FGO

Higashino Makoto turned around and looked at the artificial blue sky outside the window.

After leaving the Executioner and Her Way of Life World, the two little girls I encountered Gaia and Alaya.

Thinking about this, he felt a slight itch in his hands.

Last time, they ganged up on him at the door and they fought, but no one got hurt.

But he holds grudges very well and is determined to get his revenge.

The important business is now done.

"Higashino- kun, are you going to settle accounts with them?"

"Right."

Can you win?

"It should be fine, since it was a draw last time. But there's always a chance of losing. Let's just play it and see."

Utaha put down her teacup and walked to his side.

"I'll go with you."

"Wait a minute, wait until I'm done fighting. Their strength is beyond your capabilities right now, so just wait patiently for me."

When will you be back?

"I'll be back soon after we're done fighting, and then I'll take you to other worlds to play."

Utaha was silent for a moment, then reached out and straightened his collar.

"Okay, I'll be waiting."

"Um."

Higashino Makoto stretched out his hand and made a light swiping motion in the air. The Authority of the "door" was activated, and a dark spatial rift silently appeared in front of the two of them.

On the other side of the rift, through the gray-white sky and the boundless Void, one could see a view.

The cracks in the world, the territory of Gaia and Alaya.

Higashino Makoto emerged from the rift and stepped onto the gray-white Void.

It was gray and hazy, like a crumpled piece of paper that had been barely smoothed out, covered with fine cracks.

He was preparing to transform into the Pride Demon, eight pairs of black wings unfurling behind him, and Degradation Aura surging from his body, expanding to a radius of one meter.

Then he stopped.

Because he saw them.

Gaia crouched in the corner, her white dress torn in several places, revealing her bluish-purple skin underneath.

Her left eye was swollen, and there was a dark bruise around her eye socket, as if she had been One Punch Man.

There was a bloodstain at the corner of his mouth, which had dried and formed a dark red scab.

Her long hair was disheveled and unkempt, with split ends and several knots.

She hugged her knees, resting her chin on them, her empty white eyes staring Void the Unassailable the distant void.

Alaya lay a few steps away, her black dress torn open from the neckline down to her waist.

She tried to cover the crack with one hand, but couldn't; her fair skin, covered in bruises and abrasions, peeked out from the crack.

Long, black hair lay scattered on the ground, with dust and unidentified fragments clinging to the strands.

She lay on her back, gazing at the gray-white void above her, her chest heaving, her breathing rapid.

He looked down at the two little girls with bruised and swollen faces, and fell silent.

It took him a while to recognize it.

Those two were so arrogant when we last met.

The white and black lights pounced on him like two giant dragons, fighting back and forth without either gaining the upper hand.

Now look what happened: one is crouching in the corner like an abandoned kitten, and the other is lying on the ground like a rag doll run over by a truck.

This change is too drastic!

Gaia sensed his presence and turned her head.

The unswollen eye looked at him, her body shifted, she stood up from the ground, staggered a moment, then regained her balance.

She spread her arms, blocking Alaya's path.

"Don't come any closer."

Her voice was hoarse, as if she hadn't drunk water in a long time.

Higashino Makoto looked at her.

This reminded him of a previous scene, where one was in front and the other behind, working together seamlessly.

The only difference is that last time it was an attack, this time it's a defense.

Alaya propped herself up from the ground, reached out and grabbed Gaia's skirt, tugging at it.

"Gaia, move aside."

"Don't want."

You can't beat him.

Even if we can't win, we have to fight.

Alaya was silent for a moment, then released her skirt, supported herself with her hands on the ground, and stood up.

Her fair skin and bluish-purple bruises were revealed through a tear in her black dress; her hands hung at her sides, her fingers slightly curled.

"Together."

Higashino Makoto looked at the two little girls who could barely stand and sighed.

He folded his wings, removed the Degradation Aura, reverted to his human form, and strode towards them.

Gaia and Alaya both took a step back.

But they didn't run; they stood there, watching the man approach.

Higashino Makoto stopped in front of them and looked down at the two little girls who were covered in injuries.

Why does he act like he's some kind of major villain?

"Who beat you up?"

Neither Gaia nor Alaya spoke.

After a moment of silence, Alaya spoke.

"Human evil, Human Order Incineration."

Higashino Makoto frowned.

He knows about this.

Human Order Incineration, a spell cast by Goetia, one of the evils of humanity.

From the past to the future, all history, all civilizations, all life, are burned and transformed into nutrients, fulfilling its wish to return to the beginning of Earth's birth and become a planet.

So, this world is called FGO?

No wonder they are so weak; human history has been burned, and the Earth itself faces the crisis of being replaced by Goetia.

As a convergence of the Earth's will and the human subconscious, it is only natural that they would weaken.

"So this is how you all ended up?"

"Um."

How long has this happened?

"I don't know, time has no meaning here."

Higashino Makoto was silent for a moment, then sighed.

"Forget it, let's not fight anymore."

Higashino Makoto stood up.

"Where did the Human Order Incineration occur?"

"All eras. Past, present, and future—all of history."

"What about the most serious areas?"

Alaya remained silent for a moment.

"Babylonia, more than two thousand years BC. There was a human king there who was trying to stop the burning, but he was about to collapse."

Higashino Makoto looked at them, muttering to himself.

Human Order Incineration just the beginning; there's more to come, like Human Order Bleaching and Human Order Freezing. There's still a lot to explore.

"I can help, you won't stop me, will you?"

The two exchanged a glance and shook their heads.

"Won't."

After all, they were no match for the opponent, and they couldn't stop them even if they wanted to.

He turned around, stretched out his hand, and made a light sweeping motion in the air.

A spatial rift appeared silently before them, the other end of which led to Novas Etier's corridor.

"Wait a moment, I'm going to fetch someone and then head to Babylonia. Remember to give us proper legal status."

He stepped into the crevice.

Novas Etier, meeting room.

Utaha was still standing by the window, holding the cup of black tea in her hands, her dark red eyes gazing at the artificial sky outside.

Hearing footsteps, she turned around.

"Higashino- kun, you're back so soon?"

"Um."

"You won?"

"Didn't hit."

Utaha's brows furrowed slightly.

"Didn't you call?"

"They were beaten up, their faces were bruised and swollen, it was so pitiful, I couldn't bring myself to do it."

Utaha tilted her head.

So what are you doing back here?

"Let's go to another world and see if there's anything we can collect."

Higashino Makoto walked up to her and extended his hand.

"Come on, I'll take you to see it."