Arknights' Lock of Heaven

......"

“Each singularity possessing the Holy Grail is not one that we can defeat alone. In the past, we have only been able to win by gathering the power of several Servants summoned by Pan-Human History.”

“And now,” she shrugged, “look around, Mash, all alone.”

“The two of us can’t defend against it,” she sighed. “We might as well just make things easier.”

She looked at Xia Yu, "At least you'll suffer less physical pain, right?"

Hearing this, Xia Yu's expression became subtle. "You... never mind, then come with me."

Xia Yu probably understood that Fujimaru Ritsuka had probably seen through her intentions.

They had no intention of harming them at all, otherwise they wouldn't have thrown them away so readily.

She's really perceptive, but then again, if she were a more accommodating person, she probably wouldn't have made it to this seventh singularity.

Seeing this, Mashu was very puzzled, but she still obediently put down the giant shield in her hand.

Simply put, she trusted her predecessors.

“So,” Fujimaru Ritsuka said, jogging over as she watched Xia Yu turn to leave, “we’ve been so cooperative, so tell me your name.”

Having not been in contact with people for a long time, Xia Yu was not used to such close contact. He slightly distanced himself from the enthusiastic Fujimaru Ritsuka, but he did not want, or rather, could not let her completely gain the upper hand.

"you guess."

“…You’re such a cheapskate,” Fujimaru Ritsuka pouted upon hearing this. “Then what’s with all these magical beasts? Or is it normal for magical beasts to be everywhere in the Age of Gods?”

"Guess," Xia Yu said, still offering no response.

Just kidding, if I say a few more words to someone so perceptive, my secrets will probably be exposed.

Therefore, you absolutely must not give her a chance. If you don't want to perish with this singularity, it's best not to change anything.

The Throne of Heroes, in some people's eyes, is a place of unfreedom.

But at that time, it was Xia Yu's only hope.

So no matter how Fujimaru Ritsuka tried to subtly probe, Xia Yu kept her mouth shut and led her around in circles.

They're just waiting for some white-haired online scammer to come to the rescue and quickly take away this overly capable Fujimaru Ritsuka.

But his physical strength goes without saying, and his junior sister, as a sub-Servant, also had plenty of energy, but Fujimaru Ritsuka couldn't hold on any longer.

"I can not make it!"

She sat down abruptly, exclaiming, "I need to rest! I need to drink water! I need to eat!"

“Senior, I have something here…” The obedient Mashu immediately came over when she heard this.

"I'm telling you, at least be mindful of your status," Xia Yu rubbed her temples, her head aching. "You're a prisoner! A prisoner!"

Do you think you have the right to demand so much?

“But humans have their limits,” Fujimaru Ritsuka said innocently while rubbing her feet. “I’m not a Servant, nor one of you demigods, and I’m not even a qualified magician!”

“I’m just an ordinary person,” she said matter-of-factly. “This is the limit for an ordinary person!”

“Even ordinary people aren’t as delicate as you,” Xia Yu said, leaning against a tree and rolling her eyes at her. “How many times have you rested along the way?”

"Is this the Master of Chaldea? So frail and weak, how did you manage to get through the six Singularities?"

At this point, he suddenly moved closer to Fujimaru Ritsuka, "Are you faking it? Are you hoping someone will magically appear and rescue you?"

To be honest, Fujimaru Ritsuka's constant chatter and probing along the way had gotten a bit annoying to him, who was being described as lonely.

"How could that be?" Fujimaru Ritsuka forced a smile. "After all, you are Lord Enkidu. Who could possibly rescue me from your clutches here?"

"Oh? I can't pretend I didn't hear that..."

Just then, a frivolous voice came from behind.

"Enkidu?"

"But didn't I hear that Enkidu is already dead?"

A hooded magician in white robes emerged from the forest. "This is Babylon, surely no one would impersonate Enkidu here?"

He stroked his chin thoughtfully and said, "So, young man, who exactly are you...?"

"Too much talk!" Just then, a petite purple figure behind him interrupted his voice, pulled out a scythe, and rushed towards Xia Yu.

A girl named Anna sensed something in him that resonated with her.

Xia Yu smiled with relief at her straightforwardness.

And I gave a thumbs up to the comment with the most comments.

Why all the talk? Hurry up and show me what you've got, then take this chatterbox Fujimaru Ritsuka away. If you achieve your goal, I can go back and report back.

So, after a fierce fight with Anna, Merlin successfully cast an illusion and took Fujimaru Ritsuka and Mash away.

"Merlin?" Kal'tsit seemed to understand something upon hearing this. "The one you transformed into in Chernobog?"

“Yes,” Xia Yu’s eyes flashed with a hint of nostalgia, “it was that nasty nightmare.”

“Nightmare…” Kal'tsit seemed to remember something upon hearing this, then shook her head. “So, you didn’t catch anyone, how are you going to explain this back home?”

"To hand in a satisfactory answer?" Xia Yu chuckled. "With Gorgon's brain, what's the point of handing in a satisfactory answer... He can just make up a few excuses and get away with it..."

"But the real trouble has only just begun."

-

“Mr. Jingu,” Mashu said with a helpless expression as she approached Xia Yu’s treehouse, “Is your senior here?”

Her expression was very calm, as if her senior had not been kidnapped by the enemy, but had come to visit.

Because this has happened many times before.

Initially, it happened during a mission to exterminate monsters. Soon, with a whoosh, several chains bound Fujimaru Ritsuka tightly and sent her flying into the air. Then, Xia Yu dragged her away.

Mashu was extremely anxious at that moment... and she took off chasing after him.

Fortunately, Chaldea has a technique to track the Master's location, and it wasn't blocked, so Mash found the place smoothly.

Then, what came into her view was Xia Yu's impotent rage and Fujimaru Ritsuka's innocent face.

"How come you don't even know this?" Xia Yu shook Fujimaru Ritsuka's shoulder in frustration. "Isn't this the most basic magic trick?"

"Are you still a magician?"

Although she already knew that Fujimaru Ritsuka's magic skills were... well, let's just say they were questionable, Xia Yu thought that since Fujimaru Ritsuka was so different from the one in the game, then even if her magic skills weren't very advanced, she should at least know the most basic ones, right?

After all, she's working so hard to save the world, so it's normal for her to learn some magic to improve herself, right?

Xia Yu didn't expect to get any advanced magic from her, just some basic stuff would be fine.

After all, magic tricks like those learned by Fujimaru Ritsuka from scratch are the most suitable for her.

I never expected this, you really can't do anything...

“I’m not a magician at all!” Fujimaru Ritsuka said confidently. “I didn’t even know I came to Chaldea. If I didn’t have the qualifications of a Master, I probably would never have known that magic existed in my entire life.”

"Isn't it normal not to know any magic tricks?"

"Then you can learn it!" Xia Yu asked, puzzled. "Saving the world is such an important thing, shouldn't you seize the opportunity to improve yourself? Why don't you go and learn it?"

“No time,” Fujimaru Ritsuka said calmly. “Battle simulations, Master’s lessons, maintaining relationships with Servants, and so on have already taken up most of my time. Magic can be left to the clothes.”

Hearing this, Xia Yu was speechless.

Well, it seems my idea failed before it even started.

“You’re useless now,” he said, grabbing Fujimaru Ritsuka’s clothes and throwing them at the dumbfounded Mash. “Go away, go away, don’t bother me.”

"You...you just let your senior go like that?" Mashu caught Fujimaru Ritsuka in a flustered manner, her face full of confusion.

Aren't we enemies?

"Oh, you can go back and wash your necks and wait to die. When that day comes, no matter how much you struggle, it will be useless."

The villain, having let the heroes go and uttered such words, would generally have an extremely arrogant and haughty expression on his face.

They don't respect people at all.

But Xia Yu's face was full of exhaustion and helplessness.

"Wait, listen to me..." Hearing this, Fujimaru Ritsuka straightened up from Mashu's embrace and reached out her hand to Natsume, "I have a way..."

"senior!"

Mashu was furious when she heard this. No matter how strange Xia Yu's behavior was, he made it clear that Xia Yu was an enemy.

Even if something happens, you have to leave first.

Having just witnessed her senior being kidnapped right in front of her, Mash was clearly flustered and panicked, so she dragged Fujimaru Ritsuka away.

Although Fujimaru Ritsuka often does all sorts of crazy things in Chaldea, the doctor said it's just her way of relieving stress, so Mash just lets it be. But this is a singularity, and this can't be allowed to continue like this!

"Listen to me, Mashu, please listen to me..."

The sound traveled further and further away.

"She'll come back, won't she?" Kal'tsit said calmly upon hearing this.

“Yes, they will come back,” Xia Yu said with emotion, “and more than once.”