The days following the shadow creature's emergence were tense. The fragment left with Hephaestus for study seemed to emit ripples of unease, and reports from adventurers in the Dungeon hinted at more anomalies in the lower floors. Orario buzzed with speculation, and whispers of divine unrest began circulating among the populace.
Maki, restless as ever, stood on the balcony of the Twilight Manor, her spear leaning against the railing. The faint glow of the city lights below mingled with the stars above. A soft rustling sound drew her attention. Scathach emerged from the shadows, her crimson gaze steady.
"You've been brooding," Scathach remarked, folding her arms. "That's unlike you."
Maki smirked but didn't look away from the horizon. "Just thinking. That guy in the plaza… his words about the singularity. It's not just this world, is it?"
Scathach's silence was answer enough. She stepped closer, resting a hand on Maki's shoulder. "No. Singularities are distortions in time and space. They bleed into all realities, threatening to unravel them."
"Sounds like a mess," Maki muttered, turning to meet Scathach's eyes. "And you've dealt with this before?"
"Not like this." Scathach's voice softened, but there was an edge of concern. "This distortion feels… deeper. Older. As if something ancient is trying to awaken."
Maki leaned against the railing, her expression hardening. "Then we stop it before it gets that chance."
The next morning, Loki barged into the training grounds where Maki and Scathach were sparring. "Alright, lovebirds," she called, grinning, "Hephaestus wants to see you."
Scathach raised an eyebrow but said nothing as she followed Loki. Maki grabbed her spear, muttering, "Lovebirds, huh?" Loki's laughter echoed down the hall.
When they arrived at Hephaestus's forge, the goddess was already waiting, her expression grim. A series of intricate runes surrounded the fragment, glowing faintly as if reacting to her presence.
"This shard," Hephaestus began, "is a key. But not just to a location. It's a bridge—a link to another timeline."
Maki frowned. "Timeline?"
Hephaestus nodded. "I've seen echoes of this kind of energy before, though it's rare. It connects directly to a moment in time where the singularity's influence began. If we follow its pull, we might find answers—or more trouble."
Scathach stepped forward, her tone steady. "Can you pinpoint the location it's linked to?"
Hephaestus hesitated before gesturing to a glowing circle of runes on the table. "I've created a device that can open a path. But I don't recommend jumping through without preparation."
Loki clapped her hands. "Oh, I love this! An adventure to some other timeline? Count me in!"
"Not this time," Scathach said firmly, her gaze locked on Hephaestus. "This is our fight."
Using Hephaestus's runic device, Maki and Scathach activated the shard's latent energy. The air shimmered and twisted, forming a glowing portal that pulsed with ominous power. Maki glanced at Scathach, her grip tightening on her spear.
"You ready for this?" Maki asked.
"Always," Scathach replied, stepping through without hesitation.
Maki followed, the portal snapping shut behind them. The sensation of being pulled through the void was disorienting but brief. When the world steadied, they found themselves standing on the outskirts of a burning city. The air was thick with ash, and the faint echoes of battle reverberated in the distance.
"This place…" Scathach whispered, her eyes narrowing. "It's Fuyuki."
"Fuyuki?" Maki repeated, scanning their surroundings. "What's so special about this place?"
"It's where one of the earliest singularities occurred," Scathach explained. "A convergence of powerful entities and distorted timelines. If this shard brought us here, then something in this timeline is key to unravelling the larger threat."
A sudden surge of magical energy rippled through the air, drawing their attention. In the distance, a lone figure stood amidst the flames—a woman clad in dark armor, her sword glowing with ominous energy.
"Another Artoria?" Maki muttered, readying her spear.
"No," Scathach said, her voice low. "This is something else. She's not just a servant—she's been corrupted."
The dark-armored figure turned toward them, her glowing eyes locking onto Maki and Scathach. Without a word, she raised her blade, and the ground beneath her feet cracked as she charged forward.
Maki leapt to intercept, her spear clashing against the corrupted knight's blade. The force of the impact sent shockwaves through the air. Scathach flanked the knight, her crimson spear flashing as she aimed for vital points.
The knight's movements were erratic but brutally efficient, her strikes infused with a malevolent energy that sapped the life from the ground around her. Maki gritted her teeth, her muscles straining as she parried a series of devastating blows.
"She's tougher than the last one!" Maki called out.
Scathach's expression remained calm as she unleashed a flurry of strikes, her movements graceful yet deadly. "Stay focused. Corruption like this thrives on hesitation."
Their combined assault began to wear the knight down, but her power didn't wane. Instead, it seemed to grow more unstable, the energy around her crackling with chaos.
"We need to finish this!" Maki shouted.
Scathach nodded, her spear glowing with a violet hue. "On my mark."
As Scathach prepared her finishing blow, Maki surged forward, unleashing a barrage of strikes that pushed the knight back. The corrupted figure roared, her blade releasing a wave of dark energy that split the ground beneath them.
Scathach seized the opening, her spear glowing brighter as she launched it with pinpoint precision. The weapon pierced the knight's chest, and for a moment, the corrupted energy around her froze.
Maki didn't hesitate. She lunged forward, her spear driving deep into the knight's core. With a final, deafening roar, the dark energy erupted, dissolving the knight into ash.
As the dust settled, Maki and Scathach stood side by side, their weapons at the ready. The city around them remained eerily silent.
"That wasn't just corruption," Scathach said, her voice heavy. "Something—someone—was controlling her."
Maki wiped sweat from her brow, her expression grim. "Then we find out who."
Before they could move, a voice echoed from the shadows. "Impressive. Few could take down a corrupted servant like that."
Maki and Scathach turned to see a man in a red cloak and black armor stepping into view. His silver hair gleamed in the firelight, and his crimson eyes glowed faintly.
"And you are?" Maki asked, raising her spear.
"An observer," the man replied, smirking. "Call me Archer. I'm here to ensure this singularity doesn't spread. And it seems we share the same goal."
Scathach's eyes narrowed. "You know about the singularity?"
Archer nodded. "More than you realize. But if you want answers, we'll need to work together. This is just the beginning."
Maki exchanged a glance with Scathach before lowering her weapon. "Fine. But if you're hiding anything…"
Archer chuckled. "Relax. We're on the same side—for now."