[Materialization complete. Please receive.]
A soft rustling filled the air as the treasures scattered on the ground dissolved into countless specks of light. Beams stretched out from the void, weaving together like a skilled craftsman at work. At last, an ancient sheathed sword took shape and settled into Haru's hands.
"It's so light… almost like a feather," Haru said, surprised. He drew the blade slowly.
Shing!
A glint flashed through the darkness.
The hilt was pure white, the guard a deep black, and the blade glowed a faint dark red under the streetlight. The sword's blade alone stretched over seventy centimeters, with its full length reaching about a hundred to a hundred and ten centimeters; a classic tachi with a gentle curve. A subtle shimmer ran along the edge.
Even Haru, no expert in swords, could see it was a work of art.
The StarGate's voice spoke up: [Muramasa, the demon blade. Not the one from history, but a second-generation version made with similar methods and rarer materials. Unlike the original, it's free of the 'master-killing' curse and carries a mystical trait: its strength and weight grow with the flow of magical energy.]
Haru tested it, sending magic into the blade. It hummed faintly, and patterns like magic circuits flared along the edge. The weight shifted, becoming heavier than an ordinary sword.
Before, it had felt like a feather; now, it had real presence. Both its look and feel marked it as an exceptional weapon, though maybe a bit much for him right now. With his current height, he'd have to sling it across his back, letting it drag. Drawing it would mean reaching over his shoulder or tossing the sheath aside.
In anime, tossing the sheath looked stylish, but the idea of picking it up later ruined the appeal for Haru.
As he sighed over his size, a strange sensation tugged at his head, like someone pulling a strand of hair upward. He touched his bangs and found a single, stubborn strand standing tall.
"Hey… what's this?"
[The Saber Radar.]
"I know it's an ahoge! But why a radar?"
Haru knew what it was; a cute quirk he'd seen before… but he was a boy!
'Well, maybe that's not so bad…'
[The Saber Radar combines search, warning, navigation, and intuition functions. It's a rare, high-level tool, worth about three Muramasa blades. Most of the treasures went into trading for it.]
Haru nearly yanked it out in annoyance but stopped after hearing that.
"Why does it have to be an ahoge? Couldn't I get something like a Dragon Ball radar?"
[The StarGate creator's deemed the ahoge the driving force of human progress; a supreme treasure, a symbol of faith and loyalty!]
"…"
Haru muttered, "Your creator's probably a Saber fanboy."
Despite his complaints, the Saber Radar proved useful.
It tugged him in the right direction, guiding his turns with a clear pull. When danger neared, it warned him early, letting him dodge in time.
"Hm?"
A slight sting pricked his scalp. Haru ducked behind some debris. Four or five seconds later, a dark shape slithered past.
"More monsters in the sewers… Am I getting close to Caster's workshop?"
Ryuunosuke and his Servant had picked the underground for a reason. Japan's sewers were wide and sprawling, built to handle floods and double as shelters. Navigating this maze while avoiding monsters and traps was no small feat.
Haru was thankful for the radar. Without it, he'd have been spotted already.
Suddenly, the ahoge twitched and grew warm. Haru paused; 'This is new.'
If it wasn't a danger signal, then maybe...He lowered his voice: "Is someone there? I'm not an enemy."
A faint sound came from the left, like someone scrambling to hide.
Haru's hopes rose. He moved closer, saying, "Uncle? Auntie? It's me, Haru. Don't be afraid."
"…Haru?" A weak voice answered.
It was soft, but Haru knew it was Rias's mother. Relief washed over him, and he hurried forward. Moonlight spilled through a drain, lighting up the couple.
He froze, then anger surged inside him.
The Kamizukis were bloodied and battered, but that wasn't the worst of it; Uncle Kamizuki's left arm was missing!
He lay unconscious, his left shoulder a ruin of torn flesh and bone.
"Haru… why are you here? Run! Get out! There are monsters everywhere! We can't move, but you can escape!" Mrs Kamizuki urged, her face tight with fear.
Haru swallowed his rage and asked, "Auntie, can you still move?"
"…I'm okay, but your uncle… Forget that. Haru, go! If you stay, the monsters will find us!" Kamizuki Ryouko had been hiding with her unconscious husband, barely evading notice.
She didn't question Haru's presence; she just wanted him safe.
"Calm down, Auntie. I'll lead the way. You carry Uncle and follow me. We'll all get out!"
Haru wished he could carry his Uncle himself, but his small frame would only drag him, making noise. He had to count on Ryouko.
"Haru, you're brave, but with us, you won't make it. We'll all die here! Go alone. Just… take care of Rias. Don't let her hurt too much…"
"Auntie!" Haru nearly shouted. "Trust me! We're all getting out alive!"
He grabbed her hand, his warmth steadying her. She saw the determination in his eyes and, after a moment, nodded. "Alright, let's escape together!"
As a trained police officer, she pulled herself together fast. She lifted her husband onto her back and followed Haru carefully.
She wondered how Haru found them and what the sword at his side was, but now wasn't the time. She pushed the thoughts down.
Soon, she noticed Haru moved almost silently, his breathing steady.
It was a sign of his growing skill with the sword, though he hadn't noticed it himself.
Suddenly, Haru stopped and waved her to hide. She slipped into the shadows. Moments later, a sea monster the size of a calf lumbered by.
When it passed, Ryouko let out a breath, then stared at Haru, amazed at how he'd sensed it.
They kept going like this, pausing and moving, until after about thirty minutes, they spotted the exit!
They climbed out, found a safe spot before Ryouko set her husband down. She pulled a walkie-talkie from her belt and pressed it, hearing static.
"Thank goodness, it's working! Underground, it wouldn't respond at all…"
Haru figured Caster's workshop had blocked the signal.
"Auntie, we need to call a hospital. Uncle needs help soon!"
Uncle Kamizuki's wounds were bad; heavy blood loss and likely poison. Without fast treatment, he wouldn't survive.
Ryouko nodded and started calling. Just then, Haru felt heat in his head, his ahoge twitching hard, as if something was closing in.
He gulped. Even the big sea monster hadn't caused this reaction. This felt like… a Servant!
They must have sensed his magic and were coming for him.
Trying to stay calm, he said, "Auntie, stay with Uncle. I have something to do."
Ryouko's instincts, and she grabbed his arm. "Haru, what are you doing?"
He clenched his jaw, shook her off, and ran without a word. She wanted to chase him but couldn't leave her husband. She could only watch him vanish.
—--------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Damn it, meeting all these legends in one night. I should've bought a lottery ticket!"
Seeing lightning flash in the sky, Haru cursed under his breath and sped up. He had to draw whoever it was away from the Kamizukis.
Thunder rumbled as Zeus's divine bulls pulled a chariot overhead.
"Hey, kid, lost?" A rugged man landed in front of Haru, grinning wide.