Rayish
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Chapter 139
🕑 Added 2025-05-31 07:17:10 +0000 UTCThe atmosphere on the first floor of the Dungeon was a stark contrast to the bustling city of Orario above. The trio stepped into a cold, expansive stone corridor, illuminated by a faint blue glow emanating from the cave walls. The rocks resembled crystals, emitting a soft light that created a serene yet mysterious ambiance. The high ceiling of the cave seemed to conceal the whispers of monsters lurking in the depths.
Lefiya stood firmly, her legs slightly apart to maintain balance. In her hand, the magic staff Forest's Teardrop shimmered faintly, its crystal surface capturing the Dungeon's light and reflecting it in calming hues of blue-green. She took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, trying to steady her slightly racing heart, fueled by excitement.
Meanwhile, Aiz had already drawn her short sword, Desperate, from its sheath with a single smooth and calm motion. The sound of the blade sliding free—srrt!—was almost like a whisper of death. Her eyes scanned the corridor ahead, brimming with the natural vigilance of a veteran fighter.
Shirou, walking slightly behind them, paused for a moment. He turned his head left and right, scrutinizing the entire corridor with sharp eyes. He made sure no other adventurers were observing them. The only footsteps audible were their own. Once certain they were alone, he raised his right hand slightly forward and then slowly drew it to the side, as if pulling something from thin air.
Zzrrt—cling...
From the faintly trembling air, a long katana with a black sheath and a white cloth-wrapped hilt appeared, as though summoned from another dimension. The cold glint of its metal reflected softly against the Dungeon's blue-lit walls. He gripped the katana firmly, his movements natural, as if he had done this countless times before.
Aiz, who had been observing the far end of the corridor, glanced back. Her eyes narrowed slightly before she spoke in a flat tone, "Not Kanshou and Bakuya?"
Shirou turned his head lightly, his expression calm. "Not today. I can't take the risk."
Aiz raised an eyebrow, waiting for further explanation.
Shirou lowered his voice slightly. "Revis could recognize me even when I disguised myself as Assassin. Back then... I used Kanshou and Bakuya, even though a mask covered my face. But still... she knew I was Shirou Emiya."
Aiz stared intently at Shirou. For a brief moment, her gaze seemed to dig through memories. And sure enough, she slowly gave a small nod.
"...That time, deep in Knossos." Her voice was low and even. "When you saved me from Revis. I was barely conscious... but I still remember a bit of your conversation."
Revis—a woman with short red hair and wild, beast-like eyes. Half-human, half-monster. Her murderous aura was so terrifying that it made the Dungeon feel suffocatingly small. At that time, Aiz had been in real danger. And Shirou... had appeared like a sharp shadow slicing through the darkness.
Lefiya, who had been maintaining her position behind them, interjected curiously. "Then... why a katana?" she asked, tilting her head.
Shirou shrugged lightly before sheathing the katana at his waist.
"No particular reason. I'm just leaning into the Far East stereotype." He offered a faint smile. "Katanas are always associated with eastern swordsmen. So I thought, why not play the part?"
Lefiya could only stare at him with raised eyebrows before letting out a small chuckle. "You're weird... but somehow, it fits."
Before they could advance further into the shimmering corridor of the first floor, a sudden sound echoed—grrrkkk... grrrrakk!—like cracking and crumbling stone. The blue walls on either side of them trembled violently as fissures appeared, and large boulders broke loose, crashing onto the floor with thunderous impacts.
DUARRR!!
In an instant, dozens of goblins poured out from the newly formed gaps like a green flood. Their eyes glowed red, their small but agile bodies leaping and climbing from every direction, raising their clawed hands with wild shrieks.
"KYEEEK!!"
Lefiya, Aiz, and Shirou moved without panic. They were far too accustomed to chaos like this. Aiz dashed forward like a shadow—whoosh!—her blade Desperate dancing swiftly, cutting through the air and the goblins one after another. Each motion was precise, lethal, and beautiful, like a dance.
Shirou wasn't far behind. With his newly projected katana, he advanced alongside Aiz. A single sharp swing cleaved two goblins apart, sending blood spraying into the air before their bodies turned to ash, leaving behind glittering magic stones on the ground.
Lefiya, who usually relied on magic, now joined the fray directly. She twirled Forest's Teardrop like a combat staff, striking goblins squarely on their temples and jaws, crushing them physically. "Hyaah!" she cried as she knocked two goblins into the wall, their bodies disintegrating into dust.
A few minutes later, the corridor was silent once more. All the goblins were gone—only small piles of faintly glowing magic stones remained amidst the monster ashes.
Lefiya bent down to collect the stones and handed them to Shirou, who opened his supporter's bag. "Here. Store mine too," she said, wiping sweat from her forehead.
Shirou accepted them and placed them in the bag, the leather straps creaking softly under the added weight.
Lefiya turned her head, her eyes narrowing curiously at the katana still in Shirou's grip. "That katana you're using... does it have any special powers too? Like the one you showed that night... the one that split lightning. What was it called... Raikiri?"
Shirou shook his head lightly as he spun the katana and sheathed it again. "No. This is just an ordinary katana. Not a Noble Phantasm like Raikiri."
Aiz, who had just finished wiping Desperate with a small cloth, immediately turned her head. Her golden eyes gleamed with curiosity. "Raikiri?" she asked, handing Shirou a few magic stones she had collected. "I've never heard of that weapon."
Lefiya eagerly chimed in, her eyes sparkling. "It's a katana with the power to split lightning magic! That time, Shirou used it to deflect Hedin's spell!"
"Hedin?" Aiz repeated, her tone shifting slightly. "A member of Freya Familia? That level six?" She stared deeper at Shirou, a serious expression emerging. "Why were you fighting him?"
Shirou took a breath before calmly explaining. "It was the night I rescued Lili from Soma Familia's base. After we got out, Hedin was waiting outside..."
He paused briefly, recalling the moment vividly. "He immediately threatened me. Said I shouldn't have interfered with Hestia Familia's affairs."
Aiz leaned slightly forward. "And then? What happened next?"
"He demanded I remove my skull mask. Said he wanted to interrogate me... to find out who I really was." Shirou shook his head slowly, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "But I ran."
Lefiya clapped her hands once, her eyes shining. "Don't tell me—when you ran... Hedin chased you and unleashed his lightning magic?"
Shirou nodded. "Correct. At that moment, I summoned Raikiri and slashed through his attack. But even so... the electric current still scorched my hand."
He raised his right hand slightly, remembering the burning sensation from that night.
"Luckily, after I returned... You healed the wound with your magic, Lefiya."
Lefiya fell silent for a moment before her cheeks tinged slightly pink. "O-of course... I am the team's mage."
Shirou smiled warmly. "And my savior that night."
Aiz watched them alternately, her calm expression unchanged, but a glimmer of curiosity still flickered in her eyes. "I'd like to see Raikiri someday..."
"If you want to see it... Maybe during a thunderstorm would be best," Shirou said with a light chuckle.
Their footsteps continued descending the stone stairs, delving deeper into the Dungeon's increasingly dark and silent depths. The corridors were still adorned with the blue glow of embedded crystals, but the further they went, the paler the light became, as if being swallowed by the abyss below.
Throughout their journey, monsters like goblins, War Shadows, and Killer Ants emerged from cracks in the walls, piercing through fissures or appearing from behind the faint mist hanging in the corridors. The sounds of small footsteps, rustling wings, sharp growls, and low roars accompanied every encounter.
Yet, the trio was far too accustomed to such situations.
Swish! Clang! Zzzt!
With light movements and near-perfect coordination, Shirou, Aiz, and Lefiya dispatched the monsters one by one. Desperate sliced through swarms of red ants, Shirou's katana shattered War Shadows, and Lefiya, though not using magic, bashed goblins with her staff. The monsters' bodies turned to ash, leaving behind the magic stones they collected in silence.
Finally, their steps brought them to the 10th floor—a slightly wider corridor filled with a thin mist hanging in the air. Each breath felt colder, and the humidity clung to their skin like morning fog.
Aiz stopped at a branching path and turned to Lefiya.
"Lefiya," she called softly but flatly, "what's your plan for collecting the blood of an enraged Minotaur later? We won't encounter them until the 13th floor and below."
Lefiya seemed to ponder for a moment before replying seriously, "In that case, Shirou, could you hold my staff for now?"
Shirou nodded and extended his hand. Lefiya carefully handed over Forest's Teardrop, and Shirou secured it to the side of his supporter's bag with an extra strap he had prepared, ensuring it wouldn't shake during their journey.
Lefiya took a deep breath before looking at Shirou with slight hesitation. "Shirou... could you help me with one more thing?"
"Of course," Shirou replied without hesitation.
"Project a spear for me. About... the same length as Forest's Teardrop."
Hearing this, Shirou nodded slowly. He closed his eyes briefly, exhaled, then raised his hand forward.
"Trace... on."
A faint magical aura shimmered around his palm. A soft blue and silver light formed a circular pattern before—shinnggg!—a slender spear materialized from the air, its metal gleaming, its shaft pitch-black with a double-edged tip. Its length and weight appeared balanced.
Shirou handed it to Lefiya. "Here. This should suit your grip."
Lefiya accepted the spear with both hands, slightly awkward as she adjusted her hold. "I'll use this to wound the Minotaur later... without killing it." She swung the spear's tip to the side, testing its weight. Whoosh—tap! The tip lightly touched the ground.
Seeing her clumsiness, Shirou offered gentle advice, "Before facing the Minotaur... It's better to test the spear here. The 10th floor is still safe, and we can help if anything goes wrong."
Lefiya stared at the spear before nodding firmly. "Yeah... you're right."
She lifted her chin, stood tall, then shouted loudly into the silent corridor:
"If any monsters on this floor are still alive, come out! I need test subjects!"
Her voice echoed into the darkness. A brief silence followed.
Then, from behind the mist, low growls began to answer her call.
From within the soft fog enveloping the 10th floor, a roar split the air.
"GRAAAAHHH!!"
Suddenly, a horde of Orcs emerged from the dark corridor—hulking creatures with slimy green skin and brutish faces. They moved with heavy footsteps that shook the ground. Among them, a louder, sharper roar erupted.
BRAAAAAAGHHH!!
A Silverback appeared behind the Orcs—a hulking, white-furred humanoid monster with glowing eyes and fangs. Its claws struck the stone wall hard, leaving small cracks.
Lefiya raised her chin, undaunted. She wiped her nose with her thumb like a street fighter brimming with confidence, while her other hand gripped the new spear tightly.
"Let me handle this alone," she declared in a rare show of self-assurance. "Let me solo this."
Shirou watched her for a moment. Considering the number of enemies, he sheathed his katana at his waist with a swift motion, then raised his hand to the side.
"Trace on."
In a flash of prana, a large, dark bow appeared in his hand. He nocked an arrow, eyes and ears alert, ready to act if Lefiya showed even the slightest sign of struggle.
But Lefiya noticed his movement and clicked her tongue lightly. "You worry too much, Shirou! Today, I'll prove that level one monsters like these... are no threat to me. Even without magic!"
Aiz glanced at Shirou and added with a small nod, "True. Lefiya has trained with me several times. She's worked hard to evade enemy attacks."
Hearing this, Lefiya's confidence only grew. She turned to Aiz and declared proudly, "I'll show you the results of that training, Aiz!"
Without further delay, she charged forward. Her steps were light on the damp Dungeon floor, her spear held low, ready to thrust upward or parry sideways. Her breathing was steady, her body flexible like leaves in the wind.
Shirou remained still behind her, observing carefully. He watched as Lefiya, despite being a novice with the spear, moved swiftly among the Orcs. She didn't attack recklessly. Instead, she read their movements first, dodging left and right.
WHUM!
A massive Orc fist swiped through the air, barely missing her shoulder, but Lefiya had already leaped aside, her ponytail swaying with the motion.
Then—SHHRAK!—her spear pierced straight through the Orc's chest. The monster let out a faint growl before its body turned to dust, leaving behind a magic stone on the stone floor.
Aiz watched calmly from the side, but a glint of pride flashed in her eyes.
Shirou, who had still been holding his bow, finally relaxed. He loosened his grip, letting the weapon fade into particles of prana that dissipated into the air.
Lefiya now moved with even greater confidence, stabbing through one Orc after another. She parried, dodged, twisted, and stabbed again. Her movements resembled a rough yet practiced dance. Soon, only the Silverback remained.
The monster roared and charged.
But Lefiya didn't retreat. She sidestepped, then circled behind the Silverback's massive frame—too slow to turn quickly.
"HAH!" she shouted, and with a full-force thrust fueled by determination, she drove the spear's tip into the monster's chest—KRRTTCH!!
The Silverback staggered before its body cracked and turned to ash, leaving behind a purple magic stone in its place.
Aiz turned to Shirou and said without smiling but with certainty, "See? No need to worry."
Shirou nodded slowly... but in his heart, his thoughts lingered on one person.
Lefiya has proven herself... But the one who still makes my heart race now is you, Aiz.
He glanced at the golden-eyed girl from the corner of his eye and sighed inwardly. You still can't swim well... How are you going to dive in Water City and retrieve the coral later?
