Chapter 10: Chapter 10: Magic Eye of the Reverse Moon
Chapter 10: Magic Eye of the Reverse Moon
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Okita stood still, a hint of surprise flashing across her cold face.
"I even used my Earth Shrinking Technique, and you still managed to defend against it..."
She swung the blade in her hand, sending the blood splattering off it in an arc to the ground.
As she finished speaking, she took another step forward, her figure vanishing into Bazett's blind spot. In what seemed like an instant, almost as if she had leapt into another dimension, she reappeared in front of Bazett and swung her blade toward his abdomen.
Bazett, who had been on high alert, reacted immediately when Okita suddenly appeared before her. Though her expression shifted, she didn't panic. Instead, she lowered her right arm defensively.
Rip!
The sound of fabric tearing echoed in the air as Bazett stepped back quickly, putting distance between herself and the swordswoman. A burning pain spread across her right arm, but her abdomen remained unharmed.
"No problem. I can defend against it!"
A surge of confidence reignited Bazett's fighting spirit, and determination flared in her eyes.
Okita curled her lips in frustration, feeling slightly deflated.
She really blocked it.
Her Earth Shrinking footwork was her most reliable trump card outside of her Noble Phantasm. If she exposed her Noble Phantasm, she needed to at least land a decisive blow—like severing an arm—to make the revelation worthwhile.
"This is my first battle after being summoned by my Master. Not only have I failed to defeat the enemy, I haven't even managed to land a serious blow. And my opponent isn't even a Servant, just a modern magus. What will Master think of me?"
Her heart pounded with worry.
I'm doomed!
Master must think I'm useless!
"Saber."
"Yes, Master!"
Okita immediately straightened up, raising her head and puffing out her chest like a loyal puppy awaiting instruction.
"You are permitted to use your Noble Phantasm," Roy's voice rang out, altered slightly through magical processing.
"...Yes!"
Okita bit her lip reluctantly and agreed.
Her Master must be incredibly frustrated to order her to use her Noble Phantasm against a mere modern magician. He must think she's hopeless.
Okita turned her gaze to Bazett, only to see her opponent calmly standing back at her original position. Bazett bent down, picked up the metal cylinder she had dropped earlier, and poured out a black orb made of some unknown material.
An ace showdown? Is that what she's planning?
Okita took a deep breath, steadying herself. She shifted into the Chūdan-no-Kamae stance, a middle guard commonly used in Neon kendo.
Her blade was held at eye level, the tip of the sword aimed directly at Bazett's left eye.
This stance made her intent clear: a thrust attack.
Okita had been a master of the Chūdan stance in history, her most famous technique being the thrust. It was this very thrust that she had honed and perfected until it became her Noble Phantasm.
"Take the flash of my secret sword! One step beyond sound, two steps without hesitation—"
Across from her, Bazett wore a confident smile.
"An ace showdown? Unfortunately for you, the moment I enter this state, the battle is already over!"
The black orb in Bazett's hand floated upward, glowing faintly as ancient runes surfaced on its exterior. The surface of the orb shimmered and blurred, and from within, a short blade no longer than a foot extended.
The short blade crackled with electricity, lightning coursing along its surface. Wisps of smoke rose as sparks danced in the air.
Bazett suddenly launched a punch, her fist colliding with the floating orb.
"Ugh!"
Suddenly, an unexpected sharp pain, like an electric shock, coursed through Bazett's body.
She groaned, her eyes widening in disbelief as her body collapsed uncontrollably to the ground.
The rune light on the sphere dimmed and went out, and it fell to the ground, looking no different from an ordinary piece of ore.
"That's enough, Saber. Stop here," Roy instructed calmly.
"Three steps—whoa?!"
Okita staggered, nearly losing her balance.
When she regained her composure, she noticed Bazett lying on the ground, seemingly incapacitated for no apparent reason.
"Master~~!"
The female swordsman turned to Roy, her face filled with resentment as she drew out the last syllable of her words in protest.
"Ah, ahhh—!"
Bazett lay on the ground, clutching her chest.
An unknown, excruciating pain radiated from her chest, and her heart pounded wildly as though in rebellion. Her body refused to move, leaving her unable to do more than squeeze out pained cries.
Her current disheveled state was a far cry from the confident and heroic presence she had displayed moments earlier.
"Master, how did you do this?"
Okita scanned the surroundings for enemies but found none. She relaxed her defensive stance and turned to Roy, only to freeze in shock.
Roy's eyes gleamed with a strange, gem-like light. Contradictory hues of black and white swirled in his pupils, giving them an ominous, devilish quality. Those eyes were now fixed on Bazett, unblinking and intense.
Evil eyes?
Roy didn't answer Okita's question. Instead, he stepped forward, approaching Bazett, who was writhing on the ground.
"Master?"
"It's fine," Roy reassured her with a wave of his hand.
He crouched beside Bazett and reached out his hand.
Then, without hesitation, he began unbuttoning her suit.
Okita: "┌(.Д.)┐"
After undoing her suit, Roy moved to unbutton her shirt.
"Master?!"
Okita instinctively covered her eyes, though she couldn't help but peek through her fingers.
What is the Master doing? Is he taking advantage of her beauty? Is he planning to…?! No, my Master can't be so evil!
As Roy finished unbuttoning Bazett's suit and shirt, her burgundy undergarments and large swathes of snow-white skin were revealed.
Bazett's figure was unexpectedly graceful. Her curves were prominent, her waistline slim and toned, and her body radiated strength and flexibility—clearly the physique of someone capable of striking many poses in combat.
Dominated by the intense pain, Bazett was unable to speak. She could only watch helplessly as Roy moved with purpose, seemingly doing whatever he pleased.
Roy's eyes scanned her chest area before his hand finally stopped.
"It's here," he said.
His hand rested on her chest, directly over her heart.
On her snow-white skin, an emerald-green magic seal glowed faintly.
"Swish!"
Roy gripped the seal, and it shattered instantly.
"Uhhhhhhh!!"
Bazett's eyes bulged, bloodshot, as she let out an agonized scream. Moments later, her eyes rolled back, and she fainted on the spot.
"Let's go," Roy said, plucking a shard of the shattered magic seal from mid-air. He then picked up Bazett's metal cylinder and began descending the mountain.
"Don't you want to finish her off?" Okita asked, glancing at Bazett's unconscious body.
"No need."
Okita nodded, covered her chest, and followed after Roy.
The thirteen barriers they had bypassed on the way up remained utterly ineffective as they descended, passing through them effortlessly.
"Is this the power of the Master's Mystic Eyes?"
"Yes."
At the base of Mount Enzou, Roy closed his eyes briefly, his fatigue evident.
"This is my unique Mystic Eye. I've searched through human history and found no record of anything quite like it. So, I named it myself—the Magic Eye of the Reverse Moon."
He opened his eyes again, their black-and-white glow still faintly visible.
"Its function is simple and straightforward—it controls all spells."