Fate/Magus Path

*Crack!!*

With the sound resembling the shattering of a mirror, the white world they were in began to crumble. The scene inside the bounded field gradually faded, and the two people who had been fiercely battling in the endless white desert finally broke free from the bounded field, returning once again to reality.

"This is the limit... It seems I still need to put more effort into the stability of my Reality Marble." Roy thought as he observed the dispersing Reality Marble.

The power and performance were decent, and the angel could handle most enemies. However, there was still much room for improvement regarding the bounded field's stability.

The months of torment he endured under Morgan were not in vain, after all. His Reality Marble had already taken shape, and now it was just a matter of reinforcing and perfecting it based on the current framework.

As he watched Aoko Aozaki, who had been smashed to the ground by the Anti-Demon Sword, stand up again, Roy couldn't help but applaud and praise her.

"Impressive. To still be so lively after taking that strike head-on, I finally witnessed the miracle of the Fifth Magic."

"Hmph, you're not so bad yourself. If you hadn't held back a bit of your power mid-air, I would be in a far worse state than I am now."

Aoko wiped her mouth, her gaze fixed on Roy, who had returned to the playground.

Earlier, she had narrowly escaped death by the Anti-Demon Sword. If she hadn't used the Fifth Magic to reverse her injuries at the last second and avoid death, her fate would have been uncertain by now.

Another factor also contributed to her miraculous recovery... the angel had held back slightly.

She could feel that the angel's true power was far greater than what it had displayed. In mid-air, it had sealed off the sky with countless light wings. If it had truly intended to kill her, it wouldn't have stopped at just one strike. A barrage of continuous firepower would have followed.

Reversing time with her magic required a few seconds, maybe even just a few breaths, but for that giant monster, it would have been more than enough time to pursue her and strike again.

So, he had held back after all...

"Shall we continue?" Aoko raised her hand, assuming a fighting stance once more.

"Let's stop here, Miss Aoko. My goal has already been achieved, and there's no need for us to continue fighting." Roy ended the battle first.

"Goal achieved?" Aoko was still a bit angry.

He had barged into her territory, shattered the grand bounded field around Misaki Town, and injured Alice. All this, just to witness the so-called Magician of the Fifth Magic and then beat her up?! Was he just bored and looking for something to do?!!

How reckless did this guy have to be to say such things? If she wasn't convinced she couldn't beat him, she'd send both him and Touko flying into space like fireworks.

"Although it's still a bit unsatisfying, the bounded field is broken. If we continue, this city won't survive the destruction caused by two Magicians." Roy continued. "Besides, I've learned quite a bit about the miracle of the Fifth Magic, and this fight has given me a new understanding of myself. Plus, I got some nice photos."

"Photos?!" Aoko was taken aback.

"If you want, I can give you a few as souvenirs." Roy pulled a few freshly taken photos from his pocket and tossed them to Aoko.

The photos depicted her being smashed to the ground by the angel of light, looking utterly messy and in a most embarrassing state.

"Ahh! Who would want to keep these as souvenirs?! Give them back!!" Aoko angrily exploded upon seeing herself in such a messy state, reacting like an angry wildcat.

However, Roy just smiled and shook his head slightly.

Those photos were promised as payment to Touko, so he couldn't return them to her. Once he handed them over to Touko, the rest was up to the sisters to sort out.

Speak of the devil and she shall appear. As soon as Roy sent the photos via phone, the mastermind behind the entire affair arrived.

"Hahahaha! Aoko, I never imagined I'd see the day when you, of all people, made such a fool of yourself. It's too embarrassing... you fell flat on your face like that!"

That annoying, unforgettable voice!!

Aoko didn't even need to guess. She immediately recognized who it was. Turning her head, she saw Touko Aozaki walking toward them, laughing all the while.

"Touko... It's been so long, and you're still as irritating as ever." Aoko gritted her teeth, speaking coldly.

"Oh my, oh my! The almighty Magician of the Fifth Magic... how did you fall so far in just a few years? To think you got beaten down like that. Wow, the Aozaki family's current Magician is truly a disgrace."

"Doesn't this just prove that the Fifth Magic passed down in the Aozaki family is no match for the Third Magic? If Grandpa found out about this, he'd be so disappointed~."

Touko transformed into a full-on troll, mercilessly mocking Aoko.

"You're amazing! I can't believe you actually beat Aoko!" Beo, who had entered alongside Touko, stared at Roy with shining eyes, full of admiration.

"It was just luck." Roy shook his head.

"She didn't give you any trouble, did she?" Shiki watched the two sisters with a resigned expression.

She had finally witnessed the toxic relationship between the Aozaki sisters firsthand. It was beyond dysfunctional.

However, recalling the terror of the battle, Shiki didn't forget to ask Roy, "Are you okay? Did you get hurt?"

"No, I actually had a lot of fun."

"That's good."

The two exchanged a brief nod.

"Alice! Are you alright? Are you hurt anywhere?"

On the other side, Aoko, relieved to see her friend reappear, rushed over to check on Alice's condition, ignoring the still-taunting Touko.

"Don't worry, Aoko. I'm fine. I just took a short nap. They didn't hurt me."

"That's good. That's good. It seems that guy kept his word. If they had harmed you, I wouldn't have let this go today." Aoko said, finally able to relax after confirming that her best friend was unharmed.

"Idiot, I was never in any real danger..." Alice chuckled softly, allowing herself to be hugged by Aoko.

After experiencing one of the most harrowing nights of her life, Alice's heart still fluttered. Looking at her friend, who had fought fiercely for her all night and now appeared disheveled and exhausted, she felt a pang of guilt.

"Stop pushing yourself, Aoko. You've already been knocked down. Are you hurt anywhere?"

"No, not at all. A fight like that can't do anything to me. I could keep going all night if I needed to."

Aoko rotated her arm and flashed a confident smile.

"That's good to hear..."

Everything seemed normal again, and it looked like Aoko was fine. Alice sighed in relief.

"My, my. You've been beaten so badly, yet you're still putting on a brave face. You were knocked down like a dog eating dirt."

"My foolish little sister, the only thing you still have going for you is that stubborn mouth of yours. Look at the sorry state you're in, hahaha!"

Touko Aozaki was nearby, throwing insults straight to Aoko's face.

Anger!

She couldn't take it anymore!!!

Dealing with this annoying person, Aoko's emotions visibly erupted. A murderous aura surged out of her, even her magical energy trembled slightly, and she quickly shifted into battle mode. Her momentum was no less intense than during the previous fight.

Then, she moved in an instant.

Aoko suddenly sprang up and dashed toward Touko at an incredible speed. Raising a fist wrapped in multiple layers of magic circles, she then...

Delivered a deliberate punch!!

Following it with a punch, she brutally smashed it into Touko's face.

The attack came so quickly that Beo didn't have time to react. Roy was still talking with Shiki and had no time to help block the punch, so Touko, who was still lost in her smugness, only felt a sharp pain in her neck.

In the brief moment of contact, the outcome between the two sisters had already been decided.

Touko's body began spinning in the air, unable to stop. She didn't have time to control her posture or plan her landing. She just kept spinning uncontrollably. Without executing a proper landing technique, she was thrown straight into the distant wall, like a spinning top launched by Aoko's punch.

*Whoosh!!*

She didn't even have time to scream. In the blink of an eye, her entire body was embedded into the wall behind her, crushed and distorted beyond recognition. It was clear that she wouldn't be getting out of there anytime soon.

"Die, Touko! I may not be able to beat that guy, but I can definitely deal with you! Don't get too cocky!!"

"..."

Watching the absurd relationship between the sisters, Roy and Shiki just shook their heads, refraining from making any comments.

"Hahaha, Touko, you're pathetic! You got taken down by Aoko so easily." Beo laughed without a trace of sorrow for his master's brutal defeat. He was laughing the hardest.

"Is she dead?"

Shiki asked, glancing at Touko's body, her neck broken, and her figure twisted beyond recognition.

"Yeah, she's definitely dead. This body is done for. She's probably already switched to a new body and is on her way back now." Roy said calmly as he cast a spell to burn the remains of Touko's puppet body.

He wasn't worried about Touko's survival.

No matter how many times she died, as long as she had a puppet body, she could come back to life fully healed. Her survival skills were comparable to a cockroach. Even if he himself died, she would still persist.

But now, it was time to move on to the next step.

"Alright, the chaos for tonight ends here. There's something I want to discuss with you, Aoko Aozaki, the Miss Blue."

"Huh? What nonsense are you talking about?"

Hearing this, Aoko became displeased.

"You've caused all this mess, and now you want to talk? If I could beat you, I'd have sent you flying like I did Touko!"

"Then let's talk after you manage to beat me." Roy replied calmly.

"What's with that smug attitude? So what if you've mastered a Reality Marble? It won't be long before I knock you down!"

Compared to the still-angry Aoko, Alice Kuonji remained more composed. She sighed and said, "If there's something you want to discuss, go ahead. You've earned that right as the victor."

"Good. Let's start with compensation."

"Compensation?"

Alice was slightly taken aback, and Aoko raised an eyebrow, her expression cold. "After causing all this trouble, who cares about your compensation?"

"I apologize for the trouble Touko has caused, but I hope you can forgive us."

"We're not enemies. In fact, from a certain standpoint, we should be allies."

Roy shook his head, then snapped his fingers. In response, Emiya Kiritsugu, who had been waiting at a designated spot, walked over with a case. He placed it in front of Aoko and opened it.

'Wow! What is this?! It's so dazzling!! My eyes can't look away!!!!'

In that instant, Aoko's eyes sharpened, and even her breathing became heavy.

Inside the case was stack after stack of British pounds, neatly arranged in the center. The sight was blinding.

Even Alice, standing nearby, was shocked by Roy's generosity.

But unlike the shameless Aoko, as a pure-blooded witch, Alice had more resistance to such temptations.

She averted her gaze and looked at Roy. "If you're only offering money..."

*Snap!*

Before she could finish speaking, Roy snapped his fingers again, and Kiritsugu brought over another black case and opened it.

"That's more like it."

"Welcome to Misaki Town, Mr. Roy. As the master of the ley lines here, if you ever need any assistance, feel free to ask."

As soon as the second case was opened, Aoko bent over before Alice could react, her earlier arrogance replaced by a tone full of respect for capital.

As for the grudge she had earlier, and the beating she took, all of that was forgotten beneath the thick stacks of cash.

Roy smiled and nodded toward Kiritsugu, who closed the case and handed it over to Aoko.

"Now, can we move to a more suitable place for a discussion? I'd like to talk about the darkness hidden within this city."

Under Aoko's fawning gaze, Alice sighed and nodded reluctantly.

"Please, lead the way, sir."

...

At the same time.

In the dark side of Misaki Town, sensing the disappearance of the Aozaki family's grand bounded field, unsettling noises emerged from the city's cold shadows. A pair of blood-red eyes suddenly opened wide.

Several human bodies, already drained and mummified, slid down from the corners, and then a few dark figures slowly rose to their feet.

Taking advantage of the pitch-black night, they stepped into the city.

"Things are about to get interesting..."

It seemed as though something was whispering in the darkness of the night.

***

Bonus Chapter:

100 Power Stones = 1 BC

300 Power Stones = 2 BC

500 Power Stones = 3 BC

700 Power Stones = 4 BC

1000 Power Stones = 5 BC

***

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