As the group slipped into the underpass, shadows danced along the concrete walls, the only sounds being their footsteps and the distant hum of decaying infrastructure. It was quiet—too quiet.
Marian kept close to Ritsuka, her rifle held firm. "This area gives me the creeps," she murmured.
Buzz!
[Warning: Movement detected ahead. Multiple signals. Camouflaged. Estimated five Raptures lying in wait.]
Ritsuka's expression hardened. "Trap up ahead. Five Raptures in ambush positions."
Rapi didn't hesitate. "Form up. Anis, suppressing fire. Marian, watch our flank. Ritsuka—stay behind us."
"No promises," he muttered, stepping to the side and keeping low.
The moment they turned the corner, the trap sprung. From the broken ceiling and shattered walls, five Raptures burst out, snarling with their mechanical limbs screeching.
Anis opened fire, her weapon lighting up the tunnel. "Well, look who called it!"
Marian pivoted and covered the rear, picking off a smaller scout unit sneaking from behind.
Ritsuka didn't waste time.
"Shadow Servants—Go."
From the darkness, two shadowy figures emerged beside him—vague forms shaped like Mash and EMIYA, though weaker than the real ones. They charged forward, blades and shields clashing with the Raptures.
Rapi's eyes widened for a fraction of a second but stayed focused. "Not what I expected… but I'll take the help."
One of the Raptures lunged toward Anis—only to be slammed back by EMIYA's blade. Another aimed for Ritsuka, but Mash's shadow form intercepted, her shield erupting in a burst of force.
The battle lasted just under a minute—but in that time, they worked like a unit.
As the last Rapture screeched and fell apart, Ritsuka let the shadows fade.
Marian looked at him. "Those… weren't human."
"No," Ritsuka admitted. "They're something else entirely."
Anis whistled. "Yeah, definitely not a normal test subject."
Rapi said nothing, her eyes scanning Ritsuka for clues.
Buzz!
[Host has gained temporary trust. Event Flag: Ark Arrival Altered. Expect deviation from canon.]
Shifty's voice then crackled back over comms. "We're opening the inner gates. You're close enough now. Don't engage anymore if you can help it."
Ritsuka wiped his brow. "Guess it's time to see this Ark for myself."
As they climbed out of the underpass, the massive doors of the Ark loomed in the distance—tall, metallic, guarded like a fortress, yet somehow… foreboding.
Rapi looked at him one last time. "Just remember, once we're in… there's no hiding anymore."
And with that, they moved forward—toward the last stronghold of mankind, and toward whatever fate awaited Ritsuka inside.
Anis looked at Ritsuka as she spoke. "Were does, part of your experiment that they put you through".
Ritsuka nodded as he let her and others believe that they made it to the ark, and after a scan was done, Ritsuka passed by the Control Panel. The Ai Chip did something, something to help Ritsuka out basically.
Meanwhile, in different places, In a room was a man; he had brown hair and tanned skin, and he was wearing a military outfit with many badges and a white tie.
[Insert image of Andersen]
Andersen was looking at Shifty through her Holographic screen as he spoke. "So, you're telling me that when the Transport ship was sent, it was attacked, the Commander there died, or anything else there, and then the group of Nikke found someone to replace their Commander, and now they are in the ark with him".
Shifty nodded as she spoke. "Yeah, pretty much".
Andersen closed his eyes as he spoke. "And then went his name through the Database, you found nothing".
Shifty then spoke. "Zero, not even a Birthday certificate"
Andersen closed his eyes as he spoke. "The hell is happening".
Andersen's fingers tapped rhythmically on the desk, the sound echoing in the sterile military office. His eyes opened, hard and calculating. He looked back at Shifty. "And none of the Nikkes questioned it?"
Shifty shrugged slightly. "Well… Anis did, a bit. But Marian and Rapi seemed to accept him, and from the reports… he's competent. Calm under pressure. Took charge like he was born for it."
Andersen stood and turned to the reinforced glass wall of his office, watching the Ark's internal activity from above. "That's what worries me. People like that don't just appear. Not in this world. Not with nothing in their files. No ID, no record, no birth, no trace."
Shifty hesitated. "There's more… During the security scan when they passed through the Ark's entry, the system flagged something odd."
"Odd how?"
"Well, for a brief moment… the system rebooted. Not crashed—rebooted. As if it was being rewritten or bypassed. But when we checked the logs—nothing. Everything looked clean."
Andersen turned slowly, his face now serious. "You're telling me he hacked our Ark's entry systems… during a standard identity scan… and wiped the logs."
"I didn't say he did it," Shifty added cautiously. "But something around him did."
Andersen narrowed his eyes. "Either we've let in a genius with a ghost file… or a time bomb wearing a smile."
He grabbed a comm device and spoke into it. "Get intel on this 'Ritsuka'. I want him monitored discreetly. Don't let him or the Nikkes know. Any interactions he has, I want logged. Every place he goes, every word he says. And Shifty…"
"Yes?"
"If he's a threat, we eliminate him before he compromises the Ark."
Shifty remained quiet as the screen blinked out.
Meanwhile, in the main city of the Ark, Ritsuka walked calmly through the crowds of engineers, soldiers, and civilian Nikkes, unaware—or perhaps very aware—that the game had already started.
Buzz!
[Host's background has been officially registered in the system. AI chip created a false profile: 'Ritsuka Fujimaru – Cryo-Test Subject Class 9 – Origin: Sector X-14'. Security clearance granted: Level 3.]
[You are now officially a ghost in the machine, Host.]
Ritsuka smirked inwardly.
"Let's see how long I can keep this charade up."
Back with the Nikke, as the Three girls were just there, wondering what to do.
Anis looked at them, as she spoke. "So now what?".
Rapi looked at her as she sighed. "Now, Simple, we will probably be called into the higher-up's Office, give our reports on what happened and why we brought someone with Zero Background data to the Arc and accepted him as our Commander".
Marian nodded slightly, her arms crossed as she leaned against the wall. "They're not going to like it. Even if he is competent."
Anis let out a groan, slumping into a nearby seat. "Great. First mission back in the field and we already dragged in a walking mystery box. I swear, if we get reassigned or stuck in debrief hell for the next week, I'm blaming you, Rapi."
Rapi shot her a flat look. "You were the one who said, and I quote, 'He's kind of hot for a mystery box.'"
Anis waved her hand. "Hey! I said that after we brought him back. Totally different context."
Marian, suppressing a smile, glanced at the hallway. "Still… he's strange. Not in a bad way. Just… too calm. Like he's used to war. Used to chaos."
Rapi's eyes narrowed slightly. "Yeah. I noticed that too. The way he scanned the area, how he assessed the situation, and even how he talked to us. It wasn't like someone who just woke up from cryo-sleep. It was like a commander used to battlefields."
Anis tapped her fingers together. "You think he's lying?"
Rapi didn't answer immediately. "I think… he's hiding something. But not in a hostile way. More like… he doesn't trust us yet."
Marian stood up. "Then maybe it's time we start figuring out who our new 'Commander' really is—before the higher-ups make that decision for us."
They all turned as a small alert chimed on their visors.
[Mission Briefing: Report to Commander Andersen's Office in 30 minutes.]
Anis sighed again. "And there it is."
Rapi nodded. "Time to see if bringing in a ghost gets us court-martialed or promoted."
They headed off—ready to face the music, and more curious than ever about the boy with no past… who might just change their future.
Location: Commander Andersen's Office, 30 Minutes Later
Ritsuka stood in the center of the room, back straight, calm expression masking the nerves below. To his side were Rapi, Anis, and Marian, lined up in full formal posture. Across from them, Commander Andersen stood behind his desk, arms folded as his sharp eyes examined the young man before him.
The silence dragged for a few seconds before Andersen finally spoke.
"Ritsuka Fujimaru… No birth record. No service number. No background. No clearance. No explanation. You see the problem here, right?"
Ritsuka nodded respectfully. "Yes, sir."
Andersen's eyes narrowed. "Then explain to me why three of my top Nikkes decided to bring in someone whose existence isn't even registered in the Ark's system, and worse—put you in the role of their Commander?"
Before Ritsuka could speak, Rapi stepped forward. "Sir. If I may."
Andersen raised an eyebrow but gave a short nod. "Go on."
Rapi continued. "When we found him, the Transport Ship had already been wiped out. No survivors except him. He had no memory of who he was or how he got there, claiming cryo-sleep and experimental status. But…"
She hesitated slightly before finishing. "...He acted like a soldier. He issued clear orders, he coordinated with us, and he kept us alive. If it weren't for him, we likely wouldn't have made it back at all."
Andersen looked between the three girls. "And you all agree?"
Anis shrugged. "I mean, he's weird, but he's got that 'I've seen some shit' aura. Kinda hard to fake."
Marian nodded. "He's calm under fire. Tactical. Not afraid to risk himself to protect others."
Andersen turned his gaze back to Ritsuka, clearly unconvinced but thoughtful. "I've had enough men fake valor to know that actions don't always match truth. Still…"
He tapped a few keys on his terminal. "You passed through the Ark's biometric scan and auto-registration. That… shouldn't have been possible without a complete file."
Ritsuka didn't respond, but inside, he heard the AI Chip buzzing softly.
[I interfered with the system briefly. Minor edits to ensure Host wasn't flagged.]
Andersen sighed, rubbing his temples. "I don't like mysteries, kid. But the girls are vouching for you, and right now we're down a commander. So here's what's going to happen."
He leaned forward, eyes hard. "You'll be assigned to the same squad. Provisional status. One slip, and you're out. Step out of line, and you're in a cell. Am I clear?"
Ritsuka nodded. "Crystal, sir."
Andersen turned to the Nikkes. "Same for you three. He screws up—so do you. Dismissed."
As they filed out of the room, Anis muttered under her breath, "Well… that went better than expected."
Ritsuka glanced at the hallway ahead, his expression unreadable.
In his mind, he spoke. "Alright. What's the next step?"
[Host has gained temporary trust. Recommend scanning Ark systems quietly. Begin laying groundwork. Build influence. Protect allies. And survive.]
[Next objective: Unlock Ark map. Begin analysis of sectors and potential threats.]
Anis looked at him as she spoke. "So, New Commander, what do you wanna do now".
Ritsuka looked at them, as he spoke. "Will, I was exploring the Ark, before I was called with you girls".
Marian smiled at him as she spoke. "Then why don't we show you around the Ark fully we have lived here our whole Life".
Ritsuka looked as he spoke. "Yeah, that will be great". He then spoke in his head. "Plus, it helps me understand more about this place fully and see if there is a way to get back to my universe".
The girls smiled at his response, and Anis casually slung an arm around Ritsuka's shoulder with a teasing smirk.
"Well then, Rookie Commander, welcome to hell—I mean, the Ark."
Marian giggled at that while Rapi rolled her eyes, but she smiled softly. "Come on. We'll start with the basics—residential zones, hangars, supply stations, and… unfortunately, the bureaucracy."
As the group walked through the metallic corridors of the Ark, Ritsuka quietly took everything in. The AI chip pinged softly, scanning structures, tech interfaces, even gathering encrypted data in the background.
[Scanning complete. Ark structure: 47% mapped. Current data indicates multiple closed-off zones. Energy readings fluctuating in Sector 12. Probability of underground facility: 83%. Recommend future investigation.]
[Note: No immediate trace of dimensional energy or interdimensional rifts detected. Escape probability: 4.2% at present.]
Ritsuka kept a neutral expression as they passed by crowds of other Nikkes and personnel. The city felt both alive and suffocating—steel and desperation making up its very bones.
They arrived at a high balcony that overlooked the inner city of the Ark—a glowing dome of artificial sky, with buildings stacked upon buildings, walkways crisscrossing like a cybernetic spiderweb.
Marian pointed out places below. "Down there is the central plaza. There's a library, mess hall, training rooms. Most of us Nikkes live in the eastern sector."
Anis leaned on the rail. "And the west sector's for the higher-ups, the scientists, the suits who never step outside and still act like they own the world."
Ritsuka nodded slowly. "And the Command Center?"
Rapi pointed to a towering structure near the heart of the Ark. "There. It controls mission deployment, radar sweeps, rapture monitoring… and a few other things they don't tell even us."
The AI Chip chimed again in his mind.
[Multiple high-encryption firewalls detected. Command Center classified as Restricted. Possible data vault within. Recommend infiltration once access is granted.]
Ritsuka smiled to the girls. "Thanks for this. It's… good to get the lay of the land."
Anis gave him a mock salute. "Anytime, Commander. You're one of us now."
But Ritsuka's mind was elsewhere.
"One of you, huh? No… I'm still from another world. But I'll play the part—for now."
Back in Andersen's office, he was looking at a Woman, she had fair skin and black hair being styled, and she was wearing an all-white outfit with red markings with a coat on her back that looked like it was a cape
[Insert image of Ingrid]
Andersen looked at her as he spoke. "That is everything".
Ingrid looked at him as she spoke. "And what do you want me to do".
Andersen looked at her, as he raised an eyebrow. "You run the training for the Nikke and Commander; Tomorrow is a training day, so".
Ingrid closed her eyes and exhaled slowly, her voice cold but composed. "So, you want me to evaluate a complete unknown—someone with no background, no record, and no proof of command qualification."
Andersen nodded. "Exactly. You're the best drill officer in the Ark. If he's fake or weak, you'll know."
She opened her eyes, sharp and calculating. "If he's a threat?"
Andersen's eyes narrowed. "Then handle it. Quietly. We don't need chaos right now. Morale's already fragile enough."
Ingrid gave a small, knowing smirk. "Understood. I'll make sure the new 'Commander' earns that title… or breaks trying."
She turned on her heel and walked out, her heels echoing against the cold steel floor. The crimson markings on her coat flared under the hallway lights as if they were alive.
Andersen leaned back in his chair, fingers steepled under his chin.
"Whoever you are, stranger… tomorrow, we'll see what you're really made of."
To be continued
Hope people like this ch and give me power stones and enjoy