Chapter 10: At the Boundary
A light breeze swept through the clearing, stirring leaves and grass underfoot.
Saber stood at one end of the clearing, her stance impeccable. The surrounding air was quiet — unnervingly so — as though the very world held its breath in response to her presence. Her invisible sword rested lightly in her hands, the Hammer of the Wind King distorting the surrounding air in subtle ripples. Her sharp gaze locked onto Gojo across the field, calculating.
Gojo stood on the opposite side, his relaxed smile at odds with his opponent. He pulled down his blindfold, exposing his bright blue eyes, which gleamed with barely concealed amusement.
"Alright, Saber," Gojo said, tone casual. "Let's see how well you handle getting past the Infinity between us."
Saber's stance shifted — a subtle tilt of her chin, a narrowing of her eyes.
"A technique that denies harm," she said. "Rin told me about how your ability works. I'm curious about its limits. Has anyone ever pierced it before?"
Gojo's grin widened. "Maybe."
Saber's hand tightened around her sword. "I shall learn myself then."
Without further warning, Saber moved.
A burst of wind tore through the clearing as Saber's foot left the ground, her form becoming a golden blur. A shockwave followed in her wake — compressed air tearing through the field as her sword descended in a perfect arc.
Gojo's eyes widened — not in surprise, but delight.
The sword stopped mid-air — a hair's breadth from where his face originally was, now stopped by a single finger on what he assumed was the flat of the blade as he had moved to the side.
"You had me for a moment there," Gojo laughed, amused and all the happier for it. "I thought you were going to cut me. I even tried moving out of the way!"
Saber inspected where her blade met finger with a stoic stare before shifting. "It seems I do not need to fear going too far then."
The barrier surrounding Gojo distorted the space around the blade, slowing it to an impossible crawl as the air around the blade raged. Saber's momentum ceased as though stuck in place.
Instinct whispered a warning — Saber twisted on her heel and launched herself sideways just as a flick of Gojo's hand sent a burst of cursed energy through the air. A distortion erupted where she'd stood, the ground buckling inward in a spiral.
Gojo flexed his fingers. "You're not going to land a hit like that."
Saber's feet skidded across the grass, digging in deep. Her gaze sharpened. "Then I will have to get creative."
Her sword shimmered — the Hammer of the Wind King distorting the light around it as she placed it behind her to propel herself forward and closed the distance. A flash-step — blindingly fast — followed by a sweeping horizontal strike.
Gojo leaned back, just a moment too slow to evade the strike entirely. The blade met his barrier and halted, dispersed by Infinity. He noted that, unprotected, it would have hurt—though not fatally. Shifting his weight, his foot lifted, ready to reposition.
Saber's face was stoic as her blade was clearly in view for once.
Suddenly, the wind shifted.
The displaced air from her strike compressed inward, twisting unnaturally, converging around Gojo's feet like a vortex.
Gojo's brows lifted. "Oh my—"
The vortex collapsed inward, an obliging Gojo staying to see if it would do anything — and Saber was already there.
Her sword blurred, streaking forward in a piercing thrust.
Gojo's grin widened. His hand lowered.
A pulse of Blue charged cursed energy warped the air, tearing at the vortex as Gojo's body accelerated toward Saber unnaturally. The air becoming almost impossible to see from the dust and debris. He twisted in mid-air, his hand glowing with compressed energy —
Saber parried cleanly, the flat of her blade deflecting Gojo's hand upward. The force of the clash sent Gojo careening backward.
Gojo flipped lazily through the air, landing on one foot. His hand rubbed his chin thoughtfully as his other mangled hand that contacted her blade smoked. "Wow. You countered that. My blue didn't affect you at all."
"You ceased your limitless?" Saber narrowed her eyes at Gojo in a silent demand for answers.
Gojo's smile didn't fade, but his eyes sharpened. His mangled hand flexed as cursed energy stitched the damage back together.
"Limitless is convenient," he said, rolling his wrist. "But it doesn't work against everything. So I wanted to see where I measure up if I couldn't use it."
Saber's gaze sharpened. "And?"
Gojo's grin widened, his tone light but his eyes sharp.
"And so far?" His hand flexed, cursed energy crackling along his fingertips. "You're one tough cookie. A bit more of a through warm up, even." Amused, he inspects his nails on his healed hand before buffing them on his shirt.
Saber's eyes narrowed. "Let us continue."
Gojo's smile sharpened. "Alright. Let's see how well you handle this, Saber." If he couldn't defeat her using his usual tricks. He was going to have to get more creative.
And Reinforcement was just the thing to close the gap in their speed just that tiny bit more.
Amused, Gojo chuckles to himself. "Magic, go." Almost immediately, he felt himself becoming more focused. This whole hypnosis thing was kind of neat.
He felt that familiar feeling of being almost full in every pore of his being as he reinforced himself, ignoring the discomfort. It was getting easier each time he did it.
It helped that he could kind of see magical energy now —
Gojo's hands twitched together, but before he could complete the gesture, Saber was already moving.
Fast.
Too fast.
Her sword flashed toward him, a silver blur splitting the air. Gojo's hands snapped apart, forced to abandon the forming hand sign. His fingers twisted in a familiar pattern.
Space warped. The air in front of him pulled inward, a gravitational well distorting the space between them.
Saber's charge slowed — but only for an instant. Her sword carved through the pull, her body adjusting to the pressure almost unconsciously.
Gojo twisted to the side, just barely sliding past the edge of her invisible blade. His Limitless made sure the blade never contacted his body, stopping inches away as the spatial barrier twisted and softened the blow.
Gojo skidded across the forest floor, flipping mid-air with a twist of his body.
"Heh."
He flicked his hand toward a nearby tree — cursed energy twisting through the air as Blue latched onto it. The tree splintered and shot toward Saber like a missile.
She didn't even look.
Saber's blade blurred. The tree split cleanly down the middle, both halves crashing harmlessly to the side. In the same movement, Saber launched herself forward, sword carving upward in an arc.
Gojo's foot slid backward. His Limitless flared — the air between them distorting as the tip of Saber's blade stopped just shy of his chest.
"Seriously?" Gojo's grin widened. "I'm starting to think you don't like me."
Saber's gaze remained cold. "If I disliked you, I wouldn't be using the flat of my blade."
Saber stepped into his guard again — faster this time. Gojo felt his Limitless again as her sword swept toward his leg. His foot barely lifted in time, Limitless stopping the blow just short of his shin. But the pressure — the sheer speed — forced him to take it more seriously.
His other hand moved. Cursed energy laced through his fingers. The surrounding forest bent unnaturally, twisting toward a single point.
Saber's instincts screamed. She leapt forward — but Gojo was already moving. He clasped his hands together.
Space warped beneath his feet —
Pop.
He vanished.
Saber's eyes snapped upward — Gojo hovered hundreds of feet above the forest canopy, his white hair ruffling in the high-altitude wind. His grin sharpened.
"You're fast," Gojo called down, voice light. "But let's see how you handle this."
He raised his hand.
"Cursed Technique Reversal: Red."
Black and crimson threads twisted through the air, lacing around his hand in spiraling patterns. The cursed energy condensed into a singularity — a deep crimson core spinning rapidly at his palm.
She moved.
Gojo released the sphere.
A flash of red exploded outward — the forest below erupted as the shockwave carved a deep crater into the earth, trees and dirt obliterated in the backlash.
Saber twisted mid-air. The edge of the blast grazed her dress — the fabric flaring behind her as she curved sharply toward Gojo's position.
Gojo laughed.
Saber was already closing in. Her sword swept upward in a flash of steel.
Gojo twisted aside as fast as he could. The flat of her blade passed within inches of his throat. Space folded. Saber's momentum slowed — but only for a second. She adjusted, pushing against the warped pressure.
Gojo twisted mid-air, both hands forming a new sign.
"Cursed Technique Amplification: Blue."
Another sphere formed—a deep blue vortex twisting violently in the air.
Saber didn't face it head-on. Instead, she seized Gojo's shoulder, using him as leverage to vault herself out of its path. Her body twisted mid-air, flipping gracefully downward as Gojo had Blue follow behind her.
Gojo's grin sharpened as Blue twisted violently toward Saber's back, collapsing the air in its path. She turned mid-fall, the hammer of the wind king roaring to life. A surge of air erupted beneath her feet, twisting her trajectory as she went toward the nearest tree, rebounding from it. Blue carved through the space and trees in the way of where she had been, shattering the earth beneath.
Watching from above, Gojo felt the burn of his circuits. "Knock, Knock." For a brief moment, the Blue following Saber tears through another tree before vanishing.
Gojo's feet touched the ground first. Saber followed a breath later, landing smoothly without a sound.
Gojo rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Alright. This is getting fun."
Saber's gaze was steady. "It seems you cannot harm me either."
Despite all that Gojo had done, Gojo could clearly see that both Red and Blue had merely caused damage to her clothes and some light bruising, courtesy of Saber outrunning Blue. Which even now seemed to be healing.
Different than reverse cursed technique, but interesting to see.
Gojo's smile sharpened. "Yet."
He vanished.
Saber's sword was already moving before Gojo reappeared. The flat of her blade arced toward his ribs. Gojo ducked — Limitless flaring as the strike slid past his body, space distorting in response to the pressure.
Gojo's hand flicked toward her side. Saber twisted, parrying the strike with the guard of her sword, her wrist snapping to redirect the momentum.
Gojo's foot shot toward her knee. Saber's blade dipped low — the steel humming as it forced his leg aside.
Gojo's grin widened.
The air between them distorted — Saber's instinct screamed. She darted backward, but Gojo's other hand was already rising.
A flash of blue erupted between them — Saber's form disappearing into the shockwave as Gojo flipped backward, his smile widening.
For a second, silence.
And then —
A glint of silver in the smoke.
Figures.
Saber emerged through the haze — the hem of her skirt tattered, but her expression unyielding. Her sword flashed.
Gojo barely twisted aside as the edge scraped past his shoulder — Limitless unbending under the pressure.
"Alright," Gojo said, laughing breathlessly as he slid back. "Now you're just showing off."
Saber's eyes narrowed. "You dropped Limitless before."
Gojo's smile sharpened. "And?"
"I could say the same."
"Maybe." Gojo flexed his fingers. "Or maybe I just want to see how far I can push myself."
Saber's gaze darkened. "Do not get too confident."
Gojo's cursed energy swirled around him, black and red twisting into his hands. "Now, why would I do that?"
Saber's sword lifted. The wind howled around her.
"Very well."
The ground shattered beneath Sabers feet as she charged.
He raised his hand.
A determined Saber rocketing forwards.
"Cursed Technique Reversal: Red."
A surge of cursed energy formed instantly, black and red threads lacing around his hand, spiraling into a small singularity. Saber's instincts screamed — she launched herself forwards as Gojo released the sphere.
The compressed mass of energy rocketed toward her, bending space itself.
"Who's there?" With a wide grin, Gojo finished the other half of his magecraft, as the form of Blue came rocketing forwards from behind Saber out of nowhere.
Instead of trying to dodge Red like Gojo expected, Saber ran head first towards it, striking with her blade.
An explosion erupted between them, flattening the grass and trees nearby.
Gojo's grin sharpened. That's more like it.
Before the smoke had even finished clearing, Saber was already moving. Her foot pressed down, the earth beneath her splintering as she shot toward Gojo with frightening speed.
Gojo's hand flicked upward, Blue forming at his fingertips—a gravitational pull distorting the air in contrast to the ball of Blue at her heels. Saber veered sharply, twisting mid-stride as Blue pulled at her side, warping the ground beneath her feet. She didn't fight against the pull — she used it, letting the force whip her into a tight arc that brought her around behind Gojo.
Gojo's head tilted. His hands flashed together—Blue shifted direction in an instant, aiming to crush Saber from behind as he pivoted to face her.
Her sword blurred. In a single motion, Saber twisted her wrist and struck the ground with the flat of her blade. "Strike Air!" A violent burst of wind erupted outward, propelling her upward and clear of the pull. The wind howled as Saber spiraled through the air, already repositioning.
"Magic resistance. I didn't think that worked on cursed techniques." Gojo muses as he watched her move. "That's annoying."
"Indeed." Saber said, deadpan as she increased in speed.
She dropped toward him, blade already descending. Her sword struck cleanly—
And stopped.
Gojo sighed, brushing a hand through his hair. "Guess that means I'll have to get serious."
Saber's blade hovered a hair's breadth from Gojo's shoulder, held back by an unseen barrier. A faint shimmer of golden light rippled through the air where her weapon had made contact.
"I shall do the same then." Saber struck in the blink of one moment and the next, striking out at Gojo who could barely duck and weave between blows, his excitement high at the sheer difference in speed.
Her eyes narrowed. Without hesitation, Saber twisted her grip and struck again. And again. Each blow landed with impossible precision, the flat of her blade moving faster than the eye could follow. But every strike halted just shy of its target, the tension of Infinity holding her weapon back as though the space itself had turned solid.
Gojo's hand lifted lazily toward her. "That's not going to work." Behind her, he shifted the Blue that had been following her to turn back towards her.
Saber's gaze sharpened. Her feet adjusted, the wind gathering around her blade. Her sword flared with energy as she twisted into a new angle—faster, sharper. The tip of her weapon screamed toward Gojo's throat—
It stopped.
Not blocked. Not parried. Just… stopped.
Gojo's smile widened. "See?"
Saber's grip tightened on the hilt of her blade. She dearly wished to continue striking —but Infinity was absolute. Her weapon simply couldn't pass through it. She seemed oblivious to the obvious attack coming her way.
"Quite the powerful defense," Saber said, frustration leaking out of her voice.
"You have no idea," Gojo replied, his grin widening.
Saber twisted and struck at his side—only for her sword to halt an inch from his ribs. She dropped low, attempting to sweep his legs. Her blade clanged harmlessly against the empty air between them.
Her eyes narrowed.
Gojo's hand flicked upward. Blue twisted around her, a gravitational pull distorting the air. Saber pushed off the ground, twisting through the force—only for a second sphere of Blue to manifest above her head.
Saber shot sideways—
Gojo's hand flicked downward. Blue shifted again, warping the trajectory of Saber's escape.
Every time her blade found its target—every strike, every angle—it stopped just short.
Gojo leaned back, his smile widening. "Oh, don't stop now. Please be rougher with me, Saber~,"
Saber's stance adjusted—a slight shift of her foot, the tension in her shoulders easing as the flow of wind around her sword sharpened.
"As you insist," she replied.
Gojo's grin widened. "Good."
Instead of dodging, Saber pivoted and struck Blue head-on.
Gojo's eyes widened as his hands snapped together—
An explosion engulfed the forest.
The shockwave from the explosion sent dust and debris swirling through the clearing. Fragments of shattered earth and splintered trees clattered to the ground. The air was thick with dust, lingering smoke curling lazily upward.
From the edge of the field, Rin Tohsaka emerged, hands on her hips, her face contorted into a fierce scowl.
"You—" Her sharp voice cut through the settling haze as she stomped toward the two figures standing at the center of the devastation. "Do you two have any idea how long it took to set up that bounded field?!"
Gojo stood with one hand pressed to his side, his clothes shredded near his stomach. His blindfold dangled loosely around his neck, and a rare flicker of strain crossed his otherwise relaxed expression. Steam seeped around his hand as his body rapidly stitched itself back together with Reverse Cursed Technique.
Saber, standing opposite him, remained composed, but faint tears marred the edge of her blue and silver dress, and thin scratches marked her exposed skin. A shallow bruise was forming along her left arm where Gojo's Blue had grazed her — the result of the sheer gravitational pull distorting space.
Rin's gaze flicked to the sheer damage they had caused. The surrounding trees were gouged with deep trenches, the grass flattened in wide circles from the shockwaves. The bounded field was gone — torn apart at the seams by cursed energy and sheer magical force.
Saber met Rin's gaze evenly. "Apologies. It seems the duel escalated more than anticipated."
"More than anticipated?" Rin's eye twitched. "This was supposed to be a test — not scorched earth!" She turned toward Gojo, jabbing a finger at his chest. "And you — why the hell didn't you stop it once you saw how far it was going?!"
Gojo chuckled, his hand sliding behind his head to reveal unblemished skin. "Ah… you know how it is. The moment kind of took over."
Rin's brow twitched dangerously. "The moment—?"
"Hey, come on," Gojo said, grin widening. "It was just some good fun."
Saber's gaze remained steady, though a faint flicker of amusement crossed her features.
Rin pinched the bridge of her nose. "You're impossible."
"I prefer the term 'remarkable,'" Gojo offered, hands in his pockets.
Rin ignored him, turning toward Saber. "And you?" she asked, her tone softer. "Are you hurt?"
Saber shook her head. "Gojo's technique is difficult to avoid. But the damage is negligible."
Rin stared at the two of them who were calm, standing amid the ruins of the clearing — and rubbed her forehead. "Great. Perfect. I'm surrounded by lunatics."
Gojo's smile widened. "Hey, you knew what you were getting into when you let me stay."
Rin's glare sharpened. "I did not sign up for this level of destruction."
"Details," Gojo said, brushing dust off his jacket. "Think of it as… stress testing."
Rin's hands curled into fists. "Stress testing what?"
"Your patience," Gojo replied, his grin sharpening.
"Don't," Rin warned, already turning away. "Both of you, clean this up. I'm not fixing it."
Saber gave a short, respectful nod.
Gojo just laughed. "Aw, you're no fun."
"I'll show you fun," Rin mutters under her breath, stalking toward the edge of the ruined clearing.
Behind her, Gojo and Saber shared a glance.
Gojo's smile lingered as Saber's gaze sharpened once more. "We have yet to determine a winner." she said, tone cool.
Gojo's grin widened. "You really want to go another round?"
"If you can improve, then yes."
Gojo's eyes glinted with challenge.
"Well then," he said, stretching lazily, "I guess we'll have to determine a winner next time."
2018, October 1st
The ocean whispered behind them, a constant, inaudible murmur beneath the sound of the shifting tide. Beneath the shade of an unnatural palm tree, Kokichi Muta sat in the sand, his back pressed against the rough bark, the chill of saltwater still clinging to his skin. His clothes were dry, but the scent of the sea clung to him — as if reminding him that there was no leaving this place. Not until he fulfilled his binding vow.
His gaze drifted across the horizon, where the water shimmered from an eternal day. A clear mark of Dagon's domain.
Soft footsteps crunched against the sand, quiet but deliberate. Kokichi's gaze flicked upward.
A woman approached — dressed like something out of a Victorian painting.
Her hair was brown, tied neatly beneath the frame of a black bonnet. Pale blue eyes gleamed beneath the shadow of the fabric. She wore a black-and-white maid's uniform, the hem of her dress dragging lightly across the sand. Her apron was pristine despite the dampness of the air. Her face, young and delicate, was marred by a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.
Balanced carefully in her hands was a silver tray, on which sat two glasses of ice water. The glasses gleamed under the sunlight.
"Ah, you're still here," she said with a pleasant lilt.
Kokichi's gaze sharpened. "You say that like I could go. I don't have a choice."
"Don't we all have choices?" she asked sweetly, lowering herself to sit across from him in the sand. She tucked her legs beneath her with practiced grace, the tray balanced perfectly on her lap.
"Not with a binding vow in place," Kokichi mutters.
Her smile widened. "Then maybe you should have read the fine print."
Kokichi's jaw tightened. "You're the Berserker."
Berserker's eyes brightened. "Oh? Calling me by my class? That's so impersonal." She reached for one glass and offered it toward him. "Please, call me Jack."
Kokichi didn't move. "And you expect me to drink that?"
Jack's smile didn't falter. "It's just water. Or mostly water."
"I'll pass."
Jack sighed dramatically, setting the glass aside on the sand. "You're rather cold for someone who's spent so much time being friendly with the others."
Kokichi's gaze darkened. "I don't know what you are talking about."
Jack tilted her head, studying him with an unnervingly sharp gaze. "You don't have to pretend around me. You miss them, don't you?"
Kokichi stiffened. "Who?"
"Your friends," Jack said, her smile softening into something almost genuine. "You kept yourself apart from them for so long, didn't you? Watching from the side while they fought together… It's hard to be so close and yet so far."
Kokichi's fingers twitched against his knee. His gaze lowered to the sand.
Jack's eyes sharpened at the small tell. "I think I understand a little," she continued, her tone soft. "I have someone like that, too. Someone I cherish."
Kokichi's brow twitched. "So?"
"I want to get closer to them," Jack said. "But… I don't know how."
Kokichi didn't answer.
Jack's head tilted. "They like something called 'mecha.' Giant machines? With weapons? I don't get it." She glanced toward Kokichi expectantly. "You know about that, don't you?"
Kokichi scoffed. "You're asking me for advice?"
"You've built things before, haven't you?" Jack said, her tone light but insistent. "Your puppets — Mechamaru — that's like a mecha, right?"
Kokichi's gaze sharpened. "They aren't like most piloted mecha which are controlled from inside. I control Mechamaru with my cursed energy."
Jack's eyes gleamed with interest. "But the structure, the engineering. Isn't it similar?"
Kokichi exhaled. "In some ways. Cursed energy reinforces Mechamaru's frame. The inner workings are built to withstand combat. A real mecha would rely on internal mechanics, hydraulics, weapon systems and power sources."
Jack leaned forward, blue eyes glinting. "So, if you were building a mecha for real, what would you use?"
Kokichi's lips twitched. "That depends on the size. And the purpose."
Jack smiled brightly. "If you were building one for… oh, let's say… someone small but fierce?"
Kokichi gave her a flat look. "That's not how it works. I don't think you can make a mecha at all without having a power similar to mine."
Jack hummed thoughtfully. "Maybe not. But I could still talk about it theoretically, right?"
Kokichi's gaze narrowed. "Why do you even care?"
Jack's smile faltered. "Because… if it makes them happy, it's worth learning about, right?" Her smile returned, softer this time. "You understand that feeling, don't you?"
Kokichi's mouth pressed into a thin line. For a moment, neither of them spoke — only the sound of the tide filled the silence.
Then Kokichi sighed. "If you're serious about learning, you'll need to understand the fundamentals first."
Jack's eyes lit up. "Oh?"
"Power sources," Kokichi said, his tone sharp but measured. "You can't build a mecha without knowing how it's powered. And you'll need to balance the frame's weight with its mobility. But without cursed energy and a way to control it at a distance, it's hopeless."
Jack's gaze gleamed with quiet satisfaction. "Oh, this sounds complicated."
"It is."
"I appreciate your help anyway," Jack said, brushing imaginary dust from her apron. "Although I'm not sure I'm able to direct it from a distance like you."
Kokichi exhaled through his nose. "Good."
Jack's smile widened. "Oh, if that's too complicated, I might have an easier question then."
The ocean lapped gently at the shore behind them, the salt-heavy breeze rustling Kokichi's hair. He sighed, rubbing his temples as Jack's wide-eyed gaze remained fixed on him, equal parts curious and expectant.
"So," Jack said, "if I want to understand more, I should start by watching some, right?"
Kokichi gave her a sharp look. "Somewhat?"
"Mecha," Jack said brightly. "If I'm going to build one, I should probably know what it's supposed to look like."
Kokichi exhaled. "You're not going to build one."
"But," Jack tilted her head, "you're still going to tell me which ones are good, right?"
Kokichi's jaw tensed. He cast a glare at the sand beneath his hand. "Why does it matter? You're not interested in any actual way."
Jack's smile didn't waver. "But my friend is." Her gaze softened, the brightness in her expression taking on a quieter sincerity. "If I knew what they liked, maybe I could understand them better."
Kokichi's eyes narrowed. He sat in silence for a moment before sighing, fingers curling into the sand. "…Fine."
Jack's face brightened.
This was probably one of the less bad days for Kokichi in this place. He didn't know how to feel about that.
2018, October 1st
The room was dimly lit, a single desk lamp casting long shadows against the walls. Faldeus sat with his legs crossed, his gloved hands steepled beneath his chin. Across from him, Yuki Tsukumo leaned back in her chair, one hand resting on her hip, her usual easygoing expression tinged with sharp focus.
"You're sure about this?" Faldeus's voice was low, measured.
Yuki shrugged, the movement deliberately casual. "Sure as I can be. We've got power plenty."
Faldeus's gaze sharpened beneath his glasses. "Power determines outcomes. Influence determines reach. Cooperation determines longevity." His lips curled faintly. "You believe the last one outweighs the first two?"
"Not necessarily." Yuki smiled faintly. "But I've seen too many powerful people burn out because they couldn't work with others. Power's great — but it doesn't solve everything."
Faldeus's gaze darkened. His silence carried weight.
Yuki's smile widened knowingly. "We're not looking for the strongest Servant — not if we've got as much resources as you say backing us up."
"You're placing a lot of faith in external factors," Faldeus said. "The government's reach only extends so far."
"How far?" Yuki's eyes narrowed.
Faldeus's smile didn't reach his eyes. "Far enough."
"Then it sounds like we cover each other's weaknesses." Yuki's gaze sharpened. "We don't need the strongest. We need someone willing to listen."
Faldeus adjusted his glasses. "Finding a Heroic Spirit who fits that description will narrow our options."
"Better to narrow them than summon someone we can't work with." Yuki stretched, her smile sharpening. "We don't need a weapon. We need an ally."
Faldeus's eyes flicked toward the side of the room, where a sealed case containing several potential catalysts rested. "A compliant Heroic Spirit would reduce the risk of misalignment… but it may also limit our offensive potential."
"Then we just need to compensate elsewhere." Yuki's tone was light, but the confidence beneath it was razor-sharp. "You've got the strategy. I've got the power. That's more than enough to tip the scales."
Faldeus's fingers tapped against his armrest, his expression briefly contemplative.
After a moment, he nodded.
"I'll prepare the adjustments," Faldeus said. His gaze slid toward the locked case. "But we will discuss this more later. If there is no suitable catalyst, we might need to go for compatibility."
Yuki's smile widened. "That's the spirit."
She stood, hands behind her head as she sauntered toward the door.
"You'd better keep to your word, Faldeus," she added, glancing over her shoulder. "Strategy only works if you've got someone to cover you."
Faldeus's eyes narrowed behind his glasses. "I don't plan on falling behind."
"Good," Yuki said, voice light. "Neither do I."
As the door shut behind her, Faldeus's gaze lingered on the locked case for a moment longer. Then he stood, his movements precise as he reached for the case and began inputting the codes.
A cooperative Servant. Power through influence.
His smile sharpened.
Strategy, after all, was about maximizing advantage.
2018, October 1st
A mess of plates crowded the table. Skewers, bowls of fruit, fast-food wrappers, and one container of niku-dango sitting off to the side.
Ruler sat cross-legged at the edge of the table, chopsticks resting loosely between his fingers. His golden brown eyes half-lidded as he scanned the food before him with mild disdain.
"Not enough meat," Ruler said, his tone calm and measured, as if stating an absolute fact rather than a complaint.
Yuji scowled, tense ever since he had come here with Ruler. "You said you wanted to try different things, so I got different things." He gestured toward the assortment in front of them. "You can't just eat meat all the time."
"And yet meat is preferable to… whatever this is." Ruler's chopsticks hovered over some fruit before he discarded them entirely, his interest already waning. "I was hoping for something more fitting."
Yuji exhaled slowly. "If you don't want to eat it, that's fine. It's just a bit of a waste."
Ruler's gaze sharpened. "Waste? Why should I care about that?" He lazily pushed aside a plate of rice with the tip of his chopsticks. "If it's not worth eating, then it's not worth existing."
Yuji's brow furrowed. "That's not how it works."
Ruler's smile curled. "Then you can eat it if you care so much. But don't expect me to lower my standards."
Yuji pushed the container of niku-dango toward Ruler with a stubborn set to his jaw. "Try this instead. It might be closer to what you want."
Ruler's eyes sharpened. Slowly, he picked up a meatball and bit into it. His brow lifted as he chewed.
"Hmm." He swallowed. "Acceptable."
Yuji smirked. "Heh." He held his chin up higher in pride as he rubbed a finger under his nose.
Ruler plucked another dumpling from the container, eating it with the same measured pace. "You may continue to provide these, if you wish."
Yuji's smile turned into an annoyed grimace. "I'm not gonna keep making this for you every day."
Ruler's smile curled faintly at the edges. "You care too much about the small things."
"It's not small at all, just make it yourself!" Yuji frowned, crossing his arms. "Why do I have to babysit you, anyway."
Ruler finished the dumpling, his expression unreadable as he ignored Yuji. "At least you know how to choose something worthwhile."
Yuji groaned in frustration, unsure how to deal with Ruler.
The door slid open.
"Ah, there you are." Gojo's voice broke the quiet as he leaned casually against the doorframe, blindfold firmly in place.
Rin stepped in last, her expression composed but a little strained at the edges.
"Food?" Rin's tone was light but strained.
"Ruler isn't happy about his food," Yuji said, rubbing the back of his neck. "So he's just… complaining."
"I'm merely stating the facts," Ruler replied smoothly.
"You said there wasn't enough meat," Yuji said flatly.
Ruler gave Yuji a unimpressed stare. "It remains that way, yes."
Gojo's smile was relaxed. "So, Ruler, what kind of food do you actually like?"
Ruler's gaze shifted toward him. "In the past, I had a personal servant. They were skilled enough to make even the most common meals taste to my standards." He picked up another niku-dango and took a slow bite. "Making do with this has been… acceptable."
Gojo chuckled. "High praise, huh? What was your favorite?"
Ruler's expression barely changed as they ate. "Human meat."
Yuji's hand froze on the table. "What?" Despite his words, Yuji was more resigned than surprised.
Ruler's gaze didn't waver. "Humans have the most unique taste. Every one of them carries their own flavor—a reflection of their character." His mouth curled. "I only partake when the prey is worthy."
Yuji's jaw tensed. "You're joking."
Ruler's smile didn't reach his eyes. "Am I?"
Gojo laughed. "Sounds like you've got high standards." His tone was light, but his eyes sharpened beneath the blindfold. "But enough about that. I actually came here for a reason."
Ruler's gaze narrowed. "Oh?"
Gojo straightened. "Class time. Rin and Saber are waiting for you, Yuji."
Yuji blinked, lost for a moment. "Class?" He checks his phone and pales. "Oh man I'm late!" Yuji clasps his hands in front of him in embarrassment and bows to Rin. "I'm so sorry."
"That's alright Itadori, you're not the type to miss a lesson without good reason, just contact someone for things like this." Rin pointedly doesn't look at Sukuna as she talks.
"You could always use more training," Gojo said, waving a hand carelessly. "And I've got something I need to say to Ruler in private, anyway."
Yuji's brow furrowed. "Why in private?"
Gojo's grin widened. "Don't worry. It's nothing too bad."
Yuji's expression darkened. "That's not funny."
"Relax, Yuji. there isn't all that much to worry about," Gojo said, adjusting his blindfold. "Now, get moving. I'll catch up."
Yuji's gaze lingered warily on Ruler before standing. "Fine." Both Rin and Yuji leave the room, leaving both Ruler and Gojo to face each other.
Ruler's expression didn't change as Gojo's gaze lingered on him.
"Kids, am I right?" Gojo said with a laugh, hands slipping casually into his pockets as he lingered just inside the door.
Ruler didn't respond at first. He placed his chopsticks down beside the tray and looked toward Gojo. "You didn't stay behind just to comment on children."
Gojo's grin widened. "Caught me." He shrugged. "I've just been wondering… why've you been lying low?"
Ruler tilted his head. "Lying low?"
"You know," Gojo said, stepping closer, voice easy. "You've spent your time doing nothing but meditating and eating. It makes me curious on what you are up to."
Ruler didn't answer immediately. He lifted the last piece of niku-dango between two fingers, inspecting it as though its texture contained more answers than Gojo's question.
"Is there something wrong with spending time as I wish?" Ruler finally said, his voice dry.
Gojo chuckled. "Only if you're boring. Which, let's be real—you're not. So what gives?"
Ruler ate the meatball and chewed slowly. His eyes drifted toward the far wall. "Because there's no point. Nothing worth exerting effort for has appeared."
"Not even the Grail War itself?" Gojo asked. His voice was still light, but his eyes—behind the blindfold were studying him closely.
Ruler's smile was faint. "It has yet to commence properly. I'm sure the true Ruler shall come and I shall have my fun either way."
Gojo raised a brow, amused. "That so? You just waiting for everything to start?"
Ruler glanced at him, the faintest flicker of amusement crossing his features. "You might say that."
Gojo grinned. "Guess I better start polishing my moves then. Wouldn't want to miss the honor of making the great Sukuna get off his metaphorical throne."
Ruler said nothing for a long moment, then exhaled lightly through his nose—a sound that might've been a chuckle, or just air.
"I shall look forward to it," Ruler said calmly.
Gojo flashed a lazy smile. "You do that."
He started for the door, waving one hand lazily over his shoulder. "Just don't sleep through the entire war, Ruler. I think even you'll find something worth getting serious about before it ends."
Ruler's eyes lingered on him, unreadable. "Perhaps."
Gojo didn't look back. "Catch you later."
When the door slid shut behind him, Gojo left with a frown for a few seconds.
He was certain Ruler was lying to him.
2018, October 1st
The inside of the beach house in Dagon's domain still smelled faintly of sea salt. Someone had converted one of the living spaces from a bedroom to a laboratory. The salt air fogged the wide windows, and the soft rush of waves provided a lulling contrast to the grotesque scene inside.
Lined in a neat semicircle along one wall were over a dozen figures—once human, now something else entirely. Their bodies were limbless, torsos sealed and restrained in fleshy binding shells grown over their stumps. Each was gagged and blindfolded, their mouths open in muffled cries and choked moans, their eyes twitching or rolling back as the bindings flared with cursed energy.
Mahito clapped his hands once in delight. "You know, I thought it would be more difficult! I mean—Mystic Eyes? You made them sound like a big deal, right?" He crouched beside one of the twitching torsos and gently prodded the eyelids open. The eye beneath had turned a bright gold, radiating an unnatural shimmer. "Turns out, it's kind of easy. Although most normal people kind of just burn up and die if I don't let it turn off. That started a whole other batch of people I needed to test so I wouldn't hurt myself."
Kenjaku stood near the entrance, arms folded, his expression mild and contemplative as he surveyed the row of failed or twitching experiments. "You have made fast progress."
"I even started giving some of them Magic Circuits," Mahito said, almost too casually. "Bit trickier, but I think I'm getting there. Few survive the process yet. The soul doesn't like having that kind of structure added all at once." He tilted his head, tapping his chin. "Still, progress is progress."
Berserker—Jack—stood a few steps behind Mahito, still in the maid's form, eyes bright as they studied the bound subjects with a kind of innocent curiosity. "You can give circuits to someone?" they asked. "Could you do that… to someone else?"
Mahito's grin widened. "You want some for yourself?"
"Yes." Jack shook their head, having a slight hesitation before answering. "I would like to learn."
Kenjaku's brow rose just at that, but he said nothing.
Mahito, still kneeling, hummed thoughtfully. "That'll be fun. But you'll have to pull your weight and collect your own people to test on. I'm not sharing," He raised a finger, wagging it. "It shouldn't be harder than when I gave my last pet the ability to use cursed energy."
"Noted," Jack murmurs.
Kenjaku stepped forward, gesturing toward the display. "You should have it ready soon then?"
Mahito's smile returned, playful and bright. "Well, if progress continues like this…" He spread his arms grandly. "You'll have what you asked for. Just let me know if you find any more cute little eyes like that. I might start a collection."
The room shuddered as one of the mystic-eyed corpses twitched violently—its restraints tightening.
Mahito laughed. "Besides, it's not like anyone else is doing anything interesting with them."
2018, October 1st
Yuta sat on the rooftop, legs crossed, hands resting on his knees. The city lights shimmered beneath the dark sky, and the quiet hum of traffic drifted faintly through the air.
"You look tense."
Yuta's gaze shifted upward. His Servant, Sakamoto Ryouma, stood nearby, his usual easygoing smile in place. Oryou floated lazily at his side, arms crossed.
"I'm not tense," Yuta replied, tone calm but firm. "Just thinking."
"Ah, that's what you call it?" Ryouma grinned, sitting down beside him. "Your face says otherwise."
Yuta exhaled through his nose, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Fine. Maybe I'm a little tense."
Ryouma chuckled. "That's more like it." He leaned back on his hands. "Nervous about the fight coming up?"
Yuta's gaze sharpened. "No. Not really." He paused, then added, "More about how it's going to play out. I know Gojo will win, I have to trust in him." Yuta hesitates for a moment. "But I'm concerned about Yuji going first."
Ryouma's expression softened. "That's fair."
Yuta's hands tightened on his knees. "Yuji's strong considering how long it's been since he became a sorcerer, but this is different. He's going up against someone very dangerous. And if things go wrong…"
Ryouma's expression turned thoughtful. "That's why we will be on the side to make sure nothing can go wrong. You can trust in both him, and us, right?"
"Of course I can," Yuta said, his tone steady. "But trusting someone doesn't mean you stop worrying about them."
"True enough," Ryouma said, adjusting his hat. "But our job is to be close by just in case. Ruler should at least be invested in keeping Yuji alive for self protection if nothing else."
Yuta's gaze steadied. "I know. I'll be ready."
For a moment, silence settled between them, broken only by the wind.
Then, Yuta glanced sideways, a small, curious smile tugging at his lips. "Hey… can I ask you something a little less heavy?"
Ryouma raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Go ahead."
Yuta leaned back, eyes thoughtful. "How did you meet Oryou?"
Ryouma's smile widened. "Ah, now that is a story." He leaned back, resting his hands behind his head. "Well, I was on a mountain and I saw Oryou here trapped under a spear of all things." Sheepish, he scratches the back of his head. "So before I knew it I pulled it out and set her free. It didn't feel right to let someone be stuck like that. Although in hindsight I probably should have been worried with how scary she looked."
Yuta only grew more concerned at the story, and what was left out, but listened patiently.
Oryou scoffed, cheeks pink. "Idiot."
Ryouma laughed. "I don't regret a thing."
Yuta's expression softened. "I'm glad you two care about each other so much, it's heartwarming."
"You've got people who stick with you too," Ryouma pointed out. "I mean, look at me, or Rika or all those friends who you keep wanting to visit."
"That's different," Yuta said.
"Is it?" Ryouma tilted his head. "I'm your Servant. That's not nothing."
Yuta's gaze steadied. "No. It's not."
"Good." Ryouma stood, brushing sand from his sleeves. "Now, let's talk strategy. And maybe stop thinking like the entire world's weight is on your shoulders."
Yuta's smile sharpened. "It kinda is, though."
"Then it's a good thing you've got me."
Yuta stood, his confidence settling back into place. "Yeah. I guess it is."
2018, October 1st
Francesca Prelati lounged in her chair, the faint glow of moonlight reflecting off the polished marble floor beneath her feet. A delicate smile curled at the edge of her lips as the news filtered through her network of informants—another Grail War. The sheer delight in her expression was palpable, her gaze distant as if savoring the implications.
"A Grail War," she whispered. "How delicious."
Her fingers trailed over the rim of her wine glass as she chuckled. "Twice now," she said, muttering. "That old worm, Zouken... and that tedious Grand Magus—Kenjaku, was it?" Her smile sharpened. "They did have their fun at my expense, didn't they?"
She tilted her head back, letting the laughter bubble up freely. "But third time's the charm, isn't it?"
Francesca stood, the glass in her hand shimmering under the low light. "I wonder what kind of Servant I'll get a hold of. I do hope I get my dear friend. Maybe I'll even play fair… for a little while."
Her grin widened, teeth flashing like a predator's. "After all, it's not about winning, is it? It's about how much fun you can squeeze out of the game before it all burns down."
Her eyes glinted with something sharp and dangerous. "And this time… no one's taking it from me."
End of Chapter 10:
Howdy! Another day, another chapter. Hope you all enjoyed. I uh struggled a little getting back into the swing of things but it gets easier over time.
And I quite agree, I imagine Sukuna with access to magecraft would be quite menace indeed. Although Sukuna's original body never had magic circuits in this story.