Anime: Fight Sukuna at the beginning?

The desolate battlefield.

The moment his subordinate made a move to swing their blade, the [Ghost of the Battlefield] captured the technique used, thanks to his experience from life.

After experiencing [Li Shuwen]'s extremely destructive [Godspeed's Spiraling Spear], which blew away a row of houses like paper products,

a vast, empty 'desert' appeared around Toshihizo Hijikata.

This 'desert' was precisely his reliance, allowing his subordinate to 'strike first'.

In this 'desert' with an unobstructed view, any intention of the opponent would become completely transparent.

If they were to launch a surprise attack, he would detect it before their proud steps of shrinking the ground covered the distance, and the blade in their hand approached his neck.

He would then be able to calmly respond.

Therefore, Toshihizo Hijikata had absolute, almost blind confidence in dealing with this strike from his subordinate.

He pulled the trigger of his old musket, firing two bullets that had reached the rank of [B+] Noble Phantasms, thanks to the massive boost gained under controlled low blood levels.

Skillfully blocking some of the opponent's key points, delaying their thrusting speed,

his face twisted into a grimace as he stated an absolute truth.

"I don't need a [Noble Phantasm] to deal with your weak attack!!"

After enduring [Li Shuwen]'s attack, he faintly sensed that the [Undying Scar] skill granted by his Master had changed.

In addition to [consuming a certain amount of health to resist and negate damage the body should receive], 'adaptation' had brought him a new effect: [increased resistance to 'momentum', 'domains', and thrusting attacks].

Naturally, his subordinate's ultimate skill, the three nearly simultaneous thrusts of [Nameless Three-Stage Thrust], were included.

Sure enough, the next moment, although he didn't see the opponent's approaching figure,

he felt the sensation of a blade piercing his chest, lower body, and abdomen.

As he expected, these three thrusts were rendered 'ineffective' by the combination of [consuming a certain amount of health to resist and negate damage the body should receive] and the [Type-A Heroic Spirit束縛Equipment]'s ability to absorb magical power from the earth to restore his body.

"Your sword is fast, but too weak."

However, the next moment, Toshihizo Hijikata's eyes widened instantly.

Suddenly, his heartbeat accelerated sharply, and his body became heavier.

Instinct told him that he was now in a perilous state.

He looked at Souji Okita, who was standing still, having completed the sword swing and unleashed a sword light that radiated boundless, unobstructed, and immeasurable aura, as if it could illuminate all worlds. A sense of unease suddenly arose in his heart.

But not because of the sword, which faintly radiated the meaning of repelling the world.

[I clearly saw her starting stance for [Shrinking Ground] and [Nameless Three-Stage Thrust], and I felt the blade touching my body.]

[But why is she still in place?]

Although he still had doubts in his heart, he was prepared.

After squeezing out the few magical powers of his Master, he once again activated the [Shinsengumi - Undying Sincerity], which had evolved to the B+ rank [Noble Phantasm].

At the same time, he uttered words with a touch of fanaticism.

"Standing cunningly in place?

"Then let this subordinate of mine witness my undying [Shinsengumi]."

"[Shinsengumi], charge with me!!!"

As the flag engraved with the character for 'Sincerity' appeared above his head, an even stronger effect of [delaying damage settlement as long as the damage does not exceed a certain limit] was attached to his body.

He, who had begun to lose his mind at the cost, recklessly welcomed the brilliant sword light that was almost repelling him from the world, and drew his katana.

Taking the [Shinsengumi], which initially consisted of only him, and ultimately only him, he launched a reckless assault, as he had charged at firearms in his life.

"Draw sword—charge—ooh!"

"This is! My undying Shinsen! Gumi!!!"

As his flesh collided with the brilliant sword light that faintly radiated the meaning of repelling the world, he staggered on the surface.

In reality, he had forcibly 'eaten' the sword light by relying on his body, almost reaching the damage limit that [Noble Phantasm] could withstand.

Toshihizo Hijikata, who had lost most of the flesh from his chest, roared as if nothing had happened, in order to dispel the perception called 'pain' that clung to his body.

"The flag of Sincerity is immortal—slay!

"Advance! Slay—!! Advance!!

"I am! The Shinsen!!! Gumi!!!"

However, to his surprise, the opponent still didn't make any move to dodge his close-range assault.

Instead, she swung her sword again, contrary to his understanding.

Even though it was the moment when the sword swing ended, Toshihizo Hijikata clearly felt that a second pair of hands wielding the sword had appeared on the opponent's body, helping her complete the sword swing.

[But where is the sword light?]

-

The next moment, the world, which had completed a vertical cut in his eyes and was finally divided into two halves that turned into bubbles, vanished.

And the flag above his head, which had disappeared because the death of the Heroic Spirit could not maintain [Undying Sincerity].

Also, his body, which he sensed had not advanced a few steps, had fallen to the ground where the cracks were constantly expanding, split in half along his nose like a peeled peanut shell, emitting a dull collision sound, and then turned into the spiritual foundation of the Holy Grail, told him a strange fact.

That sword had already struck and killed him in advance when the brilliant sword light touched his body.

It was just that the sword under the brilliant sword light seemed too silent, and so fast that it was enough to deceive the human body's perception, and it also came with strange illusions.

This led to the fact that even though this sword had achieved the goal of killing the enemy, it still allowed him to think for a while in the illusion like a 'brain in a vat', against physiological rules.

He had actually died several seconds ago.

[Has she become this strong? Completely freed herself from and walked out of [Weakness], becoming the ideal self she could have become.]

[It's completely different from the fragility when we deceived her, concealed the news of her companions' successive deaths, and allowed her to concentrate on recuperation.]

[She is truly dazzling and impossible to look at now; she no longer needs my help.]

Only at the very end, on the verge of returning to the Throne of Heroes and getting rid of the influence of [Mad Enhancement].

Toshihizo Hijikata still didn't want to lose to his subordinate.

Therefore, he simply relied on his remaining will and uttered one last, rather tough sentence.

"Subordinate, remember this well.

"Although you won, it was just a fluke.

"If you give me a few more days, with the support of the Master's ability, I, Toshihizo Hijikata, will never lose to you."

-

After uttering this 'unconvinced' remark, the Servant began to gradually disappear and return to the Throne of Heroes like a deflated balloon.

Only leaving behind a sentence that was not finished, but mysteriously echoed in the ears of the swordswoman.

"Everyone should be happy for you to come out and become such a perfect figure.

"Don't feel sad for killing me; I won't die; as long as I'm still here, the Shinsengumi is immortal…of…"

The swordswoman looked at Toshihizo Hijikata, who had already turned into spiritual matter, and felt a lot heavier, apart from the joy of winning the [Command Seal] for Fang Yi.

She said softly in a voice that only she could hear.

"Vice Commander Hijikata, I'm not the only one who hasn't come out.

"The Shinsengumi has already perished, but you are still obsessed with it."

After expressing some incomprehension of her superior's thoughts, she objectively evaluated herself.

"Also, I have not become the perfect figure you mentioned, and I don't know how to become such a person."

"If I were to describe my state in words, it would be [a fragile heart has never changed, only the person has become stronger]."

Just looking at the sword in her hand, sensing the body that had gotten rid of the influence of weakness, and savoring the experience of borrowing the man's skills.

The swordswoman, who would not show other expressions during battle, smiled very happily.

[But rather than becoming the perfect self, I hope to become stronger and fight with him to the end.]

[This is my simple wish entrusted to the [Holy Grail] but does not need to be realized by the [Holy Grail], just entrusted to myself and realized by my own hands.]

She sheathed her sword, switched back to combat mode, and walked towards Kirei Kotomine, the only person who could still stand in the field.

At this moment, she was preparing to pretend to be a wild Heroic Spirit whose Master did not participate in the meeting, and 'consult' with this Master about the procedure for receiving additional [Command Seals].

In order to obtain some additional help for the man.

—

Kirei Kotomine's first reaction after seeing the swordswoman casually swing a sword and kill the Berserker who had stumped many 'executors' and caused Li Shuwen's [No Second Strike] to return in defeat was.

[Am I seeing things?]

[The power of that sword from the Servant whose [Noble Phantasm] is only B rank actually surpassed Master Li!]

He, who rarely had any emotional fluctuations, rarely doubted whether his eyes were normal.

After confirming that the function of his eyes was normal, he immediately began to think about whether everything that happened before him was real.

He even wondered if someone had cast a [illusion] on him, like the one that [Merlin] in the legend possessed, which was enough to confuse the real with the fake.

But when Li Shuwen beside him took the fur collar cloak that was almost slipping from his hand, he realized one thing.

[Everything just now was real.]

It was not until this time that he accepted the fact that [the undying Servant] was cut down by the weak swordswoman with 'one sword'.

Then, the thought [is this swordswoman in a 'weak' period, should I take the opportunity to get rid of her?] emerged in his heart.

After observing the other party walking towards him, he felt a chill all over his body as soon as this thought arose.

His feet also trembled involuntarily like a sieve.

[What is she going to do? Does she have the ability to read minds and perceive my thoughts?]

[For safety's sake, I must keep my distance from her.]

However, after the brain repeatedly transmitted the [move] command to the thighs several times, he still failed to make himself, who was shaking all over, move his feet.

At this moment, he was firmly stuck to the ground like a nail attached to a magnet, and could no longer move.

Looking at the swordswoman who was getting closer and closer to him, Kirei Kotomine could not help but feel a bit of despair in his eyes.

-

However, the next moment, the 'magnetic force' that bound him disappeared.

"Are you that old man's Master?

"What is the procedure for receiving [Command Seals]? I heard from an 'Executor' that there are [Command Seals] for participating in the war to kill this Servant."

Kirei Kotomine was stunned when he heard these words, and then quickly reacted.

"She won't kill me?"

"She won't kill me!!"

Realizing this, he felt that his body had been 'reborn'.

He could move.

Before he could respond, Li Shuwen, who was wearing a fur collar cloak, walked to his side and uttered words that made Kirei Kotomine's heart tremble.

"Although your 'one sword' is a bit cunning and a bit floating, even I have to say it's not bad.

"You have the qualifications to fight me, but you."

Before Li Shuwen could finish speaking, the swordswoman waved her hand and stopped the other party's words that had not yet been uttered, as if driving away a fly.

"Pause for a moment, I have a question to ask your Master now."

Ignoring Li Shuwen, she very simply asked Kirei Kotomine again.

"Can you tell me how to receive the [Command Seals] as a reward after killing the target of the [Holy Church]? This Master."

Looking at the swordswoman with a cold face and her hand already touching the long sword at her waist.

Although he realized that with Li Shuwen by his side, he should have no worries about his life.

But at this moment, he still honestly gave the answer.

"Go to the church and ask Risei Kotomine."

As soon as the words fell, before Li Shuwen could put on the pose of an expert and pretend to be a senior, the swordswoman moved and disappeared in front of everyone, leaving only a cold sentence.

"No interest, I have no reason to fight you."

She couldn't wait to get that [Command Seal] for the man.

-

Li Shuwen looked at the swordswoman who disappeared in front of his eyes in just a moment, first moved his wrist.

Then he seriously responded to the words dropped by the other party.

"It doesn't matter, when the old man captures your Master.

"At that time, whether to fight or not will not be up to you!"

Li Shuwen felt that this plan was foolproof.

[Servant is stronger than Master, this is common sense.]

[It is impossible for the other party's Master to be stronger than this Heroic Spirit!]

The old man thought so.

—

In mid-air.

Tokiomi Tohsaka, who had fully witnessed the entire battle process, sighed in his heart.

The Tohsaka family's 'spiritual land' finally stopped the decline when it shrank to half of its original size.

It can only be said that it was the luckiest of misfortunes.

Looking at the swordswoman who disappeared from his sight, the unease that had been born in his heart since Fang Yi's appearance expanded again.

Another Servant who doesn't look simple has appeared; their strength is likely on par with that of Li Shuwen.

What kind of monsters has this Holy Grail War attracted here?

Thinking this, Tokiomi Tohsaka stole a glance at Gilgamesh beside him, making a somewhat impudent assessment.

Their strength might even pose a threat to the King.

They are an opponent to be wary of.

However, recalling the words of that powerful female swordsman, that she only slays enemies to obtain Command Spells.

While not quite understanding this behavior of actively offering the 'reins' of control to a 'Master'.

Tokiomi Tohsaka also felt a hint of jealousy towards that unknown Master.

Why isn't such a powerful Servant my Servant?

If I had such a loyal Servant, I would definitely be able to perfectly utilize her abilities, thereby obtaining the Holy Grail.

Thinking this, he suppressed the resentment in his heart and subtly sized up Gilgamesh, who was sitting thoughtfully on his throne.

If I had that Heroic Spirit, why would I need to kowtow to this 'Village Chief of Uruk' who only governs a small piece of land!!!

However, Tokiomi Tohsaka did not see the hint of ridicule that curled the corner of Gilgamesh's lips as he sensed his Master looking at him.

At this moment, the King of Heroes was already looking at Tokiomi Tohsaka as if he were a corpse.

---

At the same moment, Fang Yi heard two notification sounds that he found perplexing.

Affected by Diligent Progress, the completeness of your skill Mirror in the Moon has increased.

Affected by Diligent Progress, your understanding of the skill Matter Merging has deepened. Continued deepening of understanding will gradually transform this skill into a space-recognized skill.

Looking at this last notification regarding Matter Merging, he scratched his head in confusion.

Because he hasn't mastered this skill, he shouldn't have the qualification to 'lend' the skill to the swordswoman through Diligent Progress.

However, he quickly suppressed this doubt and focused on dealing with the enemy before him.

At this moment, holding Prometheus and hiding to observe Cheng Xiang, looking for an opportunity to strike, he felt like he was back on the Kabaneri, dealing with the Pseudo-human monsters at night.

Needing to keep his distance from the enemy, he needed to use some 'outdated' methods to kill this man who carried Gu worms and most likely served as an 'anchor' to bring misfortune upon himself.