Another Stage
Awareness stirs as I wade through the ochre tide. What was I-?
"My accomplice, this is the end. This is your last adversary, before you may awaken."
-Right. I just have to defeat it. The spider, the all-destroying abomination before me. But I don't have backup this time - no replenishment of Command Spells, no Kukulkan or Madam President backing me up. The Storm Border is nowhere to be seen, and I cannot flee as its vast form approaches.
A near indescribable thing - a sort of spider, covered in jagged edges, scuttling forward, reforming the very world beneath its talons. But I defeated-
No.
No, did I defeat this thing, really?
This must be death. This must be the end of all things. This is [One Radiance Thing].
"But, I can't give up…!" I tell myself, gripping my fist.
"Just so, my accomplice," says the Count, his sickly yellow robe blinding my eyes. "This is merely a dream. A recollection. If you cannot recall how to best it, then imagine something that can."
And so, I call upon everything. Every last one of my Servants, even those I ought to have forgotten, even those lost forever, at the very peak of their might. And yet, their attacks avail nothing.
Even the most impossible chance, that one thing that can never come to be-
"[Ars Almadel Salomonis]!"
-shatters that crystalline spider. But that was never the true body of [One Radiance Thing]. That impossible spinning disk, the cliche UFO, surges with power, and I die in utter futility.
"But that's fine, my accomplice. Dream more. Dream deeper. This next time, for certain you can achieve it. That naive hope, that absurd delusion that you could win - call it into being. None can say it lacks the right to exist."
And so I sink. up to my neck in the yellow tide, dredging the depths for some hope, some dull excuse. Even though I know that Fujimaru Ritsuka has already-
"That doesn't matter. Not here. Imagine more. Plumb the very deepest reaches of the lake of Hali. There is no need for justification. Even as ORT justifies its own existence, your answer shall justify itself. Find the self-evident non-existence that answers the question, and speak me into being, Fujimaru!"
"You… totally lost me," - is what I'd normally say right now. But instead, understanding writhes its way into my brain, like the distant light of the Hyades.
A concept is required - one who bears the power to face the might of the Oort cloud itself. A universal law, that applies even beyond the Common Sense of Man, to impact even that spider from the stars.
But there is none. The laws of nature are imagined by man. Strong Force. Weak Force. Gravity. Electromagnetism. These are only labels for established patterns. Can I prove that the four fundamental forces are necessary, even beyond human observation? Can I prove that time exists beyond human perception? There is nothing. The only thing I can imagine that cannot be simply a function of my own distorted viewpoint is [Nothing].
Only [Nothing]. Only empty space. Only a Hole.
And so, I call his name.
"██████."
At once, the lake swallows me whole.
As ORT dissolves and mixes into the currents, some dim part of me understands that I've been deceived. The Count's tattered robe flaps in a nonexistent wind, and seems almost like a hand, waving goodbye - or perhaps Bon Voyage.
"It's already all over, so just sink, Fujimaru. All the way to Carcosa." His mumbling is the last thing my ears catch before the sickening golden ink fills them. One hand, stretched out in vain above the surface lake, is the very last movement I can make-
"[Muraaaaak]!" - and just in time, someone catches it.
***
Natsuki Subaru
…Yeah, I've got no idea what's going on here.
We're in a black, shapeless space where barely anything is visible, but through the darkness I can see the looming shape of some kind of… UFO, maybe? That vast shape, gleaming with radiance that warms my skin even at… whatever distance I'm at right now, it's difficult to tell. The only thing I can tell is that it's sinking. Near imperceptibly, and yet inexorably, it's being drawn in, deeper and deeper, into a sea of sickening yellow.
"That won't hold it for long," Louis Arneb's voice echoes in my mind, and I shudder reflexively - no, it's just Tezcatlipoca… which is maybe just as bad!? Why did I agree to this again!? "That thing'll adapt soon enough, so hurry up and grab Fujimaru before it can get free - if it breaks out, you'll die."
"That flying saucer is that big of a deal!?" I say as I charge down into the murky swamp of… paint, maybe? I slide down some kind of slope, and land knee deep in the mess.
The texture of the liquid is bizarre. It seems fluid at first, but clumps up and solidifies with any motion - a dilatant non-newtonian fluid, I think it was called, the same kind of thing you get when mixing starch and water. But despite all the difficulty, I slop my way forwards, one difficult step after another, because I can see him. Fujimaru, in the distance, standing slack as he slowly sinks into the yellow swamp. And there, in front of him, is-
"Songs that the Hyades shall sing,
Where flap the tatters of the King-"
-A ragged yellow robe. That's all that I can make out of his appearance. That, and a pale mask visible from beneath the low hood.
I won't make it. I can tell that. Whatever that Pallid Mask is doing, to make Ritsuka sink here, to make him disappear just like ███ did, it's happening too fast. I won't make it, unless-!
"Tezko!" I shout. "I need you!"
Nothing happens, and I just keep wading forward through the heavy resistance.
"Tezko, what are you doing!? Hurry and use the Leaper's Talent, we're not gonna make it! You were just saying it was urgent, right!?" I shout.
"Ah- wha- you were talking to me!?" Tezcatlipoca says as she emerges from my body, clinging to my back. "What's with the sudden nickname…?"
"Do you see another Tezko here!?" I reply as I make a desperate jump - then my body flickers. There's a sickening knot in my gut as we burst forward. The world around me blurs by, and then slows to a crawl just before- "[Muraaaaak]!" I roar, catching Fujimaru's outstretched hand.
A moment later, we crash land in an empty white space.
***
The Prop Room
"-Huh?" The first thing I hear from the conscious lips of Fujimaru Ritsuka is an utterance of confusion. "Wait, what just happened?"
I stand up, ignoring him for just a moment. "Merlin! Is that Pale Mask guy gonna come after us?" I ask. I really feel like we pulled out too fast!
"Who?" Why does he just look confused!?
"You mean the Count of Monte Cristo?" Ritsuka asks.
"What?" That ominous, yellow-cloaked monster- "No, no, no, in what world was that thing Edmond Dantes!?"
"Yeah, he called me accomplice, said 'kuhaha' a few times, and he was wearing… a yellow cloak… and mask…" He trails off for a moment. "Wait, who was thaaaaaat!? He just talked a little chuuni at the start and I bought the rest!?"
"I didn't observe anyone like that… that's unnerving," Merlin mutters, his smile looking a little thin.
"Okay, then Tezcatlipoca! Are you sure we shouldn't have stayed and fought him?" I ask.
"Tezcatlipoca!?" Ritsuka jumps to his feet and looks around frantically.
"With ORT just sitting there, waiting? Not a chance," She waves me off. "We've got better odds if he somehow pursues us here, anyway."
"What?" Ritsuka looks at her. "No, no, no, in what way is that Tezcatlipoca!?"
"I changed bodies, since this girl was convenient to possess," Tezko answers with a grin, adjusting her sunglasses. "She's a psychopomp of sorts, making her compatible, and thanks to the gluttony witch factor, I can endlessly sacrifice her - my Black Sun is getting close to the level it was at back in my prime."
"You… totally lost me," Fujimaru mumbles.
Oh good, so it's not just me. "I was worried Ritsu-kun was gonna be some kind of super genius, so this kind of reaction is a huge relief," I mutter.
…A pause follows for just a moment as two Masters of Chaldea stand side by side, one chuckling nervously to the side and the other slumped in dejected confusion. Then, Ritsuka stands straight up, and asks the most urgent question of all. "Wait, who are you!?" He blurts, pointing at me.
Well, if Miyako forgot my face it's not a shock this guy has too. "Heh."
"Now you've done it, Fujimaru. He's gonna do his embarrassing introduction joke again," Tezko says, not really looking irritated. "Not only is he clueless-"
"No, Tezko," I say, raising a hand. "It's a different intro for this guy."
("Seriously, why the nickname…?" She mumbles)
"The name's Natsuki," I say, striking a pose. "Of the Four Heavenly Playground Kings, Natsuki of the North!"
…
"...Congratulations?" Fujimaru offers.
Choking down my embarrassment, I grip him by the shoulders. "No, I mean it's me! Natsuki Subaru! Your childhood friend!"
"Ah! Su-kun!" Recognition dawns, at last. "W-wait, Su-kun!? Didn't you go missing half a year ago!?"
"…So I didn't get sent back the first time?" I mumble. No, I can think about that later. "Uh, to put it really simply 'When I Returned From Another World, Earth was an Urban Fantasy and I had to Save the World'!"
"Isekai!?" Ritsuka shouts excitedly. "Did you defeat the demon king? Did a party member betray you and send you back? Was it a full reincarnation package or did you get transferred? What was your secret cheat skill? Did you save the villainess? Did you become the villainess?"
"How did you manage to respond the exact same way as Micchan…?" I mumble. I was sure he was just gonna say 'you lost me' again.
"...No, but seriously, what on earth is even going on?" He asks.
"Maybe I should explain, then?" Merlin interjects.
"Merlin!" Ritsuka looks at him with total trust and expectation.
"Nah, you guys are out of time. If I keep you in the underworld any longer, I'm gonna have to charge rent." Tezko says. Eh?
"Wait, at least give him a little bit of-" I start to say, but already the black smoke is filling everything.
***
Act 4, Scene 13
"A cat is -" Nanaya's voice meets my awareness, interrupted by his cat clawing his cheek. "-Wait, what the hell? You brought him out?"
"Shut up and go downstairs, or Miyako's gonna get killed," I retort, frantically pressing my wrist communicator. Pick up already, you asshole!
Nanaya's eyes widen ever so slightly, and then he vanishes into a blur of limbs, scuttling along the wall, past me, and darting down the stairs.
"Master, are you- ah." Shaula starts to say something but cuts herself off. Yeah, that's expected. I grab Ritsuka and drag him into the simulator room before she can even begin transforming - and a black cat latches onto my shoulder as I do so. Nanaya's familiar? Right, he said he would kill her by reflex if he fought with her… does that mean he's fighting blind now?
"Su-kun, shouldn't we be going-!?" down to where Miyako is, Ritsuka was probably going to say, but then an insectoid form smashes through the doorway behind us, and he reassesses. "-Orion!"
"WHY!?" I scream in utter bafflement. Nobody comes to his call, and I quickly remember his limitation - only servants pre-loaded into this simulator. A wall of black smoke stops two darts of force as Shaula fires them. "Call Tezcatlipoca, you have to now!"
"Uh, Tezcatlipoca? Sorry, I thought Orion had a legend with a giant scorpion-" He starts to say as the same tall masculine Tezcatlipoca I fought before appears.
"Yeah, dying because of one!" I shout.
"Wow, that would be really bad. Good thing he didn't appear," Ritsuka says, now completely calm as the jaguar-costumed Tezcatlipoca launches towards Shaula-
"Wooo!" He screams. No, I really don't think I'll ever understand this guy. His claws clash with hers, and he bounces backwards, a shroud of black smoke swallowing another [Hell's Snipe].
"-Look, she's actually really dangerous, so summon Heracles or Arjuna or something too!" I say.
"Got it!" He nods. "Nezha!" Who? No, I guess I gotta explain-
"You've got limited summons right now, and only in this room!" I say. "Lost-whatsit kings only!"
"Really!?" Why does he look so excited- "Zeus!" What. "-Eh, Heracles-san came instead?"
"-Natsuki Subaru, leave me here with him." Finally, the voice I've been waiting for comes from my communicator, just what was Recorder doing all this - he's bleeding from every orifice!? "It's clear that Fujimaru Ritsuka is not quick to understand, so I'll guide him through the act of stalling Shaula. In the meantime, you will ascend and deal with Trials Five and Six."
"...Got it," I mutter, removing the communicator from my wrist. "Hey, Ritsu-kun, I'm leaving this place to you. I promise we'll explain everything later, so-"
"Subaru-kun, you should hurry. As long as you reach the top, we can resolve this, even if we can't figure out how to finish that guy downstairs off," Romani interjects. He's also heavily wounded!? Just what were you guys-
Ritsuka freezes. "Doc…tor…? No, the Chaldean wasn't-"
"That husk is- ghk!" Recorder's refutation of some newborn rumor goes unfinished as he coughs blood. "Damn! Fujimaru Ritsuka, say nothing else for all our sakes! New enemies are conjured by idle words in this place!"
"Just go, Subaru-kun!" Romani shouts, and so I turn and charge into the empty white space, towards the newly formed staircase at the simulator's edge.
And then, the world melts into yet another white stage. Another simulator fight, huh?
"This seems like a good spot for a save point, Onii-san?" Meili's voice enters my mind, and I blink. What?
"No, it's not like I control where I reset to, though?"
…
Such a miserable fate. Even though he knows all too well, even though he received a secondhand warning just seconds ago, even though he knows that the voices in his head are hallucinations caught up in the rumors of this PLACE!
Because he is mentally exhausted. Because he is 'alone'. Because Fujimaru's clownishness has, despite everything, lowered his feeling of tension ever so slightly. Because the presence of that same childhood friend has assured him, instinctually, that this is the attempt where he succeeds. Because he has, despite everything, forgotten that THERE WAS SOMETHING LIKE THIS, WASN'T THERE!?
Natsuki Subaru says the thing that must not be said, without even considering the consequences.
Thus is a Tragedy Realized(Rumor Established)