[Labyrinth City, Orario]
"Caught the Evilus, and also defeated the monsters. Hmph! Hmph! Truly worthy of being me!"
The girl proudly puffed out her chest, her dazzling crimson long hair swaying in the wind.
Alise Lovell, the captain of the [Astraea Familia] who holds high the banner of "Justice" in Orario.
"Even if they were monsters enraged by a tamer from the Evilus, the noble and beautiful me could still subdue them in a few moves! Truly a perfect victory~"
"Really admire how you can boast about your victory every single time without a shred of shame."
Saying that to Alise, who was fiddling with her hair with a pitiful expression (as she thought), was a Pallum girl, Lyra.
On Lyra's face, which should have been cute, was a cold and emotionless expression completely unfitting, her whole being radiating a worldly-wise air.
A human girl walked over to Alise's side.
Jet-black hair like silk fell to her waist, her kimono outlined her elegant figure, her every gesture exuding gentle grace, like the legendary Yamato Nadeshiko.
"It's all because some elf dragged us down, that's why it ended this late," the girl said.
"Kaguya, are you saying I didn't do well?", The retort came from a blonde-haired, blue-eyed elf girl. Even with a veil covering her face, she couldn't hide her dazzling golden hair and delicate features.
Gojouno Kaguya and Ryuu Lion stood side by side, though of different races, their silhouettes together seemed like that of sisters.
However, their relationship was quite hostile.
"Oh my, didn't you notice?", Kaguya covered her lips with a light laugh, her voice polite and soft, but her words oozed sarcasm.
Ryuu's eyes widened, her brows almost standing up, "Don't talk in that tone, it's disgusting!"
"Your presence is pretty scary," Kaguya tilted her head slightly, then put her hand down, her tone suddenly changed, "Then I'll say it straight, you idiot!"
"You charged into the monster horde on your own, didn't think about who had to clean up after your righteous, impulsive act? It was me! Stop acting so high and mighty, moron! No, useless elf!!"
With sharp curses, Kaguya tore off the Yamato Nadeshiko mask, revealing her awful true nature.
"U-useless elf? You're the one who fought so violently you caused even more damage!", Ryuu jumped up.
"You two really get along well~", The gentle human healer, Maryuu, teased with a smile.
"Who gets along with this bastard/useless trash!" ×2
Ryuu and Kaguya shouted almost in unison.
Atop a distant high rooftop, Emiya and Ryuu stood together, overlooking the Astraea Familia members on the street below.
"Alise, Kaguya, Lyra…", At the sight of them, tears burst from Ryuu's eyes. Her body leaned forward involuntarily, almost rushing down to reunite with them.
But Emiya grabbed her hand, his palm steadily pulling the girl back.
"...I know, Shirou," Ryuu sniffled, speaking softly.
"I'll do it," Emiya said.
"No," Ryuu shook her head, wiped away the tears at the corners of her eyes, and looked up at Emiya with a determined gaze, "I will!"
Killing the main culprit behind the Astraea Familia's downfall was simple, the Dis sisters were preparing under Emiya's direction.
But Ryuu knew, that wasn't enough.
The Dungeon, the evil forces, and that black dragon... They still had many calamities to overcome.
As the goddess Hera said, the naive girls of justice needed a "trial."
Feeling Ryuu's resolve, Emiya nodded. Then, the corners of his mouth lifted into a smile, "The old you was like that, very cute."
Ryuu froze, her cheeks instantly flushed red. She crouched down and hugged her head, her voice full of shame and frustration, "Ahhh, don't look! I was a complete idiot back then!"
Emiya smiled gently, his hand lightly ruffling the girl's golden hair, shining like sunlight.
———
At the front of the group, Alise suddenly stopped walking.
"What is it?", Lyra asked.
"The surroundings... too quiet," Alise replied in a low voice.
Realizing something was wrong, Kaguya and Ryuu immediately heightened their vigilance, gripping their weapons.
Just then, clear footsteps came from afar.
Tap! Tap! Tap!...
The sound was extremely rhythmic, as if intentionally amplified, echoing in the silent street. Accompanying the footsteps, an invisible string pulled the girls' nerves tighter.
"Who's there?", Ryuu raised her voice and questioned.
"Stop playing tricks," Kaguya said coldly, though her tone betrayed a trace of unease.
"Heh~", A light chuckle shattered the stillness of the night.
A figure appeared like a phantom in the middle of the road ahead. A black robe covered the whole body, a black blindfold over the face, golden long hair fluttering in the night wind.
"Evilus?", Looking at that outfit, Kaguya murmured subconsciously, gripping her sword hilt, a bead of cold sweat forming on her forehead.
However, while Kaguya was still assessing the situation, Ryuu suddenly rushed out, drawing her blade toward the figure.
The beautiful eyes under the black blindfold twitched slightly, toes unconsciously gripping the ground.
'Tch, my former self was this much of a mess? Can't bear to watch...'
"You idiot—", Kaguya opened her mouth but didn't manage to curse out loud.
The next moment, in Kaguya's eyes, she saw only a fleeting crossing of Ryuu and the black-robed person. Then, the golden-haired elf girl spat out blood and flew back like a cannonball.
"RYUU!"
Kaguya reacted the fastest, leaping out to catch Ryuu's body steadily. Then, from the impact, she slid back several steps, almost losing balance.
Ryuu's face was pale, crimson blood still at the corner of her mouth.
The others, without hesitation, charged at the enemy with weapons raised.
"Don't!", Kaguya shouted, but it was already too late.
A cold voice came from the black-robed person's mouth, "Excuse me."
Kaguya felt as if she just blinked, but the next moment, a hellish scene unfolded before her, her consciousness thrown into chaos.
Alise's body was deeply embedded in the wall to the left, spiderweb-like cracks spreading across the surface. Her rapier slid helplessly to the ground, letting out a crisp metallic clink.
Lyra was being held by the throat with one hand, feet off the ground, struggling powerlessly. Her face reddened from suffocation.
The black-robed figure casually tossed her aside like a rag, the Pallum girl rolling a few times on the ground, curling into a ball, coughing intermittently.
Around them, Kaguya's companions lay scattered, their anguished cries echoing through the air.
Some wailed clutching broken arms, some tried to stand but collapsed again. The whole street looked like a wreckage ravaged by a storm.
Kaguya's vision blurred, her spirit dizzy, her trembling hand clutched the sword hilt tightly, sweat running down her cheeks.
'This... isn't real, right? Is this a nightmare?'
The black-robed figure walked over, completely ignoring Kaguya kneeling on the ground, passing right by the girl.
Kaguya gritted her teeth, "What exactly are you trying to do?"
The black-robed figure stopped, "Wanted to see the measure of so-called 'justice', the result is DISAPPOINTING."
Kaguya's hand gripped the sword hilt so hard her knuckles turned white, her palm sweating. Her body trembled slightly, rage threatening to overflow her reason.
Just then, a bland voice, with a hint of amusement, drifted into her ears, "Hmm, only you are a bit smarter. Know that as a lamb, in front of a beast, at least be OBEDIENT."
Kaguya's hand trembled even more, but she never drew her sword. In the end, she could only watch the black-robed figure's back fade into the distance.
Once the figure disappeared completely, Kaguya couldn't hold back anymore and looked up with an angry roar.
[One Day of Nightmare], that's what people later called this day.
The female warriors of the justice-aligned familia were defeated in mere breaths in a small alley, and just as the attacker said, she merely "passed by." Her true destination, was the Ganesha Familia.
Twenty minutes later, the Ganesha Familia was annihilated.
Over a dozen level 4 second-tier adventurers lay sprawled in the ruins, the heroes who usually protected the people now unable even to stand, only able to let out weak divine chants.
At the same time, a spear of light fell from the sky, landing at the Loki Familia's headquarters. The storm it kicked up blew everyone away. Though miraculously no one died, including the three level 5 captains, none could get back up.
———
[Freya Familia, Folkvanger]
In the ruins, the fierce warriors the Freya Familia prided themselves on lay scattered, only one barely standing.
That man was the level 6 [King] Ottar. He held a cracked sword, using all his strength to support his shaky body.
Before the Freya Familia was crushed, they didn't even see the enemy's face.
Sniping beyond visual range, arrow after arrow struck down the strongest of the familia. [Goddess's Chariot], [White and Black Knights], [Four Warriors of Burning Gold], these top-tier warriors of the city fell without even a chance to counterattack.
The only one still fighting was the level 6 powerhouse at the city's summit, [King] Ottar. Yet even he staggered back from a single sniper shot.
Tap! Tap! Tap!...
steady footsteps came from afar.
Ottar gritted his teeth and tried hard to raise his head. In his bloodstained vision, a figure slowly emerged, perhaps appearing as a reward for his "tenacity."
It was a tall, muscular man, bare-chested, his muscles chiseled like marble, as if handcrafted by the gods.
A black cloak draped over his head, hiding his face in deep shadow. Beneath it, dark red hair like burning flames danced in the wind.
"Who... exactly are you?", Ottar growled.
The man gave no reply, simply set down the longbow in his hand, and with one hand raised a heavy greatsword.
"AAAAAAAH!", Ottar roared, swinging his greatsword toward the enemy.
Even though he knew, the battle to come would be the hardest in his life, or perhaps not even worthy to be called a "battle."
In the next moment, the sound of shattering echoed across the battlefield. Ottar's heavy sword was ruthlessly broken, his thick armor shredded like paper, and with it, his sturdy bones were also crushed.
The might of a single strike, sword, armor, bone, all shattered.
Blood gushed from his torn wounds, and Ottar's body flew like a kite with its string cut, crashing heavily into the ruins with a dull thud.
The man stood in place, the black cloak billowing in the wind. His lips did not move.
"My name is, HERACLES."
———
[Artificial Labyrinth, Knossos]
"Are you crazy, you elf bitches!", [Killer Empress] Valletta clutched her severed arm, retreating in disarray, cursing.
The Dis sisters advanced slowly, sweet yet chilling smiles on their faces.
"Nope~", Dina replied softly, her voice like a chant.
"We just want our master's forgiveness~", Vena added, golden pupils gleaming eerily.
"So, we're atoning," The sisters spoke in unison.
On their necks were black collars, in their hands swords shaped like a balance scale, the divine sword [Judgment of Justice].
The night before, [Celestial Fox] fiddled with the Dis sisters' heads for a long time. In the end, this fox-girl elder tilted her head and said playfully, "Teehee~ I messed it up~"
Goddess Hera merely held her forehead, as if already used to it.
"Well well, their minds are completely broken, souls shattered, but bodies still usable. Can be made into alchemical puppets...", the fox tried to justify. In the end, Emiya chose to project [Judgment of Justice] and give them a clean end.
However, an unexpected thing occurred.
Two-thirds of the Dis sisters' shattered souls were destroyed by the sword. The remaining third was absorbed into the blade, becoming its "sword slaves", or more accurately, "sword prisoners."
Since then, the sisters' souls were bound within the sword, needing to atone to finally be freed and reincarnated as innocent souls.
Now, the Dis sisters were no longer independent beings, but a part of [Judgment of Justice]. They seemed to wield the sword, but were actually manipulated by it, using their bodies as mediums to carry out its will.
"We're atoning~"
"Killing villains is the fastest way."
"So please help us, Valletta-chan!"
"You really are completely crazy," Valletta muttered, a starlike flash of sword light passed, and her head fell to the ground.
Other than [Killer Empress], all the high-ranking members of the Evilus, [Faceless], [Berserker], [White-Haired Demon], [Death Priest], [Crimson Blood Sword], [Wolf Calamity], were also slain by the divine sword specialized in eliminating evil beyond domain. The artificial labyrinth was drenched in blood.
The Dis sisters stood in the blood pool, innocent smiles on their faces.
"[Slave Cat] must stay for Lord Achilles~"
"And the god Dionysus, since he dares call himself a 'City Destroyer', putting him on trial should bring many merits," The elves discussed seriously.
For Labyrinth City, there was one good news: the Evilus had been completely annihilated. They would no longer face the threat of those vile people.
The bad news was: now they had to face Tamamo-no-Mae, Achilles, Morgan, and Heracles.
And, [Gluttony] and [Silence], who were heading for the city.
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