Morning arrived with artificial precision in Lungmen, the city's climate control systems regulating temperature and light with mechanical efficiency. I woke to find a schedule notification slipped under my door, Kal'tsit's thorough organizational skills evident in the detailed timeline.
0800: Physical Assessment 0930: Combat Evaluation 1100: Psychological Screening 1300: Break 1400: Background Verification 1530: Final Interview
Seven and a half hours of systematic examination designed to uncover everything about me. Everything I couldn't reveal without raising impossible questions.
I dressed and made my way to the facility's medical wing, finding Kal'tsit already waiting with equipment prepared and expression set to clinical detachment.
"You're punctual. Good."
She gestured to an examination table.
"The physical assessment will be comprehensive. Blood work, tissue analysis, full body scan. Expect it to take ninety minutes."
I complied, sitting on the table while she began her work. Her movements were precise, professional, each test conducted with practiced efficiency. She drew blood, took tissue samples, ran diagnostic equipment across my body with mechanical thoroughness.
"Your preliminary results from Sussurro were concerning."
She said while examining readouts.
"Zero Originium exposure despite operating in high contamination environments. Cellular regeneration rates far exceeding human baseline. Physiological markers that suggest genetic modification or Arts enhancement."
She looked at me directly.
"Care to explain?"
"I heal efficiently. Always have."
"That's not an explanation, that's a restatement of the observation."
She pulled up detailed scans on her tablet.
"Your cellular structure is unusual. Not infected, not entirely baseline human. Something between, or perhaps something entirely different."
My danger sense pulsed faintly, warning that Kal'tsit's analytical mind was circling too close to truths I couldn't share.
"Some people are physiologically unusual. Genetic variation, random mutation, whatever explanation makes sense medically."
"Except your variations are too consistent, too purposeful. This isn't random mutation, this is structured alteration."
She set the tablet aside.
"I won't press further right now. But understand that Rhodes Island takes biological anomalies seriously. If you're carrying some unknown pathogen or your condition is contagious, we need to know."
"I'm not contagious. Not a threat to anyone here."
"Time will tell."
She moved to the next phase of examination, testing reflexes and coordination. My responses were faster than she expected, Shiki's combat trained body reacting with precision that bordered on precognitive.
"Combat assessment will be interesting."
She muttered, making notes.
The physical evaluation concluded slightly ahead of schedule, and Kal'tsit led me to a training facility within the warehouse. Combat dummies and weapons racks lined the walls, and observation windows suggested this was where operators demonstrated their capabilities.
"Show me what you can do."
Kal'tsit instructed, settling into an observation station.
"Use any weapons or techniques you're comfortable with. The goal is to assess combat effectiveness and tactical decision making."
I approached the weapons rack, examining the available options. Standard issue swords, spears, knives. Nothing exotic, all practical military equipment.
I selected a simple combat knife, feeling Knight of Owner activate automatically. The blade became perfect in my hands, weight and balance adjusting to my preferences through the Noble Phantasm's power.
The training dummies activated, moving with preprogrammed attack patterns. Basic at first, simple strikes and blocks that tested fundamental capability.
I dismantled them efficiently, my Mystic Eyes showing death lines even on mechanical constructs. Cut here to sever hydraulics. Strike there to disable motor functions. Each movement precise, economical, wasting no energy on unnecessary flourishes.
"Increase difficulty level five."
Kal'tsit's voice came through speakers.
The dummies moved faster, their patterns more complex and unpredictable. Multiple attackers converging from different angles, coordination that would overwhelm most fighters.
I adapted instantly, Shiki's assassination techniques guiding my responses. Use their momentum against them. Create openings through misdirection. Strike at vulnerable points revealed by the Mystic Eyes.
Within three minutes, all five dummies were disabled, components scattered across the training floor.
"Level eight."
Kal'tsit sounded intrigued now.
Eight dummies, moving with speed that matched trained operators. Their patterns incorporated Arts effects, energy blasts and environmental hazards that added complexity beyond simple physical combat.
I projected Kanshou and Bakuya, the married swords materializing in my hands through Unlimited Blade Works' degraded power. The twin blades felt right, balanced perfectly for my dual wielding style.
The fight lasted four minutes, considerably longer due to the magical components I needed to avoid or counter. But the outcome was never in doubt. The Mystic Eyes showed me death even in Arts constructs, lines where energy could be disrupted or dispersed.
When the last dummy fell, I stood among the wreckage breathing normally despite the exertion. Combat was becoming natural, instinctive, the integration of Shiki's template and my accumulated skills creating something formidable.
"That's sufficient."
Kal'tsit emerged from the observation station, her expression thoughtful.
"Your combat capability exceeds most elite operators. The weapons you manifested appear to be Noble Phantasms, specifically the married swords Kanshou and Bakuya."
She paused, studying me carefully.
"Which raises the question of how you acquired them."
This was the moment I had been dreading. The question that would reveal too much or require lies I wasn't comfortable telling.
"I have access to certain abilities."
Vague, noncommittal, buying time to think.
"Abilities that manifest as Noble Phantasms."
Kal'tsit stated.
"Similar to what we've observed in Victoria."
Victoria. The warning from the system, the catastrophic threat that had conquered an entire nation.
"What happened in Victoria?"
Kal'tsit was quiet for a moment, clearly debating how much to reveal.
"Approximately two weeks ago, an entity appeared in Victorian territory. They wielded a lance called Rhongomyniad and demonstrated power that defies conventional understanding. Within three days, Victoria's government collapsed and this entity claimed the throne."
She pulled up images on her tablet, showing distant photographs of a figure in armor holding a massive lance.
"They call themselves the Lion King. Some kind of divine authority made manifest, commanding power that makes entire armies irrelevant. The Doctor believes they're connected to the same source as your Noble Phantasms."
The image showed a woman with blonde hair and cold eyes, armor that gleamed with holy light. Even through the photograph, I could sense the power radiating from her.
Artoria Pendragon. The Lion King version, transformed by Rhongomyniad into something beyond human. One of the most powerful entities in the Fate series, operating in Terra with full divine authority.
The catastrophic threat made sense now. She was a goddess, functionally immortal, wielding power that could level cities. My Mystic Eyes could theoretically kill her, but actually landing a strike against someone of her caliber would be nearly impossible.
"The Doctor."
I said, latching onto something else Kal'tsit had mentioned.
"You said they believe the Noble Phantasms share a source. How would they know that?"
"The Doctor has access to information beyond normal channels. Their strategic insight and tactical planning operate on a level that seems almost precognitive."
She paused.
"They predicted Victoria's fall two days before it happened. Warned our operators to evacuate and prepared contingencies that saved hundreds of lives. When the Lion King appeared, the Doctor recognized the weapon immediately and understood its implications."
Someone with precognitive tactical ability who recognized Noble Phantasms on sight. That suggested knowledge beyond what Terra should possess, similar to my own situation.
"I want to meet them."
"You will, if you pass evaluation. The Doctor interviews all potential operators personally."
She gestured toward the exit.
"We're ahead of schedule. Take a thirty minute break before psychological screening."
I left the training facility and found a quiet corner of the warehouse, my mind processing what I had learned. Another entity with Noble Phantasms was in Terra, someone powerful enough to conquer a nation. And Rhodes Island's mysterious Doctor somehow knew about these weapons despite them being from a completely different world.
Too many coincidences. Too many variables I didn't understand.
The god who had sent me here had been vague about the details, but they must have known about the Lion King's presence. Must have calculated how that would affect my journey and the entertainment they sought.
I was being guided toward confrontation with a goddess. The thought should have terrified me, but instead I felt something else.
Curiosity. And determination.
If the Lion King was holding Victoria through power and fear, then eventually someone would need to challenge her. And if I continued growing stronger, accumulating Noble Phantasms through the gacha system and evolving my abilities, perhaps I could be that someone.
Not today. Not for months or years probably. But eventually.
The psychological screening was conducted by a different operator, someone trained in assessment techniques but less intimidating than Kal'tsit. They asked standard questions about stress response, decision making under pressure, moral frameworks and ethical boundaries.
I answered honestly where possible and deflected where necessary. Yes, I was comfortable with violence when protecting others. No, I didn't enjoy killing. Yes, I understood the weight of taking life. No, I didn't have trauma that would impair combat effectiveness.
Mostly true. The simulation deaths had affected me, but not in ways that would show up on standard psychological evaluation.
The background verification was more challenging. I provided what little information I could, invented a vague past that explained nothing, and relied on Sussurro's earlier promise to be vague in her reporting.
The interviewer clearly wasn't satisfied, but they accepted what I gave them with obvious reluctance.
By the time the final interview arrived, I was exhausted from maintaining careful control over what I revealed. Kal'tsit met me in a private office, her expression still clinical but perhaps slightly less hostile than this morning.
"Your evaluations are complete. Combat capability is exceptional, psychological profile is stable if somewhat guarded, and medical status is anomalous but not dangerous."
She folded her hands on the desk.
"The background verification is concerning. You have no documented history, no traceable connections, no verifiable past. That makes you either very good at hiding your origins or something else entirely."
"Does it matter? You've assessed my current capabilities and found them acceptable."
"It matters because Rhodes Island operates on trust. We send operators into dangerous situations where they must rely on each other completely. Unknown variables create risk."
She was silent for a moment.
"However, the Doctor reviewed your preliminary results and wants to meet you regardless of the incomplete background. That's unusual. They typically require full verification before proceeding."
"When?"
"Tomorrow morning. For today, you're cleared to operate within Lungmen under probationary status. Sussurro will accompany you for any field work."
She stood, indicating the interview was finished.
"Don't make me regret this decision, Shiki. Rhodes Island has enough problems without adding internal security concerns."
I left the office and found Sussurro waiting in the corridor, her expression hopeful.
"How did it go?"
"Probationary approval. I meet the Doctor tomorrow."
"That's great! Kal'tsit doesn't give probationary approval easily."
She pulled out her tablet.
"Since you're cleared for field work, want to help me with something? I need to gather information about Reunion activity in the infected district. Just basic reconnaissance, talking to people, seeing if anyone knows anything."
The mission the system had provided. Perfect opportunity to make progress while appearing to work for Rhodes Island.
"Sure."
We left the facility and entered Lungmen proper, navigating through crowded streets toward the infected district. The transition was stark, moving from clean maintained areas to neglected streets where infrastructure crumbled and poverty was visible everywhere.
People with crystalline growths watched us with suspicion, their expressions mixing fear and resentment. Rhodes Island uniforms marked us as outsiders, possibly threats despite the medical symbols.
Sussurro approached people carefully, her gentle demeanor helping to ease tension. She asked about health concerns, offered free medical consultations, built rapport before mentioning Reunion.
Most people claimed ignorance. A few admitted hearing rumors but refused to elaborate. One elderly woman with advanced infection finally spoke after Sussurro treated her symptoms.
"Reunion is here. Not openly, but they're recruiting. Promising change, revolution, freedom from oppression."
Her voice was quiet, fearful of being overheard.
"They meet in the old factory district. Abandoned buildings that LGD doesn't patrol. I don't know more than that."
Sussurro thanked her and we continued our reconnaissance, gathering fragments of information from different sources. By late afternoon, we had confirmed that Reunion maintained a presence in Lungmen and was actively recruiting infected residents.
"This is concerning."
Sussurro said as we headed back toward the facility.
"If Reunion is establishing cells in major cities, their reach is far greater than we thought."
"What will Rhodes Island do with this information?"
"Report it to LGD probably. Try to prevent violence before it starts."
We turned a corner and nearly collided with someone emerging from a side street.
A woman, tall and muscular with distinctive Vouivre features. Her orange hair was tied back, and she wore clothing that suggested recent travel. But what caught my attention most were her eyes, burning with intensity that spoke of someone carrying enormous weight.
She looked at us, recognition flickering across her features as she noticed the Rhodes Island symbols.
"Sussurro."
Her voice was rough, exhausted.
"I need to speak with Rhodes Island leadership. It's urgent."
Sussurro's eyes widened.
"Siege? What are you doing in Lungmen? We thought you were still in Victoria fighting..."
She trailed off, understanding dawning.
"Victoria fell."
Siege confirmed.
"The Lion King conquered everything. I barely escaped with survivors, brought them to Rhodes Island's landship for sanctuary."
She looked haunted, defeated in a way that went beyond physical exhaustion.
"But I can't stay. I'm here on her orders, forced to spy on Rhodes Island or she'll execute hostages. My people, my friends, everyone who didn't escape. They're all at her mercy."
The revelation hung heavy between us. Siege was compromised, forced to betray allies to save lives. The kind of impossible situation that broke people regardless of which choice they made.
"Come with us."
I said quietly.
"Tell Rhodes Island leadership everything. They might have options you haven't considered."
Siege looked at me, assessing.
"Who are you?"
"Someone who understands being trapped between bad choices."
We walked back to the facility in tense silence, Siege clearly debating whether this was the right decision. Sussurro sent messages ahead, alerting leadership that a situation required immediate attention.
By the time we arrived, Kal'tsit was waiting with Czerny and several other senior operators. They took Siege to a private briefing room, and I was excluded from the discussion despite having been present when she arrived.
I found a quiet observation area and sat, processing everything that had happened today.
The Lion King had hostages. Siege was compromised but seeking help. Rhodes Island was planning something, their mysterious Doctor coordinating responses to threats I barely understood.
And I was caught in the middle of all of it, possessing power that connected me to the same source as a conquering goddess.
The system notification appeared.
[Mission Progress: Shadows in Lungmen]
[Reunion presence confirmed. Intelligence gathered regarding recruitment operations.]
[Additional Objective Available: Assist Rhodes Island in addressing the Victorian crisis]
[Reward: Variable based on contribution]
The god was pushing me toward involvement with Victoria, toward eventual confrontation with the Lion King. The entertainment they sought was building toward some climactic clash between entities who wielded Noble Phantasms.
I pulled up the gacha interface, checking my available tickets. Thirteen regular pulls and one legendary still waiting from the Sal Viento mission. Resources I should use to grow stronger before the inevitable conflict.
But something held me back. Pulling now felt premature, like acknowledging I was preparing for war against a goddess. Once I started down that path, there would be no turning back.
Tomorrow I would meet the Doctor. Tomorrow I would learn more about Rhodes Island's plans and how I fit into them.
Tonight, I would rest and prepare for whatever came next.
Somewhere in Victoria, the Lion King sat on her conquered throne, waiting for word about the fighter who wielded Gáe Bolg. Planning her next moves in a game I was only beginning to understand.
And in a private briefing room, Siege wept for her captured people and the impossible choices she faced.
Terra was a world of suffering and conflict, just as the god had promised.
But it was also a world where people fought against that suffering, where organizations like Rhodes Island tried to make things better despite overwhelming odds.
I had chosen to join them. Not because the system demanded it, but because it was right.
And if that choice eventually led me to face a goddess in battle, so be it.
I would cross that bridge when I reached it.
For now, I had work to do and a world to understand.