Following Rama's request, Takumi let him sit leaning against the rock nearby.
"Spent so much effort... In the end, I still can't see Sita..."
Rama lowered his head, covering his eyes with his palms.
Actually, knowing he was destined not to see Sita due to the curse, he had already decided that as long as he "saw" Sita briefly, he would lend his power to Takumi. This would satisfy two conditions: being able to help, yet not letting Sita sacrifice herself.
He just didn't expect this "curse" wouldn't even leave him this bit of hope.
Takumi, who could sense the sadness in Rama's heart, remained silent.
"I envy you a bit, Master."
Rama suddenly spoke.
"?"
Takumi looked at him in confusion.
"You have that kind of ability, right? Power that can break free from curses."
"This ability is very popular with me, so I, who am deeply troubled by curses, inevitably feel envious."
While explaining, Rama looked at Takumi with envious eyes.
"Haha, but I'm also quite glad you have this ability. Otherwise, if I lend you power, wouldn't I be harming you?"
As soon as the voice fell, Rama chuckled again, extending his hand towards Takumi very freely.
"Come, I lend you my power."
Looking at the hand extended by Rama with his chest wide open and a smile on his face, Takumi didn't know what to say for a moment.
"Hey, at a time like this, what are you being awkward about? I don't need others to be sad for me; that would be too weird!"
"Besides, it's just not seeing Sita this time. Next time there's a chance to be summoned, I'll try hard again no matter what!"
Takumi was dumbfounded. After igniting the [Heart of Fire], he hadn't figured out this passive ability yet. Now being told this by Rama, he had to admit it was indeed a bit weird.
Too sentimental.
Then without thinking further, Takumi placed his hand under Rama's hand.
"May you meet your wife one day."
Takumi wished sincerely.
"You still have the mind to bless me. The problem you face now is more serious than mine."
Hearing this, Rama couldn't help shaking his head and laughing.
Takumi scratched his head awkwardly.
"However, I accept your blessing!"
Rama suddenly raised his voice, grinning.
"Likewise, I also wish you—to be able to reach the ending you want."
"So move forward with all your might! Last Master of humanity..."
As the voice slowly fell, Rama disappeared before Takumi's eyes, replaced by the appearance of the Spirit Origin within his body.
Rama—Exit.
"Of course, I am using my full strength all the time."
Takumi muttered to himself looking ahead, the smile on his face gradually disappearing.
Then stood up, leaving a squatting black-red shadow on the spot.
The curse attached to Rama's Spirit Origin was thrown off by this trivial action.
"Always borrowing others' power, but can't lend my power to others..."
Takumi's gaze was calm, unknown what he was thinking.
The black-red curse disappeared behind Takumi, scattering into the world.
Takumi didn't care, but turned his head to look in the direction of the target they were looking for just now.
'Should I be angry?'
Takumi asked himself.
"I think I should be angry."
Having accepted Rama's power and felt his anger towards the instigator of all this, as the user of his power and a brief companion—Takumi should be angry.
'No matter who it is, I will shoot you down!'
Instantly, Takumi disappeared from the spot, speeding towards the predetermined direction.
After one person less, the journey originally needing about ten minutes now didn't even need a minute!
Entering the ultra-high-speed state, everything around dimmed, as if almost still. Only Takumi himself could feel the flow of time.
A while later.
Takumi stopped.
Then looked at an open space.
Seconds later, a shirtless squinty-eyed warrior holding a spiral sword emerged from spiritual form, appearing in front of Takumi.
"Are you looking for me?"
Blocked by Takumi on the inevitable path, the warrior named Fergus mac Róich scratched his head in confusion.
Fergus, a pillar of the Red Branch Knights, friend and foster father of Cú Chulainn—these were identities, no need to say more.
Most critically, the demonic sword/holy sword held by the opponent.
Its name was [Caladbolg], also known as the Spiral Sword. It was Cú Chulainn's natural enemy, and also rumored to be the prototype of numerous holy swords/demonic swords, including Excalibur.
But there was no need to delve into this setting. Just needed to know it was an A+ rank high-power, wide-area destruction Noble Phantasm.
"Did you make Sita exit?"
Takumi didn't answer but stared at him and asked back.
"Sita? You are the Rama Medb mentioned? Looks different from her description."
Fergus, understanding something, sized up Takumi's appearance.
Black hair, black combat suit, holding a flag of unknown meaning in one hand, holding a sword in one hand...
Looked ordinary. Except for knowing the name "Sita," there were basically no similarities with the characteristics given by Medb.
"But if you are looking for that woman who looks like a little girl, indeed I killed her."
"After receiving the order, I rushed over and blasted the prison holding her with my Noble Phantasm. She should have died without any pain."
Retracting his sizing gaze, Fergus said casually.
Hearing this, Takumi's gaze became colder.
Most enemy Servants were tampered with by Demon God Pillars. Even if not, they basically had their own set of theories and ideas to maintain the rationality of their actions.
Fergus appearing in front of Takumi now was basically a loyal warrior obeying Medb while being bound, so verbal attacks were meaningless.
[Heart of Fire] told Takumi that this person couldn't be won over.
And Takumi had no idea of winning him over either.
Then...
Killing intent originating from the heart diffused accordingly.
"I think I still quite cherish—"
Stimulated by the heartfelt killing intent, Fergus shivered inside, instantly putting away his careless appearance, staring solemnly at the ordinary-looking Takumi in front.
'Something is wrong...'
Only to see Takumi tear off the detachable black cloth hanging on his right shoulder, throwing it aside, revealing the metal prosthetic arm underneath.
Then experimentally swung Rama's [Brahmastra] twice with the prosthetic arm, as if getting familiar with the feel.
'This person is wrong!'
Unknown why, Fergus's combat experience was warning him frantically.
As if in an instant, his surroundings were swallowed by darkness. Only a meter or so under his feet remained bright. While in the darkness surrounding him, it seemed countless deadly assassins were eyeing him covetously.
So much so that even if Takumi seemed full of openings in front of him, he actually didn't dare to act rashly.
'This is my first serious battle...'
Apprehensive? Perhaps a little.
But Takumi didn't think he would lose!
Inhale——
A long inhalation sound carrying a strange rhythm entered Fergus's ears, making him, whose vigilance was already not low, subconsciously tighten his grip on Caladbolg.
Exhale——
The exhalation sound seemed to ring out simultaneously with the inhalation sound. Before Fergus could distinguish clearly, he was shocked to see ripples of airwaves clinging to the ground gradually spreading outward with Takumi as the center.
"This...?!"
Fergus just opened his mouth, but suddenly sensed Takumi's posture changed.
In less than the blink of an eye, Takumi's stance became impeccable even to him.
Whoosh——!!!
The sound of air deflagration rang out abruptly. A stream of scorching hot wind hit. The appearance of a large space around the two suddenly changed.
Instantly turning orange-red. The temperature also climbed to an unimaginable height in a short time. The air was filled with a heavy and scorching aura. Every breath seemed like inhaling a ball of burning flame—no, there were floating flames everywhere around!
[Thousand Meters of Scorched Earth, Crimson Hell]!
'This is fcking Runes?!'*
Feeling this high temperature, Fergus, knowing where this flame battlefield came from, was already screaming internally.
Only to see Takumi not moving his hands or feet, but glowing Runes representing fire constantly emerged around him, seemingly endless. Instantly deploying this "Crimson Hell" in an area with a radius of one kilometer centered on him.
This was the power of "Changing constantly, following one's heart"!
—I said, sooner or later, I will draw Runes without using hands.