at being chased?
"You can't outrun me forever!" Tomoe bellowed, his voice carrying a mix of anger and determination.
Atalanta landed on a tilted rooftop and paused for a split second, her emerald eyes narrowing as if calculating her next move. Tomoe seized the opportunity, leaping onto the same rooftop with his katana drawn.
"Enough running!" he growled, swinging his sword in a wide arc.
But Atalanta's reflexes were lightning-fast. She backflipped off the roof just as his blade sliced through the air where she'd been standing. The force of his strike shattered the rooftop, sending shards of debris raining down.
Tomoe landed heavily, his breaths coming in ragged gasps. He looked down to see Atalanta disappearing into another alley below.
"Damn it!" he spat, preparing to give chase once more.
Back at the scene of the initial confrontation, Shinji had stabilized the boy and placed him in a safer spot away from the battle. He pulled his hood tighter over his face, his Assassin instincts urging him to stay in the shadows.
"Tch," he muttered, glancing toward the direction where Tomoe had vanished. "If he screws this up, we're both dead."
Summoning his resolve, Shinji follow Tomoe trail, ready to rejoin the hunt. Atalanta wasn't just a foe—they were dealing with a predator. And predators were most dangerous when cornered.
Z
Tomoe's breaths came in ragged gasps, his legs screaming in protest as he pushed himself to chase Atalanta through the twisted streets of the mirror world. She was fast—far faster than he had anticipated. Her lithe form darted across rooftops and leapt effortlessly between buildings, a shadow he struggled to keep in sight.
"Damn it!" Tomoe cursed under his breath as he watched her take a sharp left turn, disappearing from view. He clenched his jaw and followed, determined not to lose her.
Suddenly, Shinji appeared at his side, running with an ease that left Tomoe momentarily stunned. "Hey," Shinji said, his voice calm despite the situation, "how's it going?"
"What—?!" Tomoe sputtered, nearly stumbling in shock. "How are you even keeping up with me?!"
Shinji smirked, clearly enjoying Tomoe's surprise. "My Assassin card boosts my movement speed. Not enough to catch her, but enough to keep up with you." He glanced ahead at the distant figure of Atalanta, his tone turning serious. "Now, answer me—how are you holding up?"
"Not good. I'm barely keeping up. I don't know how much longer I can go at this pace."
"Don't push yourself too hard," Shinji said, his voice steady but firm. "The fact that she's avoiding us instead of fighting means she sees us as a threat. She's running because she's low on energy."
Tomoe's eyes widened slightly at the revelation. "She's running out of energy?"
She has been running faster than him in his best, quite literally besting his record several times, while running out of energy!?
"That's right," Shinji confirmed. "Rogue Servants don't have Masters feeding them mana. Every fight, every attack—it's all burning through whatever reserves she has left."
Tomoe quickly understood, his resolve renewed. "Alright, then. I'll keep going. What about the kid? The victim?"
"Don't worry," Shinji replied, his tone clipped. "He's safe. I made sure of it before I came after you."
Before Tomoe could respond, Atalanta came back into view. She had stopped running, her figure standing still atop a five-story building ahead of them.
"There she is," Tomoe said, tightening his grip on his katana.
"Wait," Shinji said, narrowing his eyes. "She's not running anymore. Be careful."
As they closed the distance, they noticed a faint glow beginning to gather in Atalanta's hands. The energy swirled and coalesced, forming the shape of a bow. It wasn't the bow she had used earlier, but still, it radiated power, an ominous aura that made the air feel heavy.
"What is she—" Tomoe began, but Shinji cut him off.
"She's summoning her Noble Phantasm! Tomoe, find cover! NOW!" Shinji's voice rose in alarm, his usual composure cracking as he recognized the danger.
"Phoebus Catastrophe," Atalanta called softly, her voice carrying a cold finality. She nocked two shimmering arrows onto the glowing bowstring and aimed high into the sky.
Tomoe's eyes widened as the arrows shot upward with blinding speed, disappearing into the darkness. For a brief moment, there was silence. Then the sky seemed to fracture as countless magical arrows rained down like a storm of death, their glow illuminating the twisted streets below.
"Damn it!" Tomoe cursed, diving for cover behind the alley wall. The arrows slammed into the ground with terrifying force, each impact sending shockwaves that shook the surrounding area.
Shinji darted behind him, his Assassin reflexes saving him from a volley of arrows that obliterated the spot he had just vacated. "Stay down!" he shouted to Tomoe, his voice barely audible over the deafening barrage.
The rain of arrows continued relentlessly, carving craters into the ground and shattering anything in their path. Tomoe gritted his teeth, gripping his katana tightly as he crouched behind his meager shelter. "How are we supposed to fight against something like this?" he muttered to himself.
Shinji, peering out from behind his cover, shouted back, "We don't! Not right now! Let it pass—she can't sustain this forever!"
The storm raged on, but Tomoe noticed something. The arrows, though powerful, were becoming slightly less frequent, the intervals between impacts growing longer.
"She's losing steam," Shinji said, noticing the same thing. "Just hold out a little longer!"
Tomoe nodded, determination flashing in his eyes as he prepared himself for the next phase of the battle.
As the rain of arrows continued to crash down around them, Tomoe glanced over at Shinji, who was crouched beside him, clearly out of breath. The unrelenting barrage made it nearly impossible to think, let alone come up with a plan.
"Well," Tomoe said with a hint of exasperation, his voice cutting through the chaos, "your first plan worked. She used her Noble Phantasm. Now what?"
Shinji, still catching his breath, peeked out from behind the crumbling pillar shielding them and surveyed the field. The relentless rain of magical arrows showed no sign of stopping just yet, and Atalanta remained a distant, unapproachable silhouette atop the building. He let out a frustrated sigh.
"Well," he admitted, his tone almost sheepish, "I didn't think she'd stay that far from us when I made the plan."
Tomoe blinked, momentarily stunned into silence. "You didn't think she'd—?!" He shook his head, pinching the bridge of his nose in frustration. "Are you serious right now?"
"Yep."
Tomoe groaned. "So what, now we improvise?"
"Exactly." Shinji gave a wry smile, though the tension in his eyes betrayed his own unease.
"And how exactly do we do that?" Tomoe pressed, still ducking behind cover as the magical arrows pounded the ground around them. He gestured toward the distant rooftop where Atalanta stood, still perched like a predator surveying her prey. "Because I'm a little out of my depth here!"
"Simple," Shinji replied casually as he straightened up, his Assassin-enhanced movements letting him dodge a stray arrow with practiced ease. "You distract her."
"What?!" Tomoe stared at him, dumbfounded. "How the hell am I supposed to distract her?!"
"You'll think of something," Shinji said with a nonchalant shrug, already moving to disappear into the shadows.
"Wait—hey! Hold on a second!" Tomoe called after him, but it was too late. In an instant, Shinji melted into the darkness, his form completely vanishing.
Tomoe clenched his fists, his jaw tightening in irritation. "Distract her?" he muttered under his breath, incredulous. "How?! Does he think I'm just going to wave my sword around and—"
His thoughts were cut off as he noticed the rain of arrows beginning to slow, the once-relentless barrage now fading into sporadic impacts. He peeked cautiously over his cover, spotting Atalanta still standing on the rooftop. Her glowing bow remained in hand, but her posture had shifted slightly—her breathing looked heavier, and the intense light of her Noble Phantasm was dimming.
"Well, great," Tomoe muttered. "Guess I don't have a choice." He tightened his grip on his katana, his expression hardening. "Alright, Atalanta. Let's see if I can buy him enough time."
With a determined breath, Tomoe pushed off from his cover and charged forward, his feet pounding against the cracked ground as he raced toward the rooftop. Atalanta immediately locked her sharp, predatory gaze on him, nocking another arrow in her glowing bow.
Tomoe's heart pounded, but he refused to back down. "You wanted a fight? Fine. Let's see if I can give you one!" he shouted.
As Tomoe sprinted toward Atalanta, perched atop the five-story building, the air around him was alive with danger. She didn't wait for him to close the gap; glowing projectiles began raining down in rapid succession.
Tomoe's instincts kicked in as he weaved through the onslaught, his katana flashing as he parried the arrows. Each deflection sent sparks flying, but some projectiles still grazed his arms and legs, leaving shallow cuts. Nothing serious, but enough to sting and remind him of the precarious situation he was in.
"Where the hell is Shinji?" Tomoe muttered under his breath, frustration rising. He gritted his teeth and pushed forward, ignoring the burning ache in his limbs. "How much longer do I have to hold out?"
Then, as if answering his silent plea, a small explosion erupted just a few feet ahead of him. The blast wasn't strong enough to harm anyone, but it created a thick cloud of smoke, obscuring Atalanta's line of sight.
Tomoe smile in relief, recognizing Shinji's handiwork immediately. "Took you long enough," he muttered, using the opportunity to sprint closer.
As he reached closer to the building, Tomoe leapt with all his strength, his katana gleaming in the faint moonlight as he prepared to strike. His jump carried him upward in a single, powerful motion, and Atalanta's emerald eyes widened in surprise at his sudden proximity.
"Take this!" Tomoe roared as he swung his blade in a wide arc, aiming for her midsection.
Atalanta reacted instantly. Instead of retreating, she did something unexpected: she launched herself toward him.
Before Tomoe could process what was happening, her boot connected squarely with his face. The force of her mid-air kick sent him hurtling back toward the ground and elevating her high into the air.
"Damn it!" Tomoe cursed as he braced himself for impact, slamming into the asphalt below. He groaned, pain shooting through his back, but he managed to roll to his feet just in time to see Atalanta nocking another arrow and aiming directly at him.
"Shit, shit, shit!" he hissed, scrambling for a way to defend himself.
But then, as if on cue, a shadow emerged from above, behind Atalanta.
"Got you!" Shinji's voice rang out, filled with triumph.
In his Assassin form, Shinji appeared directly behind her, his grotesque tentacle arm poised to strike. At the tip of the tentacle, a monstrous hand was forming, ready to unleash his Noble Phantasm.
"In the air, you can't dodge this!" Shinji exclaimed, confidence radiating from him.
But that confidence quickly faded.
Atalanta's sharp instincts kicked in, and she turned her attention away from Tomoe, aiming her bow at Shinji instead. In a split second, she nocked an arrow and prepared to fire.
Shinji's eyes widened in panic. If he defended himself, Atalanta would escape. If he continued with his attack, the arrow she fired from this range would undoubtedly be fatal.
"Damn it," Shinji thought, the weight of the decision crushing him. "If I don't act now, everything we've done tonight will be for nothing."
And then, just as all hope seemed lost, a miracle happened.
Out of nowhere, a sword flew through the air and pierced Atalanta's left hand, forcing her to drop her bow. Blood spattered, and her bow fall down to the ground.
"What the—?!" Shinji exclaimed, staring in disbelief. His gaze followed the trajectory of the sword to its origin.
Standing below was Tomoe, his arm still outstretched in a throwing pose.
"I'm not a baseball player," Tomoe said calmly, a focused expression on his face, "but every boy in Japan knows how to throw a ball!"
Shinji couldn't help but laugh. "Good job, Enjou!"
Seizing the opportunity, Shinji completed his attack. His tentacle hand lunged forward, coiling around Atalanta's chest with grotesque precision.
"Zabaniya!" Shinji roared, his voice echoing in the night. The monstrous hand gripped her chest tightly, pulsing with dark energy.
For a moment, Atalanta's body froze, her emerald eyes wide with shock as Shinji delivered the final strike.
"Dead Heartbeat Melody!" he called out, his voice tinged with both exhilaration and determination.
The grotesque hand released its deadly energy, sending a violent pulse into Atalanta's body. She let out a pained cry as a hole suddenly gouged out from her chest.
Tomoe, still catching his breath below, watched the scene unfold with a mixture of awe and relief.
Atalanta's body dissolved slowly, her form flickering as she faded into a black mist. Her emerald eyes, once filled with determination, dimmed as the last remnants of her presence were erased from the battlefield.
Tomoe stood frozen, watching the spectacle unfold. The adrenaline coursing through his veins made him hyperaware of every sound, every flicker of light, and every beat of his racing heart.
Finally, the weight of the battle caught up to him, and he collapsed to his knees. All the tension, fear, and pressure he had been holding onto drained away, leaving him physically and emotionally exhausted.
Nearby, Shinji stood, his grotesque Assassin form returning to a regular hand as the fight concluded. The tentacles that had been a part of him withdrew, his features returning to their human appearance. For a moment, he just stood there, swaying slightly, breathing heavily.
Shinji turned his head to look at Tomoe and, despite his exhaustion, managed a faint smile. Slowly, he raised his hand and gave Tomoe a thumbs up.
Tomoe stared at him for a moment, disbelief and relief mixing together in his chest. Then, as if something inside him snapped, he clenched his fists and threw his head back, yelling with pure, unfiltered joy.
"YEAAAAAH!!!" Tomoe's voice echoed through the streets, carrying all the emotions he had held back during the fight. It was his first victory, and it felt monumental.
Cracks began to spread through the surreal mirror world around them, the illusion fracturing like glass. Pieces of the distorted reality fell away, revealing the familiar streets and buildings of the city beneath.
As the sun began to rise on the horizon, the golden light of dawn spilled over them, bathing the two victors in its warmth. The cool morning air carried with it the promise of rest, but also the unspoken understanding that this was only the beginning of their trials.
Tomoe turned to Shinji, his breathing still heavy but a grin plastered across his face, the two bask in their hard-earned victory, the first of many battles to come.
Z