Danmachi: the Great Devourer

C240: Blackening

Alt title Teaser: Possession

Date published: 7/19/2025.

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Clang BANG

Excalibur Morgan comes in contact with Berserker's fist as both are sent flying. Artoria flips backwards as a result of the collision before smoothly landing. As time progresses from her initial corruption (losing her Ahoge), the more mana that flows through her. Ensuring she continuously grows stronger physically and more durable while her mana also increases exponentially. 

Berserker takes charge as he rushes at Artoria Alter who is taking a stand to stop him from digging further to reach his master who is just below them, a few hundred feet but he has already pounded away at a few dozen feet when Artoria ambushed him, severing his head which triggered his resurrection and noble phantasm and thus he could not die again by beheading. 

Perhaps because of the larger mana flow her own master is providing her or the corruption from the black mud that had corrupted her, Artoria is already aware of what her duty is. Yet unlike the original heavens feel movie, she could not simply unleash her noble phantasm to defeat Berserker as she could not spawn the black mud to consume Heracles. That was in part, a contribution from the corrupted Sakura 'Matou', otherwise known as the Shadow of Angra Mainyu.

Yet their fight is not undiscoverable. While a barrier does cover their fight and the destruction they brought near the Einzbern castle. They had forgotten that they hold a bracelet that counts their noble phantasms. As such, the moment Heracles had died, and his noble phantasm had resurrected him, Axel Gram was notified. 

With his partial omnipresent power and magical skills, he could easily pierce through the barrier without shattering it. He quickly sums up all the details within. Though a hint of confusion sprouts within his head as he witnesses the near eternal fight.

'So who is the one corrupted? Sakura is still next to me and has not shown any sort of signs of it. I've examined her many times to ensure she didn't have some sort of withdrawal symptoms caused by destiny. Wait, why is alter-chan blocking a hole? Let's see what is down below'

"Ah, that explains it." he says to himself as he quickly scans Illya over to make sure her wound is not fatal, afterall, if it was then the barrier he had cast on her would have destroyed the attack while another spell would have brought her straight to him. 

He had made a promise to Kiritsugu after all. He is a man of his word.

'Hmm, now how to deal with Shirou. He has already half-transformed into his own Emiya (alter) state with only the tan missing. Yet he is also being bathed in the black mud that Illya is expelling. Surprised he hasn't died from the fall though' Axel ruminates to himself as he considers enhancing the preexisting barrier around the Einzbern castle yet he shakes his head.

"One thing at a time. I'm just a spokesperson here and should not overly be involved. This is my son's time to shine" he whispers to himself, though Sakura does overhear a part of it and is confused over what he is talking about. 

As such, Sakura returns her attention back to Washio who is also sparring with Rin now that she has joined the alliance with her boyfriend. Emiya (archer) stands on the sidelines as he finally witnesses his master's full might yet he can't help that something is wrong outside but due to the barriers hiding the Einzbern castle. Regardless, he can't leave to examine the situation outside as he has to ensure his own Master remains safe. A feeling is just that, a feeling. 

--------Back at the Castle-Underground--------------------

Illya finally stops throwing up as she looks around in a bit of panic. Witnessing the black mud she expelled, flowing upward at the cliff edge, only to fall down where her 'brother' had chosen to fall. 

"Geh" she groans as she tries to get back to the castle but the pain of being shot in her leg is impairing her. Nevertheless, she continues her struggle, using her good leg, she begins crawling away, step by step, foot by foot. She makes her path away from the center of the cavern.

WOOM

Illya is shocked at the sudden sound and helplessly looks back to find the black mud has risen like a new pillar that deposits a person. 

His hair black as ink that is only beset by red-black markings covering deep tanned skin and brown eyes. The markings cover the entirety of the person's body with the only exception being torn clothes that cover the majority of his waist as well as a blood red headband of tattered cloth. 

"Heh, isn't this a nice change of pace? Been so long since I was granted a mortal body. I was originally called over a hundred years ago, to win this pathetic war yet it is only now that I shall be able to fulfill my duty."

The voice which is reminiscent of Shirou's holds a manic tone to it. Like singing a song of death and misery. Step by step, the figure walks down the pathway towards Illya. Illya naturally tries to speed up her crawling but she would inevitably be caught. 

The tattoo covered boy steps beside her and looking at his own palm. Mud begins to flow as if originating from him. He tilts his hand to allow the mud to land on her. 

A glow covers Illya and she vanishes before the mud could land on her and potentially corrupt her. 

The boy stomps his foot as if angered by the sudden shock he experienced. "Oh my darling daughter, your amazing big brother shall rescue you from whoever prevented me from embracing you" His contrast of words originating from the split possession. After his original death during ww2, his first real host was Irisviel and now his second and current body is that of Emiya Shirou. 

With a lack of targets here, 'Shirou' can only go outside to see the situation. The moment that he steps outside, he finds saber (alter) is still doing her duty and preventing Berserker from leaving until he waves his hand and Saber stands down. Letting Berserker leave. 

"His master had somehow gotten away, he will lead us there. Go keep him company" Alter nods her head after giving him a bow. Disappearing into her spirit form, she gives chase after the madness enhanced warrior. The boy instead takes his time as he has something planned. As such, he does not go in the same direction as the servants but towards another destination.

Elsewhere.

Illya finds herself in an underground chamber. Yet it was unlike the cavern she had been in moments prior, this one is more akin to a medical lab. As she regains her fear of the known, that is when a door slams open with a man wearing surgical clothing steps inside. All alone though a sliding tray of utensils follows him along. 

"It is nice to have you here, Miss Einzbern. From initial scans, your leg had been shot by a 9 millimeter gun. The bullet had gotten stuck on the bone of that leg which is part of why you are in quite immense pain. Please do not move your leg about further as you are on the verge of having a major vein bursting from either the bullet or a shard of your own bone. Allow me to at least extract the bullet and seal the wound." The doctor describes her condition and she can't help but trust this doctor's professionalism.

She nods and the doctor takes up a tube, opening the cork, he smears a gel around the wound and even a bit further up and down her leg. Illya soon realizes that she is losing feeling in her leg. 

She can still move her knee and thus her leg but she realizes that it's a very powerful numbing agent as the doctor soon takes a pair of tweezers and goes in to take out the bullet. 

Then another gel is applied to her wound, a type of antiseptic based on the medicinal scent before the last step is plenty of gauze and bandages to wrap her leg up nice and tightly.

"Nurse, please bring in a cast for the patient" The doctor speaks out and Illya is confused as she had not seen anyone else thus far. Yet the door soon opens to a woman with pinkish hair tied into braids. She wears a professional red military uniform as she delivers the cast.

"According to the info provided, this should suffice as a cast. Though the lining around the leg may need to be taken out, to account for…all that." The nurse points at the layers of gauze and bindings wrapped around Illya's leg. 

"I'm sorry dear, I got a little excited with my first real patient, Sakura doesnt count as I barely did anything and nobody has really used my services in the new world" As the doctor explains, the nurse rubs his back to help him calm down. "I understand. It happens to the best of us. Though you handled it a lot better than most. Trainees typically hurl or panic when confronted with blood or greater injuries. Your first case was certainly much more mild in comparison.

"Ummo, how did I get here?" Now that the situation seemed to calm down, Illya couldn't help but speak up in confusion.

"It's quite simple, you were teleported" The Nurse responds in a frank tone.

"That….that doesnt make sense, teleportation is not possible for humans." "But I'm human, full blooded. Used to live in Britain ", "…Granted it was the 19th century back then." The nurse argues back but the doctor includes himself into the conversation as he adds one final point about the nurse's living conditions.

"But that…would make you around 200 years old!!" Illya is on the brink of losing it at the absurd conversation happening to her at this very moment. 

The nurse slaps her knee a bit in response to effectively being called old. "Thats not very nice"

"Ugh Nurse, that is the injured leg, at least slap the other one to make it even now" The Doctor states as if the situation would actually make it even though the first numbing gel still has not worn off but Illya is beginning to feel a stinging pain around the original wound. 

The nurse does so which makes Illya wince in response as she yells out. "What kind of doctor encourages his nurse to harm a patient?" 

"One who has never read an ethics book and does not work with humans most times. I primarily handle pregnancies and delivery. I have a 100% success rate across repeat patients from nearly two dozen ladies. "

"What madman gets two dozen women pregnant multiple times?" Illya is on the brink of losing it when the nurse points at the doctor and tells him to take off the headwear.

Sigh "just automatically think that the first person that comes to your head when looking at me, is not me" The doctor gives a 'helpful' reminder as he slowly takes off his goggles, protective wear and face mask. It reveals a face is an exact copy of Axel though without the starry blue hair.

"Axel Gram?"

"Well yes, but actually No. my name is Blythe, im a homunculus just like your mother miss Einzbern" The doctor explains as he was born in his creator's image. 

"So Axel Gram is here?"

"Well yes, but actually no. He is aware of what is happening here and that your here but is currently indisposed and cannot come here to meet you but we can help to deliver you to him if you wish."

"I don't really have a choice. I shall meet with Axel Gram, if nothing else but to figure out what he actually is as Homunculi are the Proprietary work of the Einzbern Family. 

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Word count: 2038

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