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Evening,
Chamber of Greater Grail
Terrifying red-black magical fluctuations thundered around Dark Sakura as she levitated midair, the Greater Grail's husk looming in her background like an ancient evil god.
A grand magical circle was flashing with multicolored light on the ground beneath her feet.
On the circle's boundary stood Ainz Ooal Gown, Kirei Kotomine, Gilgamesh, and Betty Shaw, in the north, east, west, and south places.
Their lips kept moving as if they were chanting some ancient ritual.
With their every word, Sakura's entire body kept jolting, tiny bolts of red lightning electrocuting her.
Away from the ritual, Saber Alter stood dutifully, holding her sword, its tip pointed toward the ground.
Not far from her, Lancer eyed the diabolical ritual with a frown on his face.
Suddenly, with a massive, rattling thunder, Sakura's red and black striped dress flailed as if a storm was raging under her feet.
The strips lashed out like the hands of a drowning man.
However, just as they reached the boundary of the magic circle, an invisible boundary reflected them.
Screams rang across the vast chamber, Sakura's eyes rolling back into her head, her white hair flailing like it had lives of its own.
Then, as if an implosion had occurred, all the red-black lightning collapsed upon itself… before entering Sakura's body.
Instantly, the red-black striped dress — which was also Sakura's Magic Circuits — which was also a Bounded Field — and which was also what made Sakura… The Shadow… disappeared.
A naked Sakura fell on the ground with a thud.
With a wave of Overload's hand, a black shroud covered her body.
The four, still standing at their positions, looked at the passed-out girl.
"That's some spell…" Kirei mentioned, sweat dripping from his chin. "… Are you sure this will work?"
"It better work," Gilgamesh warned. "Or you will have to pay to make me overexert myself…"
"Kekeke…" Betty Shaw cackled, barely holding himself up amongst these monsters. "… The spell sucked a third of my life essence… Cough!"
The Evil Betty Shaw wasn't a Contestant.
There was no concept of losing HP that could be recovered later for him.
This lost life essence, which had made him cough blood, would never return, becoming a nutrient for the Lich's spell.
"It will work," Ainz Ooal Gown replied confidently. "Together, we are far stronger than our enemies… But we cannot take the War to them. We do need this girl's other half, though, to manifest the Greater Grail in the end. So, if we can't take her by force, then…"
Kirei grinned. "… make her come here by herself."
…
A few hours later,
[
Contestant Kai D. Stormborn, you have been affected by a Curse
Effect: Luck -10
Time Limit: 1 minute
…
Luck: -1
]
Black threw himself up, his eyes widening.
For the first time after commanding Selene to use Unlucky Gossip on himself, his Luck had gone into minus.
"What?" Medea asked meekly, lying next to him on the bed. "What happened?"
"Be prepared…" Black warned, the entire world pressing onto him. "Something bad…"
With a bang, the door to their bedroom threw open.
It was the homunculus maid, Sella. "You need to see this!"
Black and Medea hurriedly arrived at the Great Hall, Shirou, Rin, Saber, Archer, Assassin, Sakura, and Rider storming in as well.
On the large TV screen in front of them, a reporter was reporting the recent news.
"Tonight, around 10:00 pm, there was a massive blackout near the Shinto station," he reported. "The police have also received multiple reports about people suddenly vanishing from where they were standing…"
A chill ran down Shirou and Rin's spines.
"It's…" Rin began.
"… The Shadow…" Black finished. "She must be refueling herself by… eating people…"
Rin gasped, and Shirou's eyes widened.
On the other hand, Black frowned inwardly, not sensing any bad luck in all this. He looked at Sakura from the corner of his eye. She was as unnerved by this development as Shirou and Rin. Perhaps, a touch more.
He noticed his Luck had already gone up by 5 points, becoming 4 now. Still, there was no denying that the Luck had become negative… Is it related to the news article I read…
"It could still be out." They all looked at Shirou, who hadn't looked away from the TV screen, which now put the number of disappeared people above a hundred.
Shirou looked at Black. "The Shadow could still be out."
After the stalemate this morning, the two parties had come to a decision.
Assassin would lend his strength in going after The Shadow, buying a chance for Caster to use her Noble Phantasm on her.
Meanwhile, Berserker, Saber, and Rider would be responsible for holding back Saber Alter.
Counting on the Ruler-Class Servant to hold back Gilgamesh, Black, Shirou, and Rin would go after the Greater Grail itself, using Archer's help.
As Black had already told them about Kirei's true nature and his wish to end the world, they knew they would need to contend against him and Lancer.
There were still many unknown variables, though.
Like the evil enemy that had annihilated Einzbern Castle.
However, Black had told them that the tenth Servant would take care of this unknown enemy.
Planning all this and going over everything repeatedly throughout the day, they had decided to strike the enemy preemptively tomorrow night.
Who knew The Shadow would set itself loose on the city tonight itself?!
Black didn't want to do it.
The minus value of his Luck still prickled the back of his neck.
Yet, as Shirou looked at him, demanding him to stand up to the conditions of their alliance, he had no choice but to nod.
"… Let's go," Black declared. "If The Shadow has indeed come out, then it means it is at its weakest."
Nodding, Shirou and Rin hurriedly conversed with their Servants.
Black shared a look with Medea, making her disappear as well.
Suddenly, just as they were about to leave, Black stopped, making everyone stop as well.
Black looked at Sakura, who was readying herself to go along with them. "… You should remain here."
"No!" Sakura gasped. "I…"
"He's right," Shirou said. "The Shadow might go berserk if it sees you…"
"The Castle is layered under many Bounded Fields," Black said. "Also, Sella and Leysritt will be with you. If we need you, we can call you anytime using Caster."
"But…" Sakura stuttered. Then, sighing, she nodded. "Take care. Rider…"
Rider smiled at Sakura before storming out with the other Servants, determined to kill The Shadow once and for all.
Only the two maids and Sakura remained standing in the hall.
"We will bring some snacks for you," Sella said, going to the kitchen with Leysritt.
Behind them, in the Grand Hall, Sakura stood quiet —
— her faint shadow behind her… glitching nonstop.
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