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-Town of Fuyuki.
3rd POV*
Shiki's body was thrown out by Nero's punch. Nero lifted some of her restriction at that time enhancing her physical capability. That blow just now probably broke some of Shiki's bones. "Hm! That is what you get for laughing at an emperor!" Nero snorted at Shiki who slowly rose off from the rubbles. Her clothes were already broken, some of her skin are even showing.
She silently grunted regretting her choice, it was actually out of her character to smile at that time, she should have been contented for just being able to damage Nero. 'Grow up Shiki' she can almost her SHIKI saying that to her. Shiki was done contemplating but before she could perceive things, she was greeted by another hit that punched through her insides.
"Kuuhk!" Shiki throw up some blood from how heavy that punch was. She tried controlling her body but it was useless as Nero took over the situation man handling Shiki like she was some kind of rag doll. The Emperor's prided was greatly damage by Shiki's mock so she put it on herself to punish this girl for her blasphemy.
Shiki could not do anything at all as her body just bleed from the heavy damage. She just then remembered Nero's legend. She was stated to be an Emperor full of madness as she would do anything just to be entertained. She even burned a portion of Rome and called it an art. Nero was never one with modern world morality, she is not averse to punishments and execution. She is only being lenient right now as the girl is her master's lover. She can't afford offending him, a literal Sorcerer in her opinion.
'It hurts…' Shiki thought feeling pain all over her body, it was then that Nero finally decided to stop deeming Shiki's state to be unworthy for continuation. But to Nero's surprise, Shiki just shakily stood up still holding the Dagger on her hand. She has a small smile on her face as if coming into decision with something.
Nero raised her eyebrow at that action because logically thinking, it would be more preferable to just give up in a fight you could never hope to win. "Fuuh, that was my bad. I did not take you seriously at first. Now allow me to showcase my real strength here" Shiki said twirling the dagger on her hand. It was then that Nero finally sensed something is wrong.
From the moment Shiki stood up, she has always been closing her eyes. Nero didn't bother with that as she thought she just damaged her eyes but now that she thought about it, among her blows none of them reached her eyes. Nero trembled when her whole figure was watched by a breathtaking beautiful eyes. Normally as an art pursuer, she would have complimented her eyes but right now, Nero can't do that.
She was frozen by intense fear. It was a fear that she has never felt before, a new otherworldly sensation invaded her body. It was sickening for Nero who never underwent anything like this, oh how she wished to just remove this sensation right now but sadly she doesn't possess any control of the situation. Shiki just kept staring at her, she already witnessed the flaws on Nero and is ready to cut them off.
Nero shivered as she unconsciously raised her sword. It was the primal instinct of every animal to raise their guard when facing a fearsome predator. Nero also did the same, even preparing her Noble Phantasm just in case it would turn troublesome. Shiki made her feel the emotion of fear for the first time in her life, she doesn't want to experience it again so she decided to just end this match.
Shiki calmly approached Nero which was unnerving. She was just at disadvantage earlier and yet here she was approaching Nero directly without showing any fear. Nero calmed the shaking of her hands and just focused at Shiki. 'What is this sensation…? This is much creepier than despair. Is it a sensation that is deeper than the father of all dread?' Nero thought.
She can't fully comprehend what it was but whatever it is, it doesn't give her a nice feeling at all. Nero became even more weirded out when she realized that she is familiar with this sensation. It is not like she is always feeling it but rather she experienced this thing before. Nero didn't hesitate to search through her memory.
From her childhood until she grew up, she can't just find the exact time where she sensed it. It was then when she arrived at the last part of her memories that she suddenly became cold, she turned her eyes at Shiki baffled by how someone could emit the same sensation as the phenomenon that every people fear.
She simply could not figure out how is that possible. Nero reminisced about the last part of her life where she was rejected by her people leading for her to take her own life. That dread feeling that she experienced that day was the same one she is currently bearing. To be precise, it is the sensation of…
Death.
Nero searched for the reason and immediately found it. She gaze at Shiki's mesmerizing eyes and concluded that it was the reason. "Prepare yourself Emperor of Rose" Shiki said locking her gaze at Nero. She then took a simple dash that was strangely faster than usual. Despite Shiki's injuries, she still managed to show such speed, this is enough to astonish Nero.
Nero immediately dodged the slash that Shiki made sensing intense danger from it. And her guts didn't disappoint her as the place she was standing before was already cut in half. The cut was so clean that you might even wonder if it was the work of the ancient Egypt. Sweat dropped from Nero's forehead along with her lips twitching.
Nero became even more vigilant because she understands that just by being scratched by Shiki's dagger will cause to her death. Shiki rushed to Nero before blinking, she reappeared infront of Nero slashing her dagger at her. "M-Master! Isn't this dangerous?! She is clearly trying to kill me!" Nero called out to Lawrence trying to reason him. Shiki is literally intending to kill her right now!
"Hm? Ah, bear with it. It was your fault for beating her up, only I have the right to do that you know? Also, don't worry as no matter how many limbs you lose, I can reattach them to you" Lawrence said smiling gleefully at Nero. Nero lost blood on her face, she turned ghostly pale at that moment. She didn't expect her only hope to abandon her.
Nero decided to stop thinking about other things and just fight with Shiki. Shiki should be still rational enough to leave her with her torso right? Nero comforted herself with that kind of thought. The clash of the two was comedic as Nero had to use her full speed to dodge Shiki's slashes. Because of Nero's speed, Shiki also could not do anything to her.
Shiki's confident was rising while Anastashia is already raising her chest. She seemed proud of the achievement of Shiki which is shocking. Bea and Lawrence just watched the show already aware of who will win this fight. Well, it didn't take long until a certain someone finally lost interest in the match, she just chose to end it right there.
Anastashia gawked at scene presented to her. In the backyard, Shiki can be seen lying on the ground unconscious with wounds covering her whole body. Beside her was Nero calmly appraising the sleeping Shiki, she appeared to be pleased with the artwork she created. "Umu! This will certainly make the people of Rome overjoyed!" Nero happily said.
After a few minutes of playing with Shiki, Nero finally became serious and ended the fight. She just took advantage of her faster speed to knock Shiki out before her dagger could reach Nero's body. That was the simple solution to the fight. No matter how overpowered Shiki's eyes are, if she doesn't have the necessary body to compliments it, it will stay useless.
Mainly Shiki could destroy Nero easily if she is equipped with the items that Lawrence has given her or maybe with just the Monkey King Bar. That should be enough to handle a servant like Nero, but because she wanted to fully enjoy the fight, she decided against to using them giving Nero the advantage in physical aspect.
"Alright, that's enough. You had your fun already Nero, just be careful when Shiki wake up. I can't see her not butchering you for what you did" Lawrence said carrying Shiki's body. Anatashia and Bea followed him inside the house leaving Nero all alone in the backyard. The broken house was also already fixed by Anastashia before she completely destroyed the Bounded Field.
"Huh?" Nero muttered not understanding what Lawrence said. She nonetheless just ignored it and boasted to no one about the excellence of Rome. She is unaware that starting tomorrow, her life will take a huge turn.
.
.
.
.
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The next day arrived with Shiki waking up, she groaned slightly before opening her eyes. The first thing that Shiki saw was the face of Lawrence, the person she held dear the most. "Good morning princess, did you enjoy your beauty sleep?" Lawrence immediately went to teasing mode gaining a punch from the side by Shiki.
Shiki then reminisced about what happened yesterday, she cannot help but be frustrated to that overwhelming lost. Nero was just playing with her all along and she became even more confident when she saw the fear within Nero's eyes. Shiki is well aware that Nero wasn't feigning frightened at that time and was genuinely scared.
Perhaps knowing that, it boosted Shiki's ego making her forget the crucial fact that she can only handle servants if she is using the items. Without them she is just in the class of superhumans, not the godlike creature as Heroic Spirits. "I lost huh?" she muttered lost in words. This would be considered her first lose because she doesn't consider Lawrence as a normal, she treated more of an anomaly instead, that is why her lose against Lawrence is not counted.
This will be her official first lose, the sensation of this is nauseating for Shiki. She looked at her fist and clenched it. "I swear, I will never lose again" Shiki vowed to Lawrence and herself. She won't be able to accept it. Lawrence smiled hearing her murmurs, he also swear to himself not to let Shiki experience that sensation again.
"It seems like my worries are unfounded. You are stronger than I thought. Let's go, it is time for breakfast" Lawrence said smiling at Shiki who narrowed her eyes at him. "Are you underestimating me? Something like this won't do anything to me. Though, that thot Nero better prepare herself, I will not hold back this time" Shiki said equipping the items she took before. She regained her usual strength making her confident. This time, she really won't lose.
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