Under the dim light, Sakura's steps quickened. Since Shirou had detected two sources of magical energy clashing, did that mean her sister conflicted with someone?
Of course, it might not be her sister, but Sakura felt it was.
"Master, there's a significant fluctuation of magical energy ahead. Please step back."
Sakura could faintly hear the sounds of an argument inside, and her expression grew anxious. "Shirou, quickly blow open the iron gate!"
"Understood!"
Shirou's sapphire eyes lit up slightly. She extended her right hand, with a few magic circuits wrapping around her skin, and drew magical power from the modified circuits by Red Queen.
"Bang!"
A magic bullet about the size of an adult's thumbnail struck the iron lock precisely, breaking through it with immense force!
The hole glowed red, and white smoke rose. One could feel the heat even without touching it.
"Creak~"
The iron gate, now unsupported, slowly swung inward. The room inside was not as dark as Sakura had imagined.
...
Tohsaka Rin's mind raced, recalling the knowledge her father, Tohsaka Tokiomi, had taught her!
She had seen through the young man's essence!
This man with red hair, who exuded an eerie aura, was just an ordinary person!
The reason for the magical energy fluctuations was the strange bracelet on his wrist!
The bracelet emitted a peculiar light, and its magical power was pure, without any evil intent. However, this young man used the magical tool to do horrifying things!
Rin protected Kanade behind her, glancing around.
If she escaped now, she and Kanade could survive! But the other children...
Rin gritted her teeth. Since he was not skilled in magic, she only needed to destroy the bracelet on his wrist to break the spell!
Rin's plan was simple, but her childish thinking limited her. Why would an ordinary person have a magical tool?
How did he get it?
Was there a powerful magician behind him?
These questions were beyond Rin's consideration, and she had no time to consider them!
She only wanted to save these children so she could go home and live as she did before!
She just needed to break the bracelet!
"Hey, hey, hey!" The young man's voice grew louder, expressing his dissatisfaction.
"Little girl, this place is for a party. How can you act like this?!"
"Come on, come over here." Ryunosuke Uryu smiled, his eyes narrowing. He still looked quite charming, like a big brother from the neighborhood.
"Come on, little girl, look, many children here are like you. Let's have an unforgettable party~"
His words were alluring, but they had no magical power. Rin didn't believe a word.
The bracelet especially emits a subdued glow, which is particularly eerie in the dim room!
Even the young man himself seemed tainted with filth!
Seeing Rin unmoved, Uryu didn't care. He was an expert at handling kids.
He knew how to toy with them, how to play. Recently, he had even made some progress in anatomy.
He had summoned a "demon" by messing with an ancient book passed down in his family. Uryu was obsessed!
The way he killed, the means that made him intoxicated! It made his adrenaline surge, keeping him excited all day!
Uryu took a few steps forward. If this special little girl didn't come, he would grab her himself.
He could easily catch her even without the power his "boss" gave him.
Like this...
"Huh?" Uryu was puzzled. "What are you doing?"
Rin, on the other hand, was thrilled!
She had grabbed that damned bracelet! The children would be freed from the spell if she could break it!
While Uryu was in a daze, Rin channeled her magic into the bracelet!
This damned bracelet couldn't withstand a massive surge of magic! She just needed to pour her magic into it!
Uryu was still dazed, not understanding what the little girl was doing.
But the force, similar to his "boss's" power, made him stop thinking.
The large bracelet floated, its light overshadowed by Rin's magic. The energies clashed, spreading throughout the room!
The air was displaced, and a strong wind arose between the two, blowing their hair back!
Rin's face grew pale. The large-scale use of magic was unfamiliar and uncomfortable.
Moreover, the bracelet showed no signs of breaking despite the energy overflow! Rin's face paled further.
'What should I do? Should I continue? I...'
Her gaze hardened, and she increased the output of her magic. Her rosy lips turned an unhealthy white.
"Bang!~"
The sound of a glass breaking echoed. Before Rin could rejoice, a louder noise came from the iron door!
A foreign magical energy! Was it the magician behind him?
Rin's face turned even paler. She left Uryu and ran to protect Kanade.
Many children woke up, terrified in the dark room, their fear overwhelming them.
Many cried, Kanade among them, whispering, "Rin..."
"Don't make a sound! He might have an accomplice!"
Kanade closed her mouth, her large eyes filled with fear, her tiny body trembling, making Rin's heart sink.
Why didn't she think of that? How could an ordinary person have a mind-control magical tool?
Biting her lip, she wondered if she had been more careful...
Uryu felt pain in his wrist and saw the bracelet damaged and bleeding. But he didn't care, looking puzzled at the open iron door.
"Sister? Sister?!"
"Master, please stay alert. The room is filled with scattered magical energy, indicating traces of a battle."
Shirou was cautious, not wanting her master to enter the dim room.
Rin, filled with disbelief, thought she heard someone's voice! Was it Sakura? But she should be at the Matou residence. Who was it?! Was she also under a spell?
Rin shivered, calling out toward the shadow at the door, "Sakura?"
"Sister!"
The childlike voice was filled with joy, easily distinguishable even among the cries.
"Tap, tap, tap~"
Rushed footsteps, Rin saw a slender figure running toward her!
But she remained vigilant; having suspected Uryu, she found a perfect excuse.
Who was the magician behind him? Was he more skilled in such magic if he had a mind-control tool?
Most importantly, was she under his spell?
Rin didn't know, but she remained cautious. The warmth of Kanade in her arms felt natural, even her panicked heartbeat!
She gently patted her back, trying to calm her.
"Sister! Are you okay? Shirou's detection was accurate!"
Sakura ran to Rin, seeing her holding a girl she didn't recognize.
"Who is she, Sister?"
Sakura was puzzled, but the shock she gave Rin was more significant!
Shirou floated in the air, assessing the danger.
Finally, her sapphire eyes fixed on the confused Uryu!
"Master, he has a strong smell of blood. Human blood."
Sakura tensed, pulling Rin to her side!
Rin realized and looked at Shirou, urgently saying, "Sakura, we need to run! There must be a magician we can't handle behind him!"
"Run to the street! There are patrol cars. Even a reckless magician wouldn't dare kill randomly!"
Rin was right. The Caster behind Uryu was far more potent than an ordinary magician.
But the idea of not killing randomly... she underestimated the psychopathic French marshal.
However, he was injured in the battle among spirits, who knew where he was hiding now.
"Shirou, is that true?"
Shirou looked at the broken crystals on the ground, her tone flat.
"The maker's magical level is high. I recommend activating 'Nightmare' mode."
"Can Nightmare handle it?"
"Insufficient data to estimate."
Rin clenched her fists, "Sakura, let's escape first!"
Without waiting for a reply, she shouted to the crying children, "Stop crying! Follow me!"
Uryu, still dazed from the magical clash, felt blood dripping from his fingers, splashing on the crimson crystals.
"Master, should I eliminate him?"
"Well..." Sakura hesitated. Although she remembered her sister's teachings, the idea of killing...
"Shirou, just block him for us!"
"Understood, Master. Rest assured."
After Rin's call, the more intelligent children hesitated briefly before running to the broken door, feeling safer outside than in the eerie room.
The rest, seeing others leave, suppressed their fear and followed!
Luckily, there weren't too many, or else...
...
TheFuyuki City's increased police patrols immediately noticed a sudden appearance of a group of children on the street.
Investigating officers were troubled by the nervous, fragile children, unable to extract useful information.
Kanade couldn't find Rin and her sister, Sakura.
The scenes she witnessed were beyond belief. The clever girl kept everything to herself, not sharing with others.
The officers dismissed the other children's stories, labeled as "excessive fright," to avoid being reprimanded in the middle of the night.
The investigation continued. The missing children far exceeded this number; these were the lucky ones.
The Red Queen, watching through 'Nightmare,' marveled at the protagonist's luck. Otherwise, they would have become "artworks" for Uryu.
His "artworks" were his delight, but others dared not look. For ordinary people, seeing them meant death was near.
...
Rin watched the police cars leave, taking her best friend Kanade away. Finally, she turned to her sister, feeling relieved.
Seeing her familiar yet unfamiliar sister, she wondered how the night would have ended without her.
But as the elder sister, even if no longer "real," she had to maintain her authority!
"Sakura, why are you here?!"
"It's Red..." Sakura hesitated, remembering her sister took her, and her family thought she was at the Matou residence.