—Got it, Uncle!— Gwen reported. She was sitting at the camper's table with her computer on; on it, the Omnitrix symbol was marked on a map of the city of Fuyuki. —It's moving at great speed through the city, he must have found something!— She took the computer and headed to the passenger seat.
The Rust Bucket, as Toshinori called it, shortened the distance stretch by stretch.
—Yes, the only plausible explanation for Izuku deciding to expose himself like this is that he's racing against the clock—
"But even so… why did it have to happen in a city surrounded by mages?"
—Turn left at the next one—
He turned sharply to the left; for a few moments it seemed they were going to overturn, but Toshinori's skill allowed him to regain balance and continue safely.
—By the way, Uncle…— Gwen began without taking her eyes off the computer. —When you entered the Church, were you able to learn anything more about the Holy Grail?—
He raised his gaze and managed to see the tension on Toshinori's face; it was the same one he had when the situation became critical, when the opponent imposed himself over the odds, but this time there was no one threatening the world on such a scale.
"Uncle, what did you run into in there to look so worried?"
Toshinori tightened his grip on the steering wheel, but his face began to look more natural; this time, however, the confident and heroic expression they were so used to seeing did not return. This one was more serious and conflicted, as if he were confronting a past or an event that shamed him too deeply.
—Well, alright…— he began.
—When I entered the Church, the one who received me was an old acquaintance, a priest named Kirei Kotomine—
—I didn't think you'd be afraid of a priest.—
—Ha, it's not fear, Gwen. While Kirei can be considered dangerous by standards, how should I put it?…— He scratched his neck a bit in discomfort, then snapped his fingers. —Of average mages. The truth is that normally I wouldn't have any difficulty taking him down with ease—
—If it's not strength, then it must be the person, and consequently, the information. Isn't that so?—
—Exactly. His personality unsettles me; it's as if he lacks purpose, indifferent to the kindness or cruelty of people, yes—but beyond that, these kinds of people are dangerous because when they reach a point of meaninglessness, any opportunity to "feel" something becomes an obsession. They're capable of clinging desperately to that thing— He took a few seconds and continued. —When they find that something that makes them "feel," the consequences don't matter; they'll fight tooth and nail to obtain it—
—As for the information and the reason why he gave it to me, he only gave me one answer…—
"Because you seem interesting." —Let's say it's simply a favor from a friend—
He pulled some papers from his pocket and, without taking his eyes off the road or losing control of the wheel, handed them to Gwen.
—Wait until we're with Izuku; I want to share the information with both of you at the same time.—
"In moments like these, calm is what keeps us away from mistakes. If Izuku arrives before us and finds that the ritual was a success, we'll have to attack with all our strength."
Several kilometers from the Rust Bucket, and just a few blocks from Wildmutt, in a house shrouded in gloom and darkness, Ryuunosuke continued with his plan.
—Now then, this time I hope everything goes well—
With his blood-stained foot, he traced the ritual symbols on the wooden floor with almost artistic delicacy. —Let's see, when you fill one you have to destroy it… That's how it was, right?— He looked at the book in his hand and, to avoid the same mistakes this time, began using his fingers like a grade-school child to count. —Fill, fill, fill, fill… Done!— he announced at the top of his lungs to his expressionless audience.
In the background, the only source of light was the living room television broadcasting the news.
"Up next, a report on the serial murders of Fuyuki."
Oblivious to this, he checked the ritual once again. —This time, yes, five times, very good.—
"The police report that in each of the three known cases, magical symbols drawn with the victims' blood were found at the crime scene." The mention of blood caught his interest.
He went to the couch and leaned on it; the movement caused a head to fall from the body of the person who had once been watching television, unaware that the lunatic they were being warned about was already inside his home.
"We interviewed a criminal psychologist who will explain the meaning of these symbols."
Ryuunosuke took the remote and turned off the television; his empty gaze turned toward the demon's "appetizer," a gagged child, bound hand and foot, who stared back at that grim look with the eyes of an innocent who would never hurt a fly.
It didn't seem to matter that the child was gagged; he hadn't expected a response from the start.
—Do you think demons exist, child?— he asked. —Newspapers and magazines say I'm a demon. But if demons really exist, calling me that is very bad manners, don't you think? They need to make things clear—
He crouched down. The sudden movement startled the child at his feet; it was curious how careless he was about the state of his home, yet when it came to his attire, he kept it impeccable. He kept his distance from the child's urine stain.
—Greetings! I'm Ryuunosuke Uryuu, a demon!—
He brought his book closer to the child. —Maybe I shouldn't have told you my name, but oh well. This book is very old; I found it in my family's storage— he said, while quickly flipping through the book.
—It seems my ancestors were researching how to summon demons. So of course, I have to check whether demons really exist or not—
—But you know, if by chance I managed to summon a demon, I'd be an idiot if I weren't prepared and didn't offer him at least a cup of tea, right?… And that's where you come in, child. If a demon were to appear, could you let it kill you?—
The victim began to cry and crawl; the survival instinct overcame the paralyzing fear that had kept him frozen before the madman's stream of nonsense. He soon forgot he was gagged, forgot his family was dead, forgot that a demon was going to eat him.
Ryuunosuke, on the other hand, laughed like never before; his cackle echoed throughout the room.
—How would a real demon kill its victim? It's a very important experiment!…!— Suddenly he began to feel pain; a red tattoo imprinted itself on his skin.
"What is this?"
Sensing the change in the atmosphere, he turned his body toward the summoning ritual site.
A blinding glow overlaid the darkness of the room; a supernatural mist rose from the circle, adorned with crackling lightning.
It lasted only seconds; then, as quickly as it came, it was gone.
In the circle, a man of astonishing height stood tall.
He didn't have a single wrinkle; his eyes were enormous and upturned, he lacked eyebrows, and his cheeks were oily and shiny.
He was extremely pale—but don't be misled; he was anything but physically weak. He was muscular and very tall.
These attributes were hidden beneath a long robe, blue in color, covering his entire body.
He seemed wrapped in a cocoon, and when he raised or moved his body, it spread as if they were wings.
Around his neck, the robe had—besides the dominant blue—details in dark purple.
He wore silver details on the front and a ring on each hand, one silver, the other orange.
—I ask you… You who call me and who seek me… invoker who brought me as one of the Caster class… I ask your name. Tell me, who are you?—
The killer, somewhat dazed, rubbed his head.
—Uh… I'm Ryuunosuke Uryuu. I do odd jobs, and my hobby is being a serial killer.— He paused.
—Preferably children and young women—
—Very well, the pact is made. I too have a wish to ask of the Holy Grail you seek. We will obtain this chalice and make it ours.—
—Holy Grail?— he asked; within seconds, he dismissed its importance. —Well then, for now do you want something to drink? Do you want to eat it?—
He turned and presented his dish.
Caster did not respond; he looked at both of them and pulled a notebook from within his robe sleeve.
Considering the material of its cover and stitching, it would have petrified a normal adult; for Ryuunosuke, it was simply a marvel.
—Incredible! It's human skin, right?— he asked.
Caster's enormous eyes were the only evidence that he had heard him.
—Cthulhu Fhtagn.— he recited.
He put the book away and approached the child, who, upon seeing the huge being draw near, began to crawl backward.
All under Ryuunosuke's watchful gaze.
—Don't be afraid, child— Caster said as he untied him. —Can you stand up?—
The child nodded. —Good, child… You may leave through that door. Can you go on your own?—
—Y-yes— trembling, the child nodded.
Certain of living another day, he ran without looking back.
—Hey, what are you doing?— Ryuunosuke asked.
Caster simply silenced him, merely pointing a finger toward the door.
But what he expected did not happen. When the tentacles were inches from the child (who stared dazed at the door), a bestial creature interposed itself in the way.
With a deafening roar, it burst through the door and shoved the child backward; its claws tore apart the tentacles that tried to drag him into a void of death.
As he was being overwhelmed, he pressed the Omnitrix plate and, already in the form of a child, slipped through the space Wildmutthad occupied before.
He didn't hesitate; the child's life depended on him.
—Hey! Don't stay here, it's dangerous!— he reminded him while activating the watch.
A green glow blinded Caster and Ryuunosuke, who watched furiously and incredulously as that child intervened.