The Right Companion vs. The Righteous Companion!
"The Right Companion vs. The Righteous Companion!"
As the stirring BGM swells, it feels like an ancient battlefield unfurling in grandiose splendor.
Under the moonlight, two immortal spirits clash in fierce battle!
"Clang! Clang! Clang!"
The sharp sounds of metal resonate, waves of force disperse through the air as the holy sword grinds against enchanted chains, sending countless sparks flying in a dazzling display.
The knight-king's gaze is steely; her battle-worn skills make her strikes unstoppable. Adjusting her stance continuously, her silver-white boots pound the ground, driving her opponent, Medusa, toward a dead-end.
Yet, this ancient Greek monster is no easy prey.
With each swift move, Medusa deftly evades the knight's deadly strikes. Hovering momentarily in mid-air, she swings her chains, probing for a chance to strike at King Arthur
"Crack—."
A sharp cracking sound rings out.
Beneath their feet, endless black fissures spread outward, and suddenly, the ground collapses.
"Boom...!!"
The ground beneath the moonlight caves in, forming a massive, terrifying chasm. A thick cloud of dust and debris erupts, and the entire school structure collapses into the abyss!
But this is not the end.
The two ancient spirits fix their gaze on one another, jumping from one floating piece of rubble to another, searching for footholds.
In this epic clash, whoever claims the high ground has the advantage!
It's almost like...
The return of the mythic age...!!
From the ruins, Yukino stands frozen, clutching her chest as her heart races with emotion.
A strange, inexplicable melancholy grips her—a deep frustration at being unable to intervene.
Yet at the same time, she realizes a thrill and joy building within her. Not because that golden-haired woman called her "Master."
But because the appearance of "monsters" is exactly what she had wished for.
Only when people are in peril—when they scream, cry, and tremble under the monster's havoc—does she finally have the chance to save them like a hero.
Not for fame,
Not for wealth,
Not for gain,
Nor to etch her deeds in history for others to sing of, admired by future generations!
It's simply for her own satisfaction...
To see people's tear-filled, grateful faces after she has saved them from despair.
Heh~
What an ugly woman I am.
Realizing the pleasure she felt, Yukino gave a wry smile.
Compared to her saintly, pure-hearted older sister Haruno, she thought she must be...broken.
And yet, despite everything, she is determined to become a champion of justice!
"Whoa!"
Many around her gasped.
The girl's innermost thoughts were so eerie, leaving them both unnerved and bewildered.
People reflect for a moment, remembering their own childhood dreams of being a hero, or the desire to stand up for justice with their friends...
But this? This was something darker.
Wishing for disaster just because life was too peaceful, so she'd have a reason to act?
"Feels like someone like that could go to some serious extremes!"
One person shivers, his hand trembling as he holds his cigarette.
Put this mindset in a novel or movie, and it's the makings of a final boss!
No one else is causing trouble? Then she will.
There's no disaster? She'll create one.
Everyone's living happy lives?
That won't do!
How else can she save them from despair if they're not drowning in it?
"No, it's not that bad," someone says thoughtfully, calming the group.
"There's a similar condition—post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). If she has people close to her, people who care, it could help her heal and connect to the world in a more stable way."
"When a person's focus expands to family, loved ones, friends...even the most intense obsessions feel exhausting after a while."
"Makes sense."
Netizens around the world nod in approval, feeling a weight lift from their hearts.
But then the question remains...
Will anyone be there for Yukino, an orphan, to be her companion?
If no one reaches out, if no one helps her, guides her...
What path will her ideals lead her down?
For some reason, people suddenly think of Archer's Noble Phantasm—a field of countless swords like a vast graveyard.
One by one, shivers run down their spines.
Could it be that the white-haired female spirit is Yukino's ancestor?
…
"In this parallel world, I'm quite different from who I am in reality, aren't I?"
From her vantage point in the sky, Yukino mutters to herself, her gaze distant.
In that world, her pursuit is a twisted kind of joy, a desire for righteousness.
An extreme, all-consuming sense of justice, oblivious to everything else!
That version of herself is possessed, seeking no reward for her actions—only the sight of others' grateful faces.
She is both the most selfish and the most selfless person!
But...
The Yukino in this world...
Although she had also prepared to establish the Service Club and encountered Luo Shu-kun, what she sought was not to be a "champion of justice," but rather a "champion of righteousness."
Righteousness and justice—just a single character difference, yet worlds apart!
If faced with the trolley problem, Yukino Yukinoshita of the parallel world would choose the path that would avoid the most people, letting fewer be harmed. But she would choose to save the right person, not simply the most people.
If the entire world were wrong, with only one person being right—like in the dark world of Black Bullet—then Yukino Yukinoshita would stand firmly with that one person against the world.
Her ideals would never meet a dead end.
"What a twisted fool."
Yukino sighed wistfully, wondering what would become of that other her.
---
The battle on the heavenly veil grew fiercer!
"Boom, boom, boom!"
The ground shattered beneath relentless force, with brilliant flashes of sword light scattering flying stones everywhere. Amidst the thunderous roar, the blue arcs of Saint Sword and enchanted chains split the sky, an unstoppable force that further devastated the ruined school, leaving majestic structures crumbling to dust.
A dark chasm had already opened, deep and unfathomable.
Bathed in moonlight, Rider—the warrior in purple—retreated step by step. Opposing her, a figure like a radiant, golden king spun like a top, exuding an imposing force as her sword came crashing down.
"Thud...!"
With a shattering shockwave, the graceful purple figure was flung back again. With astonishing agility, Medusa twisted mid-air and landed smoothly, clutching her bleeding shoulder. She frowned, "As a hero, must your weapon remain so concealed?"
The Knight King merely shook her head. "If your abilities can't reveal the nature of my weapon, that's your own failing. Should the enemy reach your very doorstep," she continued, "would you demand they lay down their arms and face you in fair, hand-to-hand combat?"
Medusa fell silent. Her situation was growing grim—she was already injured from her earlier battle with Archer, and her stamina was waning. She hadn't even had time to catch her breath before engaging in a blade-to-blade duel with the strongest Saber.
Continuing this fight would only bring a slow, agonizing defeat.
But at the thought of her detestable Master...
Medusa's furrowed brow softened as a calm resolve took hold. No matter how stealthily Matou Shinji might try to act, did he really think he could hide his wickedness from a Heroic Spirit's perception?
From the underground chamber of his worm-infested lair, the stench of decay would waft on the breeze—a foul reminder of his vile nature. Even she, an ancient Greek serpent-demon, could hardly bear to serve him. Returning to the Throne of Heroes seemed like a far more honorable end.
For Medusa, death was not the terrifying final stop in life's journey.
But still...
If she were to die, it would be in battle, after fighting with all her might. She would fall with dignity, not by mere surrender.
Rider's beautiful, dark purple eyes gleamed, and an intense magical energy began to gather within them.
Her highest-ranking Noble Phantasm—A-rank Mystic Eyes—slowly awakened…
The tragic atmosphere of the song "Winds Moan Cold on Yi River's Shores" immediately softened viewers' disdain toward Medusa.
Many sighed deeply.
On the observer network, comments flooded in, as countless people released their conflicted emotions.
"Is this scene setting her up to die?"
"She doesn't seem as cold and venomous as the Medusa from Greek mythology."
"I agree. She actually seems kind and compassionate."
"I'm not happy... QAQ."
"Medusa is way too good to be stuck with that wretch Shinji..."
"Rider: What kind of depraved Master is this?"
"Looking closely now, Medusa is actually gorgeous."
"Not just gorgeous—she's like a goddess straight out of a painting!"
"A silent, caring elder sister with a gentle yet tragic aura—who wouldn't like that?"
"Please don't let Rider die..."
"Sigh, but if Rider survives, that creep Matou Shinji would be the one to claim the Holy Grail."
"If only Luo-kun had been her Master instead of Rider; the story would've flipped completely."
"A case of the wrong Master for the right Servant!"
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