All of a sudden, the light begins to dim as if an eclipse had blotted out the sun.
Now that I think about it, that earlier explosion must've been Mechamaru using Ultimate Cannon. We've been standing around talking for about 30 to 40 minutes, so I imagine Hanami, Mahito, and the rest have already begun to take action. I'll have to keep playing dumb if I don't want to lose whatever rapport I've built with these two in this short time.
"Umm... is that a normal phenomenon that occurs in this dimension, or something out of the norm?" I ask while looking up at the sky, arms folded across my chest.
"It seems someone has deployed a curtain over the exchange grounds. Apparently, you're not the only intruder on campus," Todo replies.
"Wait... didn't you say I bypassed a barrier when you first saw me? If there's a barrier around here, wouldn't that also prevent enemies from coming in?"
"Yes, which is why this situation is so unusual. It should prevent any cursed spirit—or civilian—from entering school grounds."
"Just so we're all on the same page… I'd like to make it clear that I have absolutely nothing to do with this," I say, trying to dissuade any suspicion.
"I know," he answers.
"At the risk of seeming more suspicious, I'll ask one question: how can you be so sure? The timing of my abrupt arrival is so undeniably awful I wouldn't even blame you for doubting me."
"Gut feeling, mostly. Also, there's no such thing as a bad ass-man," he says matter-of-factly.
I guess I should've expected a reaction like that from the very beginning.
I let out an exasperated sigh.
"So… what's the difference between this 'curtain' above our heads and a regular barrier?" I ask casually, getting back on track.
Both the manga and anime never made a specific distinction between the two. From what I remember, you can even use binding vows on a curtain—like the one here that specifically prevents Gojo from entering, or the ones used during the Shibuya Incident. Though I don't remember if this curtain is of the standard variety or something special, or whether it required specific conditions to be used.
"Curtains are usually used to draw out cursed spirits in a particular area while keeping people out. They allow a jujutsu sorcerer to do their thing. It's just a subtype of barrier—quick to deploy and made for case-by-case use."
So every curtain is a barrier, but not every barrier is a curtain. The only real difference is visibility and how quickly or easily one can be set up...
That still leaves the question: how were they able to break in here? JJK barriers, although simple on paper, are borderline overpowered when binding vows are involved.
Though now that I think about it, didn't Gege say the reason had something to do with Hanami's unique presence as a cursed spirit? That somehow let them bypass the barrier... whatever that means. Still doesn't explain how Hanami got the others in too.
"I'd like to go into what cursed spirits are in detail, but I imagine there are more pressing matters."
"True."
"So, where are we heading?" I ask, lightly stretching.
"We? Are you sure you want to get involved? No offense, but if we encounter another sorcerer, we may not be able to guarantee your safety—from either friend or foe," Todo says, a serious look on his face.
It's true a misunderstanding is inevitable at this point. But I'd rather help and get in their good graces to make it easier to leave the school amicably.
If I try to leave now, I run the risk of encountering an on-edge Gojo outside the curtain and ending up in a pointless fight. Also, I could use a place to stay. Since I don't have an ID, that's going to be a hassle I'd rather avoid—and they could help with that.
"I can handle myself just fine, thank you very much. Also, you guys are the only people I know in this dimension. Depending on how long I stay here, I might need a place to crash, so I can't have you dying on my watch," I say with a shrug.
"Fine… but you've been warned, my friendo," he chuckles.
■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■
Without much fanfare, we start moving toward where the action is.
As we move through the forest, I quickly notice that if I don't slow down significantly, I'll easily outrun both Todo and Yuji.
These two are some of the strongest sorcerers this verse has to offer, and yet I feel like I could leave them in the dust without breaking a sweat.
I try to figure out the reason for the discrepancy as we move.
Then I remember a small detail that surface-level Fate fans often overlook as I glance at the two weapons in my hands.
When Shirou projects a weapon, he doesn't just recreate a Noble Phantasm and its abilities out of thin air. He has to understand every component that makes the item function—and he does so by tracing it.
In doing so, he gains two lesser-known advantages. The first is instinctive weapon mastery—the combat skill of the original wielder gets imprinted onto him for as long as he's projecting the weapon. This is touched on in the anime. The second, while obvious in hindsight, is something Nasu only elaborated on in the novels.
Any Fate fan worth their salt knows servants massively outclass both the peak humans and magus in both magical and physical prowess.
So here's the question: How does Emiya Shirou, a squishy high school kid with no formal training, manage to tank hits from beings who treat the environment like wet cardboard without exploding into harem protagonist flavored meat chunks?
And no—the answer isn't just "because shounen protagonist."
It's because UBW doesn't just give instinctive weapon mastery—it also temporarily replicates the stats of the servant whose Noble Phantasm he traced and projected. He basically copy-pastes their abilities onto himself.
Despite what martial arts novels will tell you, no amount of elegant technique will save you from someone who moves faster than light and shatters mountains with a casual blow.
The Fate universe runs on cold, hard rules—not coincidences. Even Kuzuki, the peak of mortal martial artists, needed Medea's buffs, surprise attacks, and the fact that both servants he faced were in a weakened state due to their masters to even land a hit. All of that and he still got easily wrecked by EMIYA once Medea was out of the playingfield.
Yet somehow Shirou, a half-assed magus with zero self reinforcement skills, manages to somehow hang with the strongest beings his world had ever know in just thirteen days.
That's right—the Fifth Holy Grail War lasted just two weeks. Even shorter than the timeline of the world where I'm currently at by a huge margin.
From zero to hero in a heartbeat.
That's how broken UBW is—even by Fate's standards.
Heck, Shirou even sucks at reinforcement—one of the techniques UBW relies on. It's like cooking a Michelin-star meal when all you know is how to boil water, and all you have is bread and ketchup.
Nasu isn't exaggerating when he goes on and on about how absurd it is that a half baked magus like Shirou could develop a Reality Marble—especially one that powerful.
It makes no damn sense...
UBW is basically plot armor in a can, limited only by Nasu's whims. It can do everything under the sun—and more.
Regardless, it looks like I'll need to keep a Noble Phantasm projected at all times.
While I've got some experience in close quarters combat, I'm not anime-level good. Until I can properly learn self reinforcement and attain a servant's level of combat skills, I won't feel safe. So I'll be keeping my head on a swivel.
Luckily, unlike Shirou, my magic circuits and energy manipulation seem to be top-tier.
...
"We've finally arrived!!!" Todo suddenly yells, then looks over at Yuji.
They nod at each other like they've just agreed on something silently, then leap forward.
They're really good at that, I think, jumping after them.
Looking around the area we landed in, I spot Megumi and Maki in the middle of a skirmish.
Crazy part is—I'm also capable of seeing Hanami standing there. Only, it's like looking at a mirage. My vision feels fuzzy, like I just woke up from a nap wearing glasses out of prescription.
Something's off. My senses pick up something weird, but they can't interpret it.
I glance to my left and see Todo holding Maki's unconscious form.
Tch… if only I'd been a little quicker, I think, not feeling jealous at all.
"Take those two and get out of the curtain," Todo says, handing Maki to Panda.
"According to Nishimiya, it's specifically designed to counter Satoru Gojo. You should be able to go in and out without a problem."
When did they even get in contact? Maybe she called him while I was spacing out...
"WAIT!!! EVEN YOU WONT—" Megumi yells before being cut off by Yuji.
"Fushiguro… don't worry," Yuji tells him calmly.
Todo joins in, and the three of them share a touching moment (?), but I block it out, keeping my eyes locked on Hanami.
Hanami just stands there like an NPC waiting for its turn to commence dialog.
Has Hanami not attacked because Kenjaku's plan doesn't call for it yet? Is it forming a strategy? Or is this just one of those anime logic moments?
Suddenly, Hanami turns and stares straight at me.
"What are you?" the cursed spirit says.
Though I didn't understand the language, the meaning came through loud and clear. An unnatural feeling creeping through the back of my mind.
"What do you mean by that?" I ask, humoring them.
"You feel different. At first, I thought you were just another heavenly restriction—like that previous child who couldn't even hear my thoughts. But now I see your presence is unlike any other human I've encountered."
"Well, I'm just a concerned citizen helping some friends out of a tight spot," I reply nonchalantly.
"Not that I have a leg to stand on, but you do realize breaking and entering is illegal, right? Then again, I guess you're past caring, considering you're also attacking students."
"..." Hanami responds with audible silence.
Still bothered by the visual distortion around Hanami, I try to think of a solution. Then it hits me.
I remove the Mystic Eye Killers and activate the Mystic Eyes of Death Perception, staring at the sky. But I'm not done.
"Trace On," I focus, beginning the tracing process immediately after.
Instantly, the world shifts. Red lines of death coat everything in my vision. The sensory overload and feeling of impending dread is intense, but I grit my teeth and focus.
I have to finish this quickly.
I'm trying to use aspects of MEoDP and UBW together—to both "perceive" and "understand" the cursed energy around me. Normally, even someone like Ryougi takes time to properly understand and adjust to complex phenomena. But if I can bypass that with meta-knowledge and tracing; I should, in theory be able to record the sensation via one of tracing's subfunctions.
If this works, I should be able to see cursed energy and spirits even without activating the Mystic Eyes.
Basically, I'm upgrading my metaphysical "software" by recording the right frequency around here through tracing and tuning myself to it.
If it works, it'll help me adapt faster to cursed energy.
But in my haste, I forgot one tiny detail.
I look back at Hanami, and as soon as my eyes meet theirs, they jump back—putting even more distance between us. Their body is trembling. Sweat covers their upper body.
"YOU ARE AN ABOMINATION TO NATURE—NO, LIFE ITSELF! WHAT DISGUSTING SORCERY HAS HUMANITY CONCEIVED TO CREATE YOU?!"
"Wow. Never thought I'd be the one to give the embodiment of nature's wrath the ick. But hey—first time for everything," I say, deactivating the Mystic Eyes.
I can see clearly now, even without them. Nice—looks like the gamble paid off.
"Anyway… isn't it time for you to start your big showdown?" I say, glancing toward Yuji and Todo.
By now, Megumi had already left, and from what I overheard, Todo already gave his Black Flash ultimatum.
Now both Yuji and Todo are standing there… staring at me like deer in headlights.