Fate: How About a New Savior?

As soon as Shiomi finished speaking, the Automata that had collapsed onto the ground stood up from the grass with a grotesque, twisting motion. Not even a human could rise like that.

"Touko, step back."

Shiomi launched himself forward, charging at the blade-wielding Automata barehanded.

They clashed three times. His hands moved like forged weapons, tracing the arc of a sword's swing, colliding with the Automata's linear strikes at incredible speed.

Touko watched silently from where she stood. After years apart, she was once again convinced—Shiomi had grown even stronger.

To engage a weapon-wielding Automata in close combat with nothing but bare hands... it was already a feat that placed him above most Magus.

After a brief exchange, the Automata crouched low in silence. It had recognized that Shiomi wasn't a target it could easily eliminate and began transitioning to its next phase.

What came next defied imagination.

Its limbs split further, sprouting sharp blades. Even its previously refined face suddenly cracked open, revealing multiple new eyes.

"Three heads and six arms..." Shiomi muttered, watching the transformation as he slowly drew a golden dagger from his coat.

It was the "Erosion." After returning from Blackmore Village, Morgan had entrusted it to Shiomi, telling him to keep it on hand for self-defense.

The term "three heads and six arms" symbolized a divine attribute—omniscience and omnipresence. The most famous legend was that of Nezha, the Third Lotus Prince.

Of course, Nezha also had a more advanced form with three heads and eight arms—but that had nothing to do with this situation.

"Seems like this one won't go down easily. Want me to jump in?"

Touko asked, arms crossed, calmly watching Shiomi.

"Can you keep up with me, or with that thing?"

Shiomi reversed his grip on the Erosion and leapt forward, just as the Automata sprang up.

The Automata's speed had clearly increased—but Shiomi adjusted instantly to match it.

Taking down this Automata wouldn't be difficult. What filled Shiomi's mind now was suspicion.

Was this thing part of the forest's automatic defense system? Or had someone connected to Iselma secretly activated it to launch an attack on him and Touko?

He needed to uncover the truth behind it.

From the moment the Princess of Gold arrived, Shiomi had sensed something off about the Twin Tower. And when he discovered her corpse earlier that morning, that uneasy feeling solidified.

It felt like his invitation to Iselma's social event had been part of a scheme from the very beginning.

Now, Shiomi's biggest question was—

Was this conspiracy aimed at him personally, or at Valualeta, the force backing him?

In the span of just a few seconds, he and the Automata clashed seventeen times, golden dagger against blades.

Even with six blades, it wasn't enough to trouble Shiomi.

After all, even the King of Heroes, who had once opened dozens of treasure vaults and unleashed countless Noble Phantasms at him, had failed to bring him down.

The clash with the Automata shook the entire forest—

Wind blades tore through the dense mist, slicing leaves from the trees. Even the falling leaves were cut apart mid-air.

"It seems that this alone is not enough to lure out the mastermind behind this," Shiomi said as he returned to Touko.

Touko's cigarette was less than half smoked, and she tapped the ash off it.

"Go ahead. If anything goes wrong, I'll help you fix it as compensation."

"That's what I wanted to hear."

Shiomi replied cheerfully, then rushed out.

...

"Okay, that's it."

In the thick fog, a soft clapping sound rang out.

Shiomi abruptly stopped, and the Automata froze.

He looked ahead into the dense fog, where a figure about 1.6 meters tall spoke those words.

The mist concealed the person's appearance, but Shiomi could make out that they wore a robe that reached below the knees, with hair even longer, almost trailing to the ankles. It was a petite young girl.

In an instant, Shiomi's internal alarm hit its highest level.

The voice sounded familiar, but he couldn't quite place it.

The tone, though—that was even more familiar.

Before Shiomi could turn back to warn Touko to retreat, a boundless darkness spread out from the figure, and in the blink of an eye, Shiomi was engulfed in it. The feeling of grass and soil beneath his feet vanished, replaced by the sensation of drifting in an endless sea.

"Who are you...?" Shiomi tensed, every muscle in his body tightening.

He couldn't move, as if something had locked him in place, rendering him unable to react.

"It's been nine years since we last greeted each other like this... No, almost ten now."

The petite voice came from behind him—but the next moment, it came from above.

"As expected of a Magus from the Land of Shadows. You completed the task I assigned without a hitch."

Then, she suddenly appeared before Shiomi.

Even in the pitch-black void, he could vaguely make out her silhouette.

She wore a white blouse and black skirt, with a red ribbon tied in a bow at the collar, a wide-sleeved trench coat, and knee-high socks. Her purple hair was impossibly long, cascading like a waterfall.

Cute and dangerous. That was the first description that came to Shiomi's mind.

Shiomi forced himself to speak.

"You... don't seem like a 'system'... Who are you?"

"Good question. But let me correct you—I am indeed a 'system,' just one that's more advanced and exceptional than humans. Don't get it wrong next time."

This time, the girl appeared behind Shiomi, and something like a pointer landed near his shoulder.

With every sentence she spoke, her position shifted.

It was as if she were casually strolling through this space, freely changing her location at will.

In that moment, Shiomi understood why he was immobilized.

Authority.

Something beyond the miracles a human could wield.

It had dragged him out from the forest's fog barrier and sealed all his movements.

"What do you want?" Shiomi asked.

"To be honest, I don't want anything!" the girl said in a voice that sounded pouty.

"Then why did you show up? Isn't sending messages directly into my mind like before enough?" Shiomi asked.

"Of course I came to check on our Magus. To see whether he's been slacking off and letting his combat skills rust while staying off the front lines," the girl said, lightly tapping her palm with her pointer. "As for meeting in person like this? That's because none of your enemies are strong enough. Our Magus has zero sense of urgency right now~."

Her tone shifted constantly—one moment arrogant, the next pitiful, then like a troublesome neighbor girl.

But there was no doubt she was putting on an act—and thoroughly enjoying it.

...

(90 Chapters Ahead)

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