Okita Sōji stood in place, her icy expression tinged with surprise.
"I even used my Shukuchi step, and she still blocked it…"
She shook the blood-streaked blade in her hand, crimson arcs splattering onto the ground.
No sooner had she spoken than she stepped forward again. Her body slipped into Bazett's blind spot, almost as if she had jumped between dimensions, and in the blink of an eye, she appeared right in front of Bazett, slashing toward her abdomen.
Bazett, ever alert, saw the sudden emergence and narrowed her eyes, but she did not panic. Her right arm dropped in defense.
Rip!
The tearing of fabric rang out. Bazett stumbled back several steps, the right arm burning with sudden, fiery pain—but her abdomen remained intact.
"No problem. I can handle this!"
A spark of exhilaration returned to her eyes, battle intent reignited.
Okita's lips twitched, a mix of frustration and disbelief crossing her face.
She really blocked it!
Her Shukuchi step was one of her strongest trump cards, second only to her Noble Phantasm. Normally, revealing it should have at least severed an opponent's arm to count as a satisfactory strike.
This is my first battle since being summoned by my Master… Not only did I fail to injure the enemy, but the opponent isn't even a Servant—it's a contemporary mage! How will Master see me now?
Her chest tightened. Panic.
He won't think I'm useless, right?
"Saber."
"Yes, Master!"
Okita straightened instantly, tilting her head like a puppy awaiting praise.
"You may use your Noble Phantasm."
Roy's voice came, modulated through magical means.
"…Yes!"
Okita bit her lip, a mixture of reluctance and anticipation as she accepted.
To unleash my Noble Phantasm against a modern mage… Master must be extremely desperate… and probably disappointed in me too.
She turned to face Bazett, only to find that the woman had already returned to her previous position. Bazett picked up the metal cylinder she had left on the ground and poured out a black orb made from some unknown mineral.
A final, decisive duel, then.
Okita inhaled deeply and assumed her Hiratei-en stance, spreading her feet.
The Hiratei-en stance is a common posture in Japanese swordsmanship, aligning the sword with the eyes, tip aimed at the opponent's left eye—a clear indication of an incoming thrust.
Okita had mastered this stance in history; her signature move was the thrust itself, the very foundation of her Noble Phantasm.
"Take this secret sword's radiance! One step beyond sound, two steps without gap—"
Across from her, Bazett's lips curved into a confident smile.
A decisive duel? Too bad. By the time she enters this stance… I've already won.
The black orb floated from her hand, runes etched along its surface. From within, a tiny short sword extended, no longer than a foot. Sparks danced along its edge, faint smoke rings curling around it.
Bazett threw a punch, aiming directly at the orb.
"Ugh!"
Suddenly, a shock of electric pain surged from within her body.
Bazett groaned, eyes wide in disbelief as she fell uncontrollably to the ground.
The runes on the orb went dark, the sphere clattering to the floor like ordinary mineral rock.
"That's enough, Saber. Stop now."
"Three steps… woah?!"
Okita staggered, nearly falling. When she looked up, Bazett was inexplicably lying on the ground.
"Mas~ter~~!"
The young swordswoman's voice dragged in indignation.
"Ah… ahhh—!"
Bazett clutched her chest, writhing. Her heart seemed to rebel, thundering wildly. The pain pinned her in place, leaving only guttural, pained cries to escape her throat. Her proud, heroic figure from moments ago was replaced by a pitiful, crippled form.
"Master… how did you do that?"
Okita glanced around, seeing no other enemies, and relaxed her guard. She turned her gaze toward Roy—and froze.
His eyes shimmered with black-and-white brilliance, gemlike in their intensity, those contradictory, demonic pupils now locked unblinkingly on Bazett.
Magic Eyes?
Roy did not answer. Instead, he stepped forward toward the fallen woman.
"Master?"
"It's nothing."
Seeing Okita's concern, he waved dismissively.
He crouched beside Bazett, reaching out with his hand—and began unbuttoning her jacket.
Okita: ┌(.Д.)┐
Once the jacket was undone, Roy moved on to her shirt buttons.
"Ma-Master?!"
Okita covered her eyes with both hands, sneaking peeks at Roy's actions.
Master… what are you doing? Is he… planning to assault her?! No way! My Master wouldn't be this corrupt!
With all buttons undone, Bazett's burgundy lingerie and large expanses of pale skin were exposed. Her figure was even more graceful than imagined, toned, curves prominent, abs defined—a body sculpted for both combat and display.
She was wracked with pain, unable to speak, eyes fixed in shock as Roy did as he pleased.
Roy's hand slowly extended to her chest.
Okita: (/ω＼)
"There it is."
His fingers landed over her heart.
Etched into her snow-white skin was a vivid green magical mark.
Slash!
With a grip, the mark shattered.
"Ughhh!!"
Bazett screamed in agony, eyes rolling back, before collapsing unconscious.
"Let's go."
Roy retrieved a piece of the shattered magical seal, picked up Bazett's metal cylinder, and turned toward the mountain's base.
"Not killing her?"
Okita glanced at Bazett's now-unconscious form.
"No need."
She nodded and stepped forward, covering Bazett's chest respectfully before following Roy down the mountain.
Every one of the thirteen layers of barriers they had previously crossed ignored them entirely.
"Is this the power of your Magic Eyes, Master?"
"Yes."
At the base of Maruzō Mountain, Roy closed his eyes briefly, a faint weariness in his expression.
"This is my unique Magic Eye. There is no record of anything exactly like it in human history, so I gave it a name—the Reverse Moon Magic Eye. Its effect is simple: total control over all magical techniques."