Hrunting Fired
Shirou's proposal was accepted by Yukinoshita Yukino. Due to her lack of physical stamina, Yukinoshita indeed wasn't suited for long-distance missions.
Having the physically adept boy go out searching for monsters, while she stayed behind to support from the rear—responding when summoned and providing critical backup at key moments—was the most logical arrangement.
However, the experience of suddenly being sucked into a curtain of light was anything but pleasant. Remembering yesterday's incident, Yukinoshita sighed and said, "I suppose there's no other way... but we should at least establish some timing. No—"
She suddenly stopped mid-sentence as a serious thought came to her. Lifting her head with a stern expression, she stared directly at Shirou and said, "Forget what I just said. Listen carefully! If you encounter danger, call me out immediately! Absolutely do not take unnecessary risks. Understood?"
Originally, Shirou had intended to handle any monsters by himself as long as things didn't reach a desperate level.
But Yukinoshita had already seen through that. Under her firm gaze, he had no choice but to nod and say, "Got it. I'll leave it to you when the time comes."
"Eh-eh?" Yuigahama tilted her head, looking at them in surprise. Wait, was she being left out of the loop?
"Good, as long as you understand. Even though your two-star tank stats don't make you all that useful, if you get hurt, Mash and I would face even greater risk in future battles. So please take care of yourself, and at the very least, fulfill your support role properly," Yukinoshita said with a soft smile.
When this person smiled, there was always a touch of sarcasm in her words—though she was undoubtedly beautiful.
"Wait, wait! Yukino? Shirou? What are you two talking about? Why can't I understand any of it?" Yuigahama ran up to them, puzzled.
"Yuigahama…" For a moment, Yukinoshita didn't know how to explain. A girl who sought absolute justice, Yukinoshita refused to lie and insisted on always speaking the truth, even if it meant being misunderstood.
She didn't want to lie to a friend, but she also didn't want Yuigahama getting involved and possibly getting hurt. She was caught in a dilemma.
"We're talking about game stuff," Shirou stepped in to explain.
"A game? So that stuff about getting hurt and all—was that in-game too? Ohhh, I see." Yuigahama breathed a sigh of relief and smiled.
"Yeah, a really unreasonable game. Like monsters that smash through walls casually turning out to be Assassins or something," Shirou said, shifting the topic.
"Hmph…" Yuigahama stepped forward and stared at Yukinoshita, who never lied.
Something still felt fishy.
"Then why didn't you invite me to play?! I thought you were studying, Yukino, so I didn't invite you to play FGO all night!" Yuigahama pouted, wrapping her arms around the black-haired girl in protest.
"I get it, I get it. I'll invite you next time when I'm free," Yukinoshita said helplessly.
"Ehehe, that's more like it," Yuigahama finally smiled, satisfied.
And so, the plan proceeded. Yukinoshita would stay behind, organizing information and forming strategies.
Meanwhile, Shirou and Mash would patrol, searching for anomalies and defeating the monsters inside.
After school in the afternoon, Shirou and Mash headed outside together.
"Shirou-senpai, it's in the abandoned building up ahead," Mash said, using Chaldea's specially provided map function to walk toward the marked location.
This time the target was just a small red dot—not a tough boss like last time.
With no one around, Shirou and Mash ran into the abandoned building. From the structure, it looked like it used to be an old-fashioned shopping mall. As they entered, they found themselves in a wide central space with no ceiling—looking up, they could see the rooftop several floors above. It must have been used for events.
Stairs stood on both sides, and from each floor's railing, this area was fully visible—an ideal place for an ambush.
"Shirou-senpai, let's get ready for battle!" Mash said as she transformed into her shield-wielding form.
Shirou also took out his phone. Upon entering the area, the icon on his screen changed.
He tapped to launch the FGO system, quickly pulling up the interface. Only two characters were still lit up.
Merlin's gold frame still showed insufficient bond level, but the bond bar had clearly increased a lot—was it tied to training progress?
While thinking about it, Shirou tapped the bronze-framed brown-haired man.
A flash of light appeared on the screen. The Servant's gear—armor and white cloak—manifested on the boy's body.
As the pair stepped into the central area, shadows appeared above the railings, on the stairs, and in the darkness behind them.
"Graaaah!!" With glowing eyes and vicious screams, green-skinned monsters wielding large clubs rushed out.
"Shirou-senpai, it's goblins! They're small fry, but there are a lot of them—please be careful! I recommend fighting at a distance!" Mash shouted, charging in with her shield.
"Don't worry, Mash. I've got some confidence in close combat!" Shirou swung the holy sword Ascalon toward the goblins.
The sharp blade slashed through one, sending it tumbling to the ground.
Another goblin leapt from above, diving straight at Shirou's head.
"Trace—on!" A longsword appeared instantly. Shirou lifted it with his left hand, sending the goblin flying, then slashed horizontally with his right, reducing the creature to black smoke and ash.
"Dual wielding really is more comfortable," Shirou said, flicking his sword and smiling lightly.
With each battle, the combat instincts buried deep in his memory were gradually awakening. His well-trained body could keep up with the Servant's abilities. Against enemies like these, there was no need to even use his Mystic Eyes.
Goblins weren't difficult enemies. With Mash and Shirou working together, they could handle the threat easily.
"Grahhhhhh!!" The last goblin let out a cry before falling to the ground.
But oddly enough, Shirou still felt tense. The danger didn't seem to be over.
"Senpai, something's wrong! The dimensional anomaly hasn't disappeared! Ah—!" Mash checked her phone and gasped.
A red, massive dot had appeared on the detection screen—an even greater danger than the mutated Chimera from last time.
From above the stairs of the abandoned building came a loud bang.
Cracking sounds followed from the ceiling of the central area. With a roar, the ceiling collapsed and massive chunks of concrete came crashing down. A huge monster leapt down from above.
It was a creature covered in blood-red skin.
Its body had the texture of a stone lion, but its head was full of root-like tendrils that obscured its eyes. Its gaping mouth revealed rows of eerily neat and white teeth.
A long tail, like that of a lizard, was covered in the same root-like tendrils as its head.
"Senpai, it's a Soul Eater—a Black Beast. Judging by the color, it's another enhanced mutant type," Mash warned.
"You don't need to tell me that," Shirou quipped as he projected a bow and took aim at the Soul Eater.
The beast's crimson body looked like it was drenched in blood. Just looking at it made the air feel heavy and viscous—as if the very air carried the scent of blood.
A red blur shot forward. The monster appeared before Shirou in an instant—so fast there was no warning. Its massive claw was raised and about to strike down.
"Hrah!" Mash rushed forward. A light flashed from the center of her cross-shaped shield.
[Shield of Resolute Uprising]—a Noble Phantasm that had crystallized her will to protect as a Round Table Knight. So long as she stood her ground, she would not allow the enemy to attack her companions.
The creature's claw slammed into Mash's shield, blocking the fatal blow meant for Shirou.
"Thanks, Mash!" Shirou quickly retreated to gain distance.
This monster's speed was unexpected. Though its size was smaller than the jet-black Chimera from last time, the red Soul Eater was at least three times faster.
Shirou's pupils shimmered with gem-like amber light—he activated his Mystic Eyes to analyze the Soul Eater.
"Evasion mode?" Shirou fired a series of projected arrows at the beast. The monster dodged them all with ghost-like afterimages.
"This evasiveness is endless… no choice, then!" Shirou began chanting the incantation for projection magic.
"Hrunting!"
A cursed sword from the British epic Beowulf, Hrunting could track its target once it had tasted blood.
The black magical sword was transformed by Shirou into a slender arrow.
He pulled back the bowstring, aimed at the Soul Eater, and fired!
A black flash burst forth, slicing through the air like a shadow. It pierced the cold wind, locking onto its target. The arrowhead gleamed with a red light.
The Soul Eater again dodged with a ghostly blur, slipping past the arrow's trajectory.
But Hrunting—its black shaft now glowing with crimson runes—suddenly veered midair and shot straight into the red blur.
A scream echoed through the dimensional space—the monster howled in pain.