Yaga Masamichi was struck with utter disbelief.
Modern weaponry.
It was his first time witnessing a Cursed Technique that summoned such a bizarre tank.
'No… is this even a technique to begin with?'
A pink battle tank equipped with steel spider legs.
As absurd as it looked, the phenomenon itself was fundamentally similar to a Jujutsu sorcerer's Innate Technique.
Sorcery was a matter of innate talent. It wasn't impossible for a technique to manifest as the summoning of modern military hardware.
However.
He couldn't sense a single shred of Cursed Energy—the most vital component of any technique.
It was exactly like the man standing there with his blade unsheathed.
'That man clearly possesses no Cursed Energy, yet his strength is undeniable. Most likely a Heavenly Restriction that enhances physical prowess. But what about that machine…?'
While Yaga hesitated, Koyanskaya of Light, the Assassin, leapt effortlessly onto the roof of the tank.
The vehicle was equipped with a primary cannon and missile pods mounted on both its torso and its multi-legged chassis.
Assassin looked down from her perch, her gaze cold.
A sinister sea breeze howled across the coast.
—Uuuuuuuu….
Beneath the surface.
A massive, whale-like shadow slowly broke the water's surface.
The silhouette was that of a whale, but it was grotesque. Dozens of eyes were densely packed along its sides, and a sickening pressure of Cursed Energy radiated from its entire being.
It was, beyond a shadow of a doubt, a Special Grade Cursed Spirit.
"Prostrate yourselves. Worship. For this is my majesty, my very embassy."
Assassin spoke. It was the essential process for the True Name Release.
True Name Release: an act that unfurls the true power of a Noble Phantasm by invoking its name and synchronizing the user's wavelength with the Mystery it embodies.
Naturally, most Noble Phantasms required this step—save for certain exceptions, like Koyanskaya of Darkness, the Foreigner.
"Let those with wisdom bow their heads."
The tank's main barrel adjusted its elevation. The missile pods across its frame locked onto the target.
—Uuuuuuu….
Sensing the impending threat, the Cursed Spirit began manipulating its energy. It condensed water within its body, assuming a long-range offensive posture intended to snip the targets from afar.
—Skreeee, skrik….
Just before Assassin released her Noble Phantasm, a swarm of lesser Curses began crawling up from the rear.
Crayfish, crabs, fish—being so close to the shore, many took the form of mutated sea life.
"I'll take care of the trash. Don't worry about them, just fire."
Toji, who had been watching in silence, dashed toward the oncoming swarm.
There were a few Grade 1s mixed in, but most were Grade 2 weaklings.
Tearing, slashing, and cleaving—Toji carved a path through the Curses, engaging in a one-sided slaughter as he darted between them.
Foreigner watched his performance briefly before turning her attention back to the sea.
It was time for the heavy artillery to sing.
"Izutula, Seven Drive!"
BOOM! THOOM!
Simultaneous with the True Name Release, the tank's weaponry unleashed hell.
"Ugh!"
Yaga grimaced, covering his ears. The thunderous roar of the cannon and the screaming engines of the missiles were loud enough to burst eardrums.
Assassin's Master felt the same. Even though he was familiar with the sight, the physical sensation was still uncomfortable.
Finally, the rain of shells collided with the Curse.
A cacophony of explosions followed. A shockwave that churned the very ocean made the atmosphere tremble with raw force.
—UUUUUUUUURRRGH!
In the distance, the whale's agonized wail pierced through the noise of the explosions.
Direct hits across the board.
Gaping holes were torn into the whale's massive body, and the wounds hissed with lingering heat. By any metric, it was a mortal wound.
And yet, the Cursed Spirit was already sealing its wounds. It was a terrifying regeneration speed befitting a Special Grade.
"It's not enough yet," Assassin whispered.
The massive pink tank crouched low on its spider legs before springing into the air. High and fast, it tore through the sky like a ballistic missile before falling directly onto the Curse from above.
CRASH!
Another deafening boom echoed as the ocean surged violently.
"Well, that was ridiculous."
Toji returned, having finished exterminating the approaching rabble. He had watched the entire sequence: the raw firepower, followed by the tank's crushing leap.
Having left a massive crater in the target, the tank began to dissolve into motes of light—evidence that the Noble Phantasm's activation was complete.
Step.
Just before the tank vanished, Assassin kicked off the barrel and vaulted back toward the shore.
Her trajectory traced a beautiful arc. Moving with blinding speed, she reversed the very parabola the tank had taken.
"It's too large to die in one go. Shall I use my Noble Phantasm again?" Assassin asked as she landed softly beside the boy, as light as a feather.
"No. Good work," the boy concluded without hesitation.
An enemy that didn't die from a single Noble Phantasm, possessing high regeneration… many aspects of this world reminded him of a game. At the same time, he knew reality was far different. The sheer scale of destruction was incomparable to any screen.
"Foreigner," the boy murmured, watching the whale.
If once wasn't enough, hit it twice. If that still didn't work, just keep hitting it until it stopped moving.
"Yes, Master."
"The target is massive and the area is wide open. Give me a big one."
"Eighty percent output should suffice, I assume?"
Foreigner smirked and leaped into the sky. Higher, and higher still. She only deployed her Noble Phantasm after reaching the very ceiling of the Curtain.
It was exactly like that day when a star fell upon the Innate Domain of the Inunaki Tunnel.
"Whoa."
Amidst someone's gasp, the meteor struck. It was several times larger than the one she had unleashed in the cramped confines of the tunnel.
K-BOOM!
Massive, radiant, and heavy. The concentrated mass slammed into the whale's back and detonated.
I took a breath as I watched the whale disintegrate into nothingness. It had been a while since I felt like I was spamming Anti-Army Noble Phantasms in a game.
If you face one, it's Anti-Unit. If you face many, it's Anti-Army. Beyond those, there are Anti-Fortress for castles, Anti-World for the planet itself—the categories are vast.
Both Koyanskayas possessed Anti-Army Noble Phantasms. They were ideally suited for wiping out multiple targets at once.
In the game, Assassin's Noble Phantasm was practically a joke, and I rarely used Foreigner because of class advantages and damage issues… but using them in reality proved they were among the strongest tiers imaginable. Just like all Noble Phantasms are meant to be.
'It's over.'
I closed my eyes as the whale vanished. Perhaps because it was a Special Grade, my soul vessel expanded significantly in an instant. Was it because this one was a particularly high-tier Special Grade? It felt like my capacity was surging.
Of course, it wasn't just thanks to this one kill. It was the cumulative result of all the experience points I had been grinding up until now.
I regulated my breathing for a long moment before opening my eyes. By then, the Curtain had already lifted.
"Mr. Yaga. Please report this Cursed Spirit as a Grade 1."
"So, you want me to take the credit."
"Yes. I don't care about fame; I only need the experience I gain from the hunt itself. It's a win-win, right?"
"I suppose I should thank you. If you hadn't been here, I would have had to retreat and call for several more sorcerers."
Yaga gave a hollow smile. Given the size of the target and its maritime location, exorcising it would have been a nightmare for a standard squad.
"Good. Now that the deal is struck, shall we head out? Safe travels back."
"Wait."
As I turned to leave, Yaga stopped me.
"Yes? Is there something else?" I asked, looking back.
Even behind those sunglasses, his bewildered expression was clear.
"I just want to know one thing. What is your ultimate goal in hunting these Cursed Spirits?"
"Did I not tell you?"
"No."
Ah, is that so?
Since he asked, I suppose I should answer.
"It's because it's a necessity."
I didn't give him a detailed explanation. There was no need to.
Leaving a puzzled Yaga behind, we returned home. Or rather, Toji went to his house, and we went to our hotel.
"Whew…!"
I stepped out of the hotel bath. Maybe it was the hot water, but my head felt clear despite the late hour.
"Great job, everyone. I told you we'd be taking a break for a while, so let's rest up."
"We're fine, but what about you, Master? Did using Noble Phantasms back-to-back drain your Magical Energy or…?"
"I'm perfectly fine."
I smiled at the two concerned Koyanskayas. It wasn't bravado; I genuinely felt refreshed.
"If anything, I'm just a bit tired from the long car ride. That's all. Don't worry."
"That is a relief."
The two sighed in unison, resting their hands over their hearts. They shifted with significant weight as they relaxed.
"And, I think I can summon one more now."
"Truly?" Foreigner asked, her eyes widening. She seemed genuinely surprised.
"Yeah. But I'm not going to summon them immediately."
Assassin tilted her head. It must have seemed strange to her that I was delaying a chance to increase our power.
"Things are going to get too cramped, and I'm uncomfortable with that. We can't stay in a hotel forever, either."
"Can't the new one just stay in spirit form?"
"I'd feel bad putting them on standby in spirit form after they finally manifested. It makes me think of the Chaldea days too much."
In Chaldea, almost all Servants remained materialized. Being forced into spirit form was rare.
"So, what you're saying is…?"
"I want to start looking for a proper house to live in. What do you think?"
"I'm all for it," Assassin said, her eyes sparkling as she sat beside me.
Foreigner was the same. Since they both looked pleased and had no objections, I could proceed right away.
"However, do you have a specific place in mind? Or perhaps a neighborhood you like?" Foreigner asked, sitting on my other side.
With such a heavy presence on both sides of me, my focus wavered. This side felt nice, but so did the other. My brain briefly short-circuited under the dual pressure of their affection.
"Um… hold on a second."
I pulled myself together and focused. There are 23 wards in Tokyo. I wanted to avoid the central districts; the real estate would be astronomical, so the outskirts were better. Somewhere on the opposite side of Tokyo from Jujutsu High would be ideal.
The central hub was crawling with the higher-ups and politicians, and the area near the school carried too high a risk of being spotted. Still, I wanted to stay within the Tokyo area. If it was too far, it would be a pain to utilize Toji.
"Do we have a map?"
"Yes, Master."
Foreigner reached into her cleavage and pulled out a thin, small booklet. Was that thing a literal pocket dimension? Or had she predicted my thoughts and prepared it in advance? Either way, it was impressive.
"Thanks."
I took the small booklet and flipped it open. It contained a simplified map of the Tokyo wards. Maybe it was just my imagination, but it felt warm—likely from being tucked against Foreigner's skin.