Chapter 35: Echoes of Fuyuki

The runic door groaned as it swung open, revealing a chamber unlike anything Maki had seen in the Dungeon so far. The oppressive purple glow faded into an unnatural, fiery red. Flames danced along the walls, yet the air was cold as death. A strange energy permeated the room, something ancient and wrong.

Maki stepped in cautiously, her grip tightening on her spear. Beside her, Scathach followed with a composed but alert demeanor, her crimson eyes scanning the chamber.

At the center of the room stood a warped gateway, a portal shimmering with chaotic light. Its surface flickered with images—scenes of destruction, shadows of a city consumed by fire, and a glimpse of something impossibly large looming in the distance. It was not just a gateway—it was a tear in reality.

"This isn't Orario," Maki muttered, her cursed energy instinctively flaring. "This feels... off. Like something from a nightmare."

Scathach stepped closer, her spear tapping the ground as she analyzed the portal. "This is a Singularity," she said gravely. "A distortion in time and space where past and future collide. The Dungeon has somehow linked itself to another realm entirely."

Maki furrowed her brows. "You're saying this thing leads to another world? One as messed up as this?"

Scathach nodded. "Not just another world, but a broken one. A fragment of history that was never meant to exist. Look closely."

Maki focused on the images within the portal, her breath catching as she recognized the silhouette of a city burning. A massive, three-headed beast roared amidst the chaos, its shadow dwarfing the crumbling buildings. "That's... Fuyuki," she whispered. "I've seen that before."

Scathach tilted her head slightly. "The Fuyuki Singularity. It's a nexus of tragedy and power. If the Dungeon is connected to it, then we have no choice but to go through and sever the link."

Maki felt a chill run down her spine. This wasn't just about clearing the Dungeon anymore. Something bigger was at play, and it had just sucked her in. "Fine," she said, her resolve hardening. "Let's do it. Whatever's on the other side, we'll handle it together."

Scathach smiled faintly. "Spoken like a true warrior. Let's see if this Singularity is ready for us."

Stepping through the portal felt like being torn apart and stitched back together. Maki gritted her teeth as her vision blurred, the chaotic energy of the Singularity pressing against her soul. Then, with a sudden jolt, the world solidified around her.

She found herself standing on scorched earth, the air thick with smoke and ash. The remains of buildings jutted out of the ground like broken teeth, and the sky was an unnatural orange, swirling with embers. The oppressive heat of the flames was matched only by the suffocating aura of despair.

"Welcome to Fuyuki," Scathach said, her tone heavy with grim familiarity.

Maki scanned the ruined city, her cursed energy flaring instinctively. This place felt alive with malice, every shadow crawling with danger. "What happened here?"

"A ritual gone wrong," Scathach explained. "This is where a Holy Grail War once unfolded. The Grail itself was corrupted, spilling its hatred and power into the world. What you see is the aftermath—a never-ending cycle of destruction."

As if on cue, a monstrous roar echoed through the ruins. From the shadows emerged a massive creature, its form grotesque and misshapen. It moved like a wild animal but radiated an unmistakable intelligence. Its blood-red eyes locked onto Maki and Scathach, and it charged with terrifying speed.

Maki met the creature head-on, her spear striking its thick hide. The impact sent a shockwave through the air, but the monster barely flinched. It swung a clawed hand at her, forcing her to leap back.

"It's stronger than anything in the Dungeon," she called to Scathach, her excitement building despite the danger.

"Stronger, yes. But not invincible," Scathach replied, her voice calm. She moved like a shadow, her spear flashing out in a series of precise strikes that forced the creature to retreat. "Focus on its core. These abominations are sustained by corrupted energy. Destroy that, and it will fall."

Maki grinned. "Got it."

The two warriors fell into a rhythm, their movements perfectly synchronized. Maki used her brute strength to pin the monster down, while Scathach exploited the openings with deadly precision. Despite its size and ferocity, the creature was no match for their combined skill.

With a final, devastating strike, Scathach's spear pierced the creature's core. It let out a final roar before dissolving into a cloud of ash.

As the dust settled, Maki and Scathach moved deeper into the ruins. The Singularity's energy grew more oppressive with each step, and the air seemed to hum with a sinister melody.

"If this is just the outskirts," Maki said, glancing at Scathach, "what's waiting for us at the center?"

Scathach's expression was unreadable. "Something powerful. Something tied to the Dungeon's link with this place. If we don't sever it, the corruption will spread to Orario."

Maki's grip tightened on her spear. She wasn't about to let that happen. "Then let's find it and take it out."

As they pressed on, the ruins began to shift. The ground beneath their feet turned black and viscous, and the buildings warped into grotesque shapes. It was as if the city itself was alive, trying to trap them.

Suddenly, a voice echoed through the air, soft but filled with malice. "You dare to trespass in my domain?"

Maki and Scathach stopped, their weapons at the ready. From the shadows emerged a figure clad in black armor, their face obscured by a helm. The aura they exuded was suffocating, a mix of hatred and raw power.

"You have no place here," the figure said, their voice like the toll of a bell. "Leave now, or be consumed."

Maki smirked, stepping forward. "Sorry, but I'm not leaving until we've cleaned up this mess. If you're in the way, then you're going down."

The figure laughed, a cold, hollow sound. "Foolish mortal. Let me show you the price of defiance."

As they raised their weapon, the world around them seemed to shatter, plunging Maki and Scathach into a battle unlike any they had faced before.