Jayr POV - Nasuverse, Moon, Far Side, Sakura Labyrinth - 2030 AD
"Hello there."
The words leave my mouth calmly, carried across the darkened battlefield without any force or hostility.
The wind shifts slightly beneath the oppressive sky. The Darklings remain parted, forming a silent corridor between us. The heavy clouds churn above as if the world itself is waiting for the next move.
For a few seconds, no one speaks.
Then I straighten and smile slightly before I begin to officially introduce myself in the most traditional way possible, "My name is Jayr Pucci. The Champion of Culture. I'm 23 years old. My house is in another universe. I'm married to 6 incredible and beautiful women and have three cute children. I work as a wandering doctor helping and healing anyone who needs assistance, and sometimes kick the ass of unsavoury people and punish them for their evil deeds, and I get home every day by 8 PM at the latest. I don't smoke, but I occasionally drink with my friends. I'm in bed by 11 PM, and make sure I get six hours of sleep, no matter what. After having a glass of warm milk and doing about 5 to 6 hours of extremely intense exercise before going to bed, I usually have no problems sleeping until morning. I then awake as refreshed and recharged as a newborn child, ready to take on the day's challenges. I can assure you there were no issues at my last check-up, as I'm beyond the concept of healthy. For as long as I could remember, I've done everything in my power to live a productive life that allows me to pursue a lasting inner peace. This may be a foreign concept to some, but I usually choose not to concern myself too much with winning or losing, life's troubles, or enemies who bring sleepless nights. That is how I cope with this exciting life we find ourselves living. It's what brings me happiness in an Omniverse fraught with assholes, hardship, and misery. Of course, if I were ever to engage in combat, I would win the battle without question."
Throughout the whole monologue, my voice remains even, steady, and measured, but with a little bit of theatrical flair. It is simply who I am.
An identity declared using the most ridiculous, but at the same time iconic manner, using the speech pattern of Kira Yoshikage from Jojo's Bizarre Adventure.
Normally, I just use it for fun from time to time, enjoying the reactions of the people who hear it. But since I've acquired the Ultimate Skill, Jayr the Man of Culture, such a meme-worthy introduction became yet another means to gain an advantage over my opponents.
When I finish, silence lingers for a heartbeat longer, then Ledram smiles, not a mocking smile nor a challenging one, it is just genuine recognition as he understood the reference.
Then he replies, his voice smooth, touched with quiet amusement, "Well met, Jayr. Such a unique introduction is just what one should expect from the Champion of Culture."
After that, Ledram adds, "Since you've officially introduced yourself, I'll do the same."
With regal flair, he very slightly lowers his head as a sign of respect while placing his right closed hand over his chest and says, "My name is Ledram Vassago. Heir of the House of Vassago and the Champion of Darkness. It's a pleasure to meet you."
At this point, he relaxes his posture, and his gaze shifts past me to Nero and Rani standing beside me.
I notice his eyes linger on Nero for a moment longer than necessary, but there is no lust or desire in his gaze, only pure appreciation, before he smiles and lightly says, "I must admit, I am somewhat envious. To summon the Emperor of Roses herself... You are a fortunate man. I'm also convinced that we are in an era where red is better than blue."
I feel the corner of my mouth lift before I answer, glancing at him knowingly, "Umu. I see you are a Man of Umu as well."
Rani tilts her head slightly at my side, confusion flickering behind her glasses, while Nero lets out a pleased chuckle, emerald eyes gleaming.
Meanwhile, Oda Nobunaga snorts once, faint but unmistakable, making me briefly focus on her before I look back at Ledram and say, "You are also quite the fortunate man. The Demon King of the Sixth Heaven is also equally impressive."
Hearing that, Ledram smiles, but it is not a regular one; it's the kind of smile that tells me that there is more than just pure appreciation and that the bond between them is as strong as the one between Nero and me.
Then he admits, "That's true. I've been quite blessed to have summoned Nobunaga. She is the best partner I could have wished for."
Oda Nobunaga snorts softly at that, but there is no mockery in it. She doesn't look at him immediately. Instead, she adjusts the brim of her hat with two fingers, tilting it just slightly lower as if to hide the faint upward curl of her lips while she mutters, voice lazy, but sharp around the edges, "Best partner, huh? Careful, kid. If you keep praising me like that, I might start demanding tribute."
Ledram chuckles under his breath and says, "If that is the price for having the grace of your company and obtaining victory, I will pay it gladly."
Now Nobunaga finally looks at him. Really looks at him.
There's something there, not the usual romantic softness, nor is it plain sentimentality. It's recognition. The kind forged in battlefields and decisions that cannot be undone.
She shrugs one shoulder before she says, "Heh. You'd better. I didn't get dragged into this mess to lose."
Beside me, Nero gives a delicate, amused hum as she says, her voice light but layered with pride, "How quaint... To see a bond so openly acknowledged in the midst of war."
She takes a small step forward, red cloak shifting like a living flame behind her. Even standing still, she commands attention. Then she adds, placing one hand lightly over her chest, "Though such devotion is only natural. A Servant who is recognised properly by her Master will always respond in kind."
Her emerald eyes flick briefly toward me.
I feel it. The silent challenge. The silent affirmation. The silent competitive spirit.
I meet her gaze without hesitation and simply say, "Recognition goes both ways."
Nero's lips curve into a pleased smile, "Umu. As expected."
Rani adjusts her glasses, watching the exchange with quiet calculation. Unlike Nero or Nobunaga, she doesn't radiate emotion outwardly. But her eyes move carefully between all of us, cataloguing posture shifts, tone fluctuations, subtle signs of synchronisation.
She speaks softly, but clearly, "It seems that emotional alignment between Master and Servant increases combat efficiency. Mutual trust reduces hesitation thresholds during critical exchanges."
Nobunaga raises a brow and asks, "You always talk like that?"
Rani blinks once and honestly replies, "Yes."
A beat passes, then Nobunaga lets out a short laugh, "I like her."
Rani pauses at that, processing it as if it were unexpected input before she replies after a moment, "...Thank you."
The battlefield remains still around us. The Darklings do not move. The sky churns in silence. Yet for a brief instant, it feels less like imminent slaughter and more like a gathering of warriors acknowledging one another before steel meets steel.
I glance between Ledram and Nobunaga again and remark, "You two seem synchronised. Not just contract-bound. There's history in your stance."
Ledram's gaze sharpens slightly at that observation, but he doesn't deny it, and then he calmly says, "Nobunaga does not tolerate incompetence. If I were unworthy, she would not stand beside me."
Nobunaga smirks and says, "Damn right. I've burned down bigger things than this Labyrinth for less."
Nero laughs softly at that, not insulted, but intrigued, "How bold. How wonderfully direct. You truly embody your legend. I can feel your burning passion, and I like it!"
Nobunaga turns her head toward Nero now, eyes narrowing slightly, but not in hostility, before she replies, "And you're exactly as extravagant as the stories say. I can respect that. Takes guts to shine that bright in a history as dark as the one in our world."
Nero's posture straightens further, pleased, "Naturally. An Emperor does not dim herself to match her surroundings. She shines even brighter to illuminate everything with her radiance."
Rani murmurs quietly, almost to herself, "High charisma density detected on both sides..."
I suppress a small smile.
The moment stretches just long enough to feel real.
Two Servants. Two Masters. Each pair is bound by contract, but more than that, bound by mutual choice. Then the battlefield breathes again.
The faint scent of iron creeps back into my awareness. The distant hum of the Sakura Labyrinth resumes its quiet, oppressive presence.
The levity fades naturally. This is still a Holy Grail War. This is still a battlefield hidden within the Moon Cell.
Ledram's smile softens, then gradually recedes. The warmth drains from the air like the final notes of a song fading into silence.
He inhales once, steady and controlled.
When he speaks again, his voice has shifted. Still calm. Still composed. But now carrying weight as he says evenly, "Now, let's focus on the main topic."
Nobunaga's posture subtly changes at his side. The relaxed angle of her shoulders straightens. The faint amusement in her expression narrows into alertness.
Ledram continues, eyes locking onto mine as he asks, "Why did you contact me? What is it you wish to discuss?"
Beside me, Nero's playful aura cools into regal focus. Her presence sharpens, like a blade drawn but not yet swung.
Rani steps half a pace closer to my side, her analytical gaze steady.
The brief moment of shared understanding dissolves completely.
We are the Masters again. We are Champions, and whatever warmth existed seconds ago now stands balanced on the edge of inevitability.
Straight to the point. His tone tells me that he doesn't want to waste any more time in pointless talk.
I nod once in agreement to that sentiment before I calmly say, "You and I both know neither of us intends to surrender. And even if we did, this Holy Grail War would not allow it."
The Darklings remain still, like statues awaiting command, while I add, "Because of all these factors, our confrontation is inevitable."
I let that truth settle for a moment before I continue, "Since that is the case, it is better we fight under conditions of our choosing rather than be cornered by circumstance. The longer we wait, the more compressed this battlefield becomes. Other surviving Masters grow closer and the Champions among watch, waiting for a perfect chance to strike."
Ledram studies me carefully before he slowly says, "You intend to prevent interference. Yet, you are surely aware that something is clearly wrong with this Holy Grail War. It is being guided. Pressured. Whoever altered its structure will attempt to exploit any weakness we may reveal."
His eyes narrow slightly as he continues, "And if that someone is another Champion… they would benefit greatly from us exhausting each other during a battle."
Hearing that, I maintain a confident smile on my face while thinking, 'He is correct. That's exactly what I was considering when I decided to contact him, but soon I also came up with a very effective and guaranteed solution for this very problem.'
While I'm thinking that, Ledram asks the most important question: "How do you plan to prevent that from happening?"
For a moment, I say nothing, then my smile grows a bit bigger as I vaguely reply, "We will make use of something neither the Moon Cell nor any hidden manipulator can oppose."
The air seems to grow heavier, though no energy gathers as I reveal in the end, "The absolute authority of the Concepts."
Rani's brow furrows faintly, a clear sign that she is not able to understand the meaning behind my words, while Nero's expression shifts from amusement to sharp interest as she starts to connect the dots.
At the same time, Oda Nobunaga's eyes narrow slightly while Ledram goes completely still, caught off guard by what I just said, until I declare, "We will issue a Champions Challenge."
At this point, the battlefield floor falls into a thick silence, one not created by confusion nor disbelief, but by just stillness.
For several seconds, Ledram does not speak, then, slowly, realisation dawns on his face, and a low chuckle escapes him before he says, "…I see."
His smile returns, broader this time as he admits, "That is... brilliant."
He understands the exquisite subtlety behind the solution I've come up with for our current power.
A Champions Challenge is not a spell, nor a technique; it is an absolute right.
A clause embedded into the very foundation of the Battle Across the Omniverse is recognised by all Concepts.
Absolutely binding once agreed upon.
It cannot be overridden without defying the Concepts themselves, and such a thing is realistically impossible, as the Concepts are everything that was, is, and will ever be.
Ledram exhales softly before he says, "Yes. That would remove interference. No third party could intrude without drawing the attention and the wrath of the Concepts."
He pauses before he adds, "However, the wording must be precise. The Challenge must still qualify as a confrontation within the Holy Grail War's parameters. The Holy Grail War, altered or not, remains a sponsored competition between Champions."
I nod and say, "I agree. If we try to be too smart about it and completely bypass their rules, the Concepts may outright refuse."
What follows is not negotiation in the usual sense; it is a careful and measured drafting.
Every clause is examined. Every loophole is considered.
We discuss the conditions with the help of Rani, Nero, and Oda Nobunaga.
First: The confrontation must count as a legitimate Holy Grail War engagement.
Second: No third-party interference. No other Champions, no Masters, no Servants, no hidden actors. The battlefield must be completely isolated.
Third: Absolute protection of non-participants like Rani or any others not directly involved in the battle.
Fourth: Reinforcement of the battlefield. This floor must be able to endure the full extent of our power. After all, I'm pretty sure that if Ledram and I unleash our full power, it would be very easy for us to destroy not only the Moon Cell but the whole Nasuverse.
Fifth: Companions that are not officially part of the Holy Grail War but still take part in this battle are revived in case of death and transported to the protected spectator area with the other non-participants.
Sixth: Victory conditions aligned with the War. The battle ends with the death of either Master or Servant. If a Servant falls, the result stands. If a Master falls, they are revived and subjected to the Moon Cell's judgment. The standard procedure. Erasure, if deemed appropriate. This way, we do not escape the Holy Grail War.
As we draft the sixth clause, my gaze sharpens slightly as I add, "Considering that both of us can resist erasure in ways ordinary participants cannot, this clause is the most appropriate for our current situation, as we will still be subjected to the usual rules and will be able to defy them using our own power."
While I'm saying that, I'm also thinking, 'That part is one of the most important. We are not normal Masters. We are not meant to fall quietly under the whims of a mere giant supercomputer of sorts like the Moon Cell.'
We formalise our confrontation within this draft, making Ledram nod slowly and declare, "Yes. This should satisfy the parameters."
There is no hostility in his tone, only respect.
I step forward, and with a confident smile on my face, I say, "Very well. Since we have ironed out the details... I Challenge you!"
At the same time as I utter those words with clear intent, the rule of the world around us suddenly changes.
The air shifts decisively.
I see that time has frozen as the world around us turns into a monochromatic colour, and an impossibly strong, glowing barrier surrounds both our bodies, protecting us from just about anything.
Shortly after the barrier's appearance, I hear Culture's voice as it declares, [A Champions Challenge has been issued. Right now, all kinds of aggressive action are forbidden, and both the Champions will be protected from all kinds of harm and shielded from all kinds of outside influences and interferences.]
The battlefield trembles once, softly. The Sakura Labyrinth does not resist, but it complies as an absolute Authority has been invoked.
I stare right into Ledram's eyes before I say, while being careful in my wording, "I, Jayr Pucci, Champion of Culture, challenge you to a battle that still counts as a legitimate Holy Grail War engagement..."
Like that, I carefully start to list all the agreed-upon clauses we came up with together, and once I finish, Ledram doesn't waste any time and replies, "I, Ledram Vassago, Champion of Darkness, accept those conditions."
The acceptance seals it as the voices of Culture and Darkness are heard as they say in perfect sync, [[Challenge agreement reached. Champions Challenge beings!]]
The next instant, time unfreezes, but it does not resume normally; instead, the world continues with quiet obedience.
The floor beneath our feet shifts structurally.
It is subtle. So subtle that an ordinary magus would not notice it. The tiles of the Sakura Labyrinth remain where they are. The cracks in the ground do not move. The faint residue of old battle scars still stains the surface.
And yet, its connection to the surrounding Labyrinth severs cleanly.
Not through force, and neither through destruction, but through removal.
Like a page gently lifted from a book without tearing the binding.
The metaphysical architecture of this floor disconnects from the greater framework of the Moon Cell's constructed reality. Lines of authority that once flowed from the central system into this space retract with mechanical precision.
The Labyrinth does not resist such change, but it yields and even assists because something higher has spoken.
For a brief fraction of a second, I perceive the underlying lattice of information that forms this world. Countless streams of data. Spiritual foundations. Reality anchors. All recalibrating.
The floor is still registered as part of the Sakura Labyrinth, but no longer fully connected to it.
It is reclassified with its designation overwritten and acknowledged.
[Authorised Arena — Champions Challenge.]
The rewrite is absolute.
Elsewhere, I also sense Rani being relocated.
Not teleported in the crude sense of displacement, she is directly reassigned to another place.
Her existence within this zone is evaluated, categorised as "Non-Participant," and gently extracted from the active combat parameters. There is no spatial distortion, nor any kind of light swallowing her form.
One moment, she stands beside me, and the next, she is no longer within the arena's jurisdiction.
Instead, she appears within an observational chamber constructed simultaneously with the arena itself.
A platform manifests beyond the perimeter of engagement, separated by a barrier that does not shimmer or glow but simply is. An absolute partition recognised by the Concepts as inviolable and absolutely safe, as nothing in existence can defy their authority.
I feel her presence there. Safe. Untouchable. Not protected by the durability of the barrier, but protected by definition.
The ground beneath our feet responds next.
This time, the change is tangible.
The stone darkens slightly, not in colour but in density. The faint imperfections across its surface smooth out as if rewritten by an invisible chisel. Each tile settles into place with microscopic precision.
But this is not reinforcement in the conventional sense, but a redefinition.
Durability ceases to be measured in tensile strength or magical resistance; instead, the concept of "breakable" is amended.
The arena's foundation is granted priority over destructive output within its bounds. This does not provide immunity, nor invulnerability, but priority.
If Ledram and I unleash power capable of fracturing stars, the arena will not "tank" the damage like a shield.
It will adjust the outcome.
Destructive force will be permitted only insofar as it aligns with the conditions of the Challenge.
Cracks may form, explosions may bloom, but total collapse is removed from possibility, and since the battlefield floor is now removed by the rest of this reality, our attacks won't affect anything else, which means we can fight without worrying about anything else.
The arena is now a stage acknowledged by the Concepts themselves. It will endure anything because it has been authorised to endure.
Beneath my senses, deeper still, the structural rewrite continues.
Spatial coordinates compress slightly, optimising distance calculations for high-speed movement.
Causality stabilisers anchor themselves into the perimeter to prevent temporal distortion from spilling outward.
Even probability fluctuations flatten, reducing the risk of outside variables contaminating the duel.
Every parameter that could invite interference is quietly locked.
Then the Moon Cell reacts, and for the briefest instant, I feel it.
A surge of evaluation routines ripples across the digital sea of this world. Countless observation threads converge upon our location. System permissions escalate. Deletion protocols hover at the threshold of activation.
And then they stop not only because the Moon Cell is weak but because it recognises authority above its own.
The Champions Challenge is not a hack, nor is it an exploit.
It is a clause embedded into the primordial framework of the Battle Across the Omniverse.
To override it would require rejecting the Concepts that define the competition itself.
And the Moon Cell, for all its godlike processing power, does not possess the jurisdiction to defy the Concepts that created it.
So it yields.
Deletion protocols dissolve. Warning alerts never manifest.
Administrative oversight downgrades from "Control" to "Observation" to "Locked."
The Holy Grail War recalibrates.
This engagement is recognised as legitimate.
The escalation is accepted.
Jurisdiction has shifted.
No longer governed solely by the Moon Cell's computational sovereignty, this battlefield now operates under a higher statute.
A superior authority.
Above us, the sky changes.
The oppressive clouds do not part in theatrical fashion as they are an intrinsic part of Ledram's floor.
Instead, the turbulence within them stabilises. The chaotic swirl that once suggested unseen manipulation quiets. The darkness remains, but it becomes steady and more measured.
The uncertainty that lingered like static in the air fades.
The world feels settled. Not really safe as it is still a battlefield, but certain.
This is no longer a battlefield shaped by hidden hands and external tampering, but it is now a sanctioned arena.
A place where the outcome will be decided by will, power, and execution alone.
Beside me, Nero inhales softly before she says, voice low but reverent, "I can feel it. The world itself has acknowledged this duel."
Across from us, Nobunaga rolls her shoulders once, testing the space, testing the air while she mutters, "Heh. Feels solid. Like the kind of stage where legends get carved."
Ledram's gaze sweeps across the arena with quiet approval before he says to me, "Well done. This is everything we hoped for."
I allow myself a small nod while thinking, 'That's right. Now there will be no interference. No hidden sniping from another Champion. No sabotage from a lurking Master. No manipulation from whatever force attempted to warp this Holy Grail War. No outside observer. Only us. Only our Servants. Only our allies. Only the authority we invoked.'
The arena for the Champions Challenge stands complete, and for the first time since this reconfigured Holy Grail War began, the battlefield feels more honest.
Nero steps forward beside me, posture straight, emerald eyes blazing with anticipation, before she says lightly, though power hums beneath her tone, "Well, how refreshing. A duel recognised by the very foundation of existence."
Oda Nobunaga moves to Ledram's side, her expression sharp, lips curling into a faint grin as she quietly says, "Now this is worth the effort."
Ledram's gaze meets mine as he says, "We are going to win this battle. No hard feelings."
I smile and repeat in a confident tone, "No hard feelings. But victory will be ours."
The air grows dense, not in an oppressive way, but more because of our focus.
We could have chosen a different contest, like a game, a debate, a race, but neither of us did even try to push this option forward.
This is the Holy Grail War, and we settle it accordingly.
I exhale slowly and take a neutral battle stance to not reveal my cards too soon and ask, "Shall we?"
Ledram's smile sharpens as he and Oda Nobunaga also take their battle stances before he replies, "Yes."
And with that, the battle between Champions begins.