Several hours had passed since I was trapped in old memories. Now, only the remaining embers still glowed faintly among the pile of nearly burnt-out wood. I lifted my foot and slowly stepped on the embers, extinguishing the last flickers of flame. Thin smoke rose into the air, fading along with the campfire's light that had accompanied my solitude.
However, something felt off.
I carefully observed my surroundings. This silence… was too suspicious.
Usually, in a place like this, a swarm of skeletons would appear, disturbing me whenever I tried to rest. They were an eternal nuisance in this Singularity—as if the world itself refused to grant me a moment of peace. But now? Not a single one was in sight.
I narrowed my eyes, trying to analyze the situation.
There were two main possibilities:
First, I had unknowingly slaughtered them all. Not impossible, considering how often I had fought them since arriving here.
Second, someone else had eliminated them before they could reach me.
I pressed a finger against my chin, pondering which possibility was more plausible.
The first scenario was possible, but I was certain I hadn't explored this area far enough to completely eradicate all the skeletons nearby. If that was the case…
The second possibility made much more sense.
Someone in this Singularity had already acted and wiped them out before I had the chance to encounter them.
I sighed and rubbed my temple, trying to recall the events of the Fuyuki Singularity in Fate/Grand Order. If I wasn't mistaken…
"Ah."
I finally realized something that should have been obvious from the start.
The most likely candidates who could have done this were none other than he—the main protagonists of this story.
Ritsuka Fujimaru.
The last Master of humanity, sent by Chaldea to resolve this Singularity. Lacking top-tier magecraft, lacking a prestigious title as a hero, yet still surviving in this chaotic world through sheer determination and willpower.
And of course, he weren't alone.
By his side would be a young girl with short pinkish hair—Mash Kyrielight.
A Demi-Servant who did not belong to the standard seven Servant classes, simply because she was the only individual assigned the unique class of Shielder. Not without reason, but because she wielded a massive shield representing the Round Table, the symbol of the legendary Knights of the Round.
With their presence in this Singularity, it was highly likely that they were the ones who had wiped out the skeletons before I could encounter them.
I took a deep breath, gazing up at the night sky speckled with dim stars.
It seemed… the main story had finally begun.
Now, another question arose—should I seek them out?
Teaming up with Ritsuka and Mash to help them clear this Singularity would be the logical choice. After all, my goal here was to resolve the Singularity, right? If I wanted to finish everything as quickly as possible, cooperating with the main protagonists was clearly the most efficient path.
However…
I turned my gaze toward the distance, toward the mist-covered streets of Fuyuki, illuminated only by the dim glow of streetlights.
A part of me wanted to experience this Singularity on my own. I wanted to explore it my own way, fight the enemies I encountered, and uncover its mysteries without immediately relying on the main storyline.
If I joined them right away, I would simply be following the predetermined path. I wanted to see how far I could survive in this world with my own strength before inevitably being swept into the main narrative.
I let out a long sigh, then closed my eyes for a moment before opening them again with renewed resolve.
My decision was made.
For now, I would walk alone.
I wouldn't interfere with their journey—not yet. I would enjoy this adventure on my own terms, experiencing the hardships of this Singularity as an individual separate from the main protagonists.
However, there was one exception.
If they reached the point where they had to face Artoria Alter—the central figure of this Singularity—then I would step in.
After all, a battle against the King of Knights twisted by darkness was not something I wanted to miss.
Until that moment arrives…
I will explore this Singularity alone. Let fate take me where it wills.
I took a deep breath, feeling the cold night air. My decision had been made, and now it was time to prepare.
"Alright," I muttered softly, staring at my slightly trembling hands, adrenaline still coursing through me.
My resolve was firm… and I think it's time to use my Noble Phantasm.
I closed my eyes, letting my mind drift into memories of the Servants I had seen—both in the game and in the anime.
This Singularity was filled with unpredictable dangers. I had to choose wisely—a Servant who could give me an advantage in battle against Artoria Alter, while also helping me explore this place without immediately drawing enemy attention.
From the various available classes, I thought hard.
Saber? No. I had tried imitating Artoria before, and while her power and abilities were outstanding, there was one fatal weakness—my presence was too conspicuous.
Even when I tried to avoid conflict, skeletons kept appearing, as if they were drawn to my aura as a Saber. At first, I thought it was just a coincidence, but the longer I stayed in this Singularity, the more I realized one thing:
They could sense my presence.
That was a major problem. If I wanted to survive longer and move more freely, I had to choose a class that could conceal my presence.
And among the seven standard Servant classes… there was only one logical choice.
Assassin.
A class specialized in killing from the shadows. Assassins were known for their ability to conceal their presence, hunt their targets without ever being seen, and vanish before anyone even realized what had happened.
If I had chosen this class from the beginning, I might not have had to fight so many skeletons. Choosing Artoria at the start was a reckless decision, but I couldn't blame myself entirely—I was too excited when I first gained this ability.
But now, I had the chance to fix that mistake.
I considered the various Assassins I could use.
Hassan? Their stealth and assassination techniques were strong, but I wasn't too familiar with their fighting styles.
Carmilla? Interesting, but her powers were more focused on torturing victims rather than striking from the shadows.
Then, my mind finally landed on one name.
Jack the Ripper.
One of the most infamous serial killer in history—a serial killer who terrorized London. The legend surrounding Jack was shrouded in mystery, and even today, their true identity remained a subject of debate. But one thing was certain—Jack was a killer who moved in darkness, using silence as a weapon and disappearing without a trace after their deed was done.
However, in this world… Jack the Ripper had a much stranger form.
Not a hooded man lurking in the shadows.
But a little girl with eyes as sharp as a beast's.
I opened my eyes and prepared to activate my Noble Phantasm.
I took a deep breath and channeled mana throughout my body. A golden light began to swirl around me, spinning in an accelerating spiral pattern. This sensation was no longer unfamiliar to me—the warm feeling enveloping my body as the transformation began.
Then, in a soft voice, I spoke the word that triggered this change.
"Henshin."
The golden light exploded instantly, enveloping me in a magical glow. I felt my body start to change—my bones and muscles adjusting to a new form.
My height shrank drastically, making me feel lighter.
The clothes I wore vanished, replaced with something much more minimal—too minimal, even, for an assassin.
My hair turned silver and messy, cut short with slight bangs falling over my forehead.
And in both hands…
I lifted two gleaming surgical knives, their thin, razor-sharp blades resembling claws ready to tear through flesh with a single swift motion.
I took a deep breath, then stepped toward a small puddle of water at my feet.
I pressed my lips together, feeling a bit of unease.
The transformation had gone perfectly. I could feel the Assassin's abilities flowing through me.
But there was one thing that bothered me…
I stared at my reflection once more and let out a long sigh.
"Why does the outfit have to be like this?"
Thinking back to my decision to imitate Jack the Ripper, I should have expected this. But still, experiencing firsthand how revealing this outfit was made the discomfort feel all the more real.
Suddenly, a memory flashed through my mind.
A girl with black long hair, always sitting beside me when the lunch is arrived, smiling brightly as she sketched something in her notebook.
"Why do you always draw characters with outfits like that, Hana-chan?" I had once asked her, my voice filled with protest.
"Because it's cool!" she had answered, eyes sparkling.
"If you have a great body, why hide it?"
Of course, I had always responded with a long lecture about proper clothing etiquette.
And now?
I groaned, then lifted both knives into the air before covering my face in embarrassment.
"If Hana-chan saw me right now, she would be laughing her head off."
I could vividly picture Hana looking at me with a victorious smirk. I could almost hear her teasing voice saying:
"See? Now you're wearing an outfit like that too!"
I bit my lip, trying to ignore the heat spreading across my face.
Well, whatever.
The outfit might not be changeable, but what mattered was the ability.
I clenched my fists, feeling the surge of new power coursing through me.
This body was light, fast, and deadly. I could move as swiftly as a shadow, vanishing from sight without a sound.
Most importantly… now I could explore this Singularity without constantly being chased by skeletons.
I gazed up at the night sky once more, admiring the bright, breathtaking stars.
No matter where this journey takes me, I will always be ready to face it.
First, I needed to test the limits of my stealth. Could I move unnoticed past the wandering skeletons? Could I bypass their patrols without a fight? And most importantly—could I get close enough to Artoria Alter without her sensing me?
I adjusted my stance and took another step forward.
Then another.
And another.
Each movement felt instinctive, like I had always known how to do this. My body reacted before my mind even processed it, weaving through the ruins without making a sound.
A few minutes later, I spotted a group of skeletons ahead. Their empty eye sockets flickered with a cold, unnatural light as they patrolled the street, their rusted weapons clutched tightly in bony fingers.
Before, they would have noticed me immediately.
But now?
I crouched low, letting the shadows swallow me. The mist curled around my form like a protective veil as I slipped past them, unseen and unheard. My heart pounded, but my body remained steady, every muscle trained for silence.
And for the first time since arriving in this Singularitas, I felt a sense of peace and control.