The Armory of Marzan is, despite its reputation, a rather unimpressive forge. Racks of failed weapons and experiments litter the room. There are a few stone tables, each with a variety of blacksmithing tools, are spread throughout it. There is only a single anvil in the armory, telling that it was only Marzan that truly operated it back when it was in use. But rather striking to the Armory is that torches still illuminate the chamber, lit with dim orange flames. And at its heart a tall furnace still burns, the embers jumping off the stone bricks as its fire gently dances against the shadows. The flames had been lit for thousands of years, never extinguishing.
Access to the Armory of Marzan is prohibited; it is mystically sealed off from the world, for now. The landmark is located beneath the Port of Innovus.
The two suddenly appeared in the Armory; there was no pomp and circumstance to it, no dramatic entry. When Emiya touched Marzan's arm they simply vanished and reappeared. No flash, no crack. Just a mere transition. "What you hold..." Marzan paused, breath leaving him. He was surprised, but also not. The Armory was just how he had left it that fateful evening thousands of years ago. It felt like home; a completely undisturbed sanctuary for his forge. The fire crackling at the end of the room gave him comfort that he hadn't felt for so very long. "Sorry, just taken aback for a moment. But what you hold...you might not see it as it was in its "full glory" as you say. But you will see beyond it." He started walking further into the room. By the ladder was a sealed doorway in the ceiling, marked with various sigils and runes that contained the dimly lit Armory.
"You must have come a long way to reach here. If I've learned only one aspect from my time in the Underworld it is that death is a metamorphosis. The blade has undergone a transformation. Once when it was suffused with Void, like that which we saw when Ganzir collapsed, and the second when it was shattered by a god. And so we will spark a third. This phoenix will rise for a third time." Marzan cracked his knuckles. "I am Marzan. Humans do not know my name but gods speak it with fear on their tongues. I am a weaponsmith and the engineer of the God-Slaying Tools. You have brought the final Tool here, reuniting it with its brother and sister edges. Though there are few left you will be the herald of another generation of God-Slaying Tools, with this blade being its first...." He paused, his arms now in the air as he donned his smock. "...Tsumukari. Yes, Tsumukari. A fine name for what you will no doubt do with this blade. You are a Champion of Humanity. You rescued not only me, but humanity's chance at a fair fight against forces that do not obey cosmic law. Forces that rewrite cosmic law itself."
"Nice speech." It was a dark voice from beyond the shadow, manifesting in a torrent of cyan flame. From it emerged Demetrias Uchiha, his cursed Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan already activated. "But you'll be coming with me. Thank you for opening your sanctuary, Marzan."
Type: Supplementary
Rank: Forbidden
Range: Short – Long
Chakra: 70 (-20 per turn)
Damage: 140
Description: A unique pair of Mangekyō Sharingan possessed by Demetrias, formerly known as Sai Uchiha. On a basic level, Demetrias’s eyes possess the ability to see through Forbidden Ranked visual illusions, as well as significantly enhance visual acuity and tracking capability. The user is also able to cast spiritual techniques without the need for hand seals, as long as a line of sight with their target is maintained. Unique to Demetrias’s Mangekyō Sharingan is its alterations made to it by the Sea of Life; even among Children of Tiamat, Demetrias’s transformation was quite special. While altering his body the Sea of Life also preserved his Kekkei Genkai, empowering it further. As such, it is impossible for Demetrias’s eyes to lose his light; they are, in every sense, eternal. Demetrias’s Mangekyō Sharingan is innately bound to the Void, and through Imeroth’s influence it is connected to the Domain of the Soul. It affords Demetrias access to his unique skill known as Soul Fire. According to Imeroth it is the power to undo the work of Nergal, specifically the creation of the human soul. In addition to this, Demetrias also wields the powers of Nergal in his left eye, and Ereshkigal in his right. Because Demetrias’s Mangekyō Sharingan does not lose its light, it can remain activated indefinitely.
Nergal: The left eye allows Demetrias to transport targets on focal point, similar to Amaterasu and Kamui, to the Void. Unlike standard space/time techniques, Nergal targets the soul itself of what is within the user’s focal point. The ability can be best compared to the Reaper Death Seal’s capability to cut off parts of a target’s soul; Nergal can, on focal point, achieve this ripping of pieces of the soul or the entire soul itself. The technique can only be defended or blocked by either obstructing the user’s vision, or by using a Yin Release technique of equivalent strength. If Nergal is not completely neutralized, then the user’s vision will pierce through the obstruction and continue onward to its original target. Against other techniques can target the spiritual energy within them, able to completely rip away their spiritual balance and essentially turn the technique into nothingness. When used against inanimate objects void of chakra, Nergal is able to transport the target to the Void itself, much like how Ereshkigal is used to transport the user into the Void but at range. Visually, this appears as the technique dispersing. Nergal deals 140 spiritual damage, and in cases where pieces of the soul are ripped off the limb will turn lifeless and purple, only able to be healed through Yin Release based spiritual healing techniques.
Ereshkigal: The right eye allows Demetrias to transport either himself, objects he is touching, or objects within the Void, to the Void or return them to normal space/time. Through a manipulation of his own spiritual energy, Demetrias is able to use his Mangekyō Sharingan to convert his physical form, as well of that which he is on contact with, into that of a spirit capable of existing within the Void. This accounts for both a transformation and teleportation of the user into the Void. Alternatively, the user is also able to release spiritual projectiles from the Void. Manifesting from his right eye, the spiritual projectiles cannot be visually perceived unless the opponent wields a Rinnegan, or can perceive them through Sage sensory. The projectiles do not carry physical impact, but rather inflict spiritual damage as they pass through objects intangibly, inflicting 140 damage.
Without anything to mark their transition they had arrived. Emiya was expecting it, and yet it still took him by surprise, the fact there were no seals, or incantations or other indicators that they had in fact moved locations, aside from the obvious change in location. The forge itself was not what Emiya was expecting, and yet it's rustic charm made him feel right at home, like he was back home in Radiant Fields. It made sense that it wasn't some grand, elaborate, sprawling palatial armory as it was a location from, and lost for millennia back when humans were just finding their bearings. It was clear Marzan was affected by his absence from the forge, taking in the sight like a long drink after a pilgrimage through a desert. As Marzan exclaimed Emiya may never see Blessings in it's true glory his heart sank a little, only to be risen to completely new heights as the smith elaborated that he would see beyond it. The monologue Marzan started on fully keeping Emiya's attention as he began handing the shards of Blessings back to Marzan so he could begin. That name, Tsumukari. Whatever power that name held, Emiya wished with all his heart to see it. If only the smith's words hadn't been so enthralling, and his spirits set so high, Emiya may have noticed Demetrias' appearance before he announced it himself. Surprisingly, Emiya wasn't surprised. In fact, on some level he was expecting this. With a knowing sigh, Emiya calmly made his way over to Marzan, handing him the bound Blessings, only to stand between Demetrias and his new target. Clearly Emiya was not even worth acknowledging, especially after last time. Emiya scraped by through sheer luck after immediately failing to do the one job required of him; to keep the one he was with safe. That was a mistake he intended to never repeat, least of all to the same opponent. Knowing full well how dangerous he was, Emiya addressed Demetrias while avoiding eye contact. Though he never used any last time, the last thing he needed was to give the Voidlord an opening via the Uchiha's infamous Genjutsu. And seeing how going all in resulted in complete failure last time, Emiya needed to be sure he was prepared for a fight.
"You know, I didn't know for sure, but I had a feeling that whatever you used on me and Enkidu last time wouldn't be undone just because you were forced to retreat. I take it you were waiting for this to happen then? You hoped we'd save Marzan from Irkalla, and since I had the sword, and it was broken, I'd probably be brought here, so you could piggyback off me? Got to say, if that really was your plan, it's pretty slick.
Not that what I think matters to you, right?"
Emiya's tone wasn't particularly indicative of any one emotion. He wasn't particularly afraid nor angry at the ambush, nor did he show signs of excitement at a second chance, nor sad that Demetrias had rudely interrupted his and Marzan's objective. He simply was, and would be completely prepared this time. It would be childs play for Demetrias to see Emiya was readying himself for battle with his Sharingan, so he made no attempt to hide his actions as he stood his ground and undoubtedly invoked the Voidlord's ire, or more likely his impatience. Whether it was simply a result of how much he had experienced in Irkalla, or since his last battle with Demetrias in general, Emiya had become a Heroic Spirit, just as much a hero as those in the legends, and with it came the power to defy reality. Whereas in the past he could barely maintain a single Noble Phantasm for more than a few minutes, now he could easily accommodate two permanently. He could also passively and instantly summon a Noble Phantasm from the Throne once every two turns. In this instance, Emiya instantly summoned a cloak like Noble Phantasm with a Prana-based familiar known as "Rashomon". Instantly appearing over his current attire with a jet black and neon blue colored Prana, the Cloak, known as a "Rashomon", shrouded Emiya's form, hugging him close while also cutting off Demetrias' line of sight to Marzan completely as it's form weightlessly danced in the air as though it were a spirit. Once the Rashomon had materialized, Emiya gathered Prana a second time for another Surge of Armamentation, this time bringing forth a glowing blade wreathed in azure flames. As he did, Emiya asked Marzan as he titled his head but without taking his eyes off Demetrias' upper torso;
"If you're going to do something you better do it now. If you can fight just be careful. I don't know how it works but he has a some kind of Teleportation Space-Time technique, on top of some odd flames that conventional methods couldn't heal. If he so much as lays a finger on you or gets one good hit in, it's over. If you can't fight or leave the same way we got here, try and stay out of the way. I won't let this be like last time.
As for you..."
(Busou: Kunrin no Akuma) – Surge of Armament: Reign of Demons Type: Offensive/Defensive/Supplementary Rank: S Range: Short - Mid Chakra: 40 Damage: N/A Description: The user will summon a cloak from the Throne onto their body, with this coat manifesting over their current attire. Through the infusion of prana, the cloak has been bestowed with several properties that render it an ideal defence for battle. The cloak can neither be burnt nor made to be wet. It insulates both high heats as well as electrical currents, allowing it to insulate unfocused lightning techniques before they can affect the user. It is also non-reactive and immune to corrosion, rendering the cloak immune to chemical elements which target it. The cloak is bulletproof and will defend against freeform damage of all kinds (excluding freeform boosted beyond 80 damage), from bladed weapons to explosions spawned from paper tags. The weapon itself can’t be destroyed, but it can be forcibly returned to the Throne when struck by a jutsu that exceeds 80 damage. Both the cloak and the Knightmare shave 40 damage off techniques which strike it. Servant rank Surgebinders can sustain the summoned Phantasm indefinitely but they will be prevented from calling forth any further Noble Phantasms until they return this one to the Throne. Heroic Spirits and above can sustain two Noble Phantasms indefinitely but will also be prevented from calling forth any further weapons until at least one is returned.
Demons of Mephistopheles - Seven Princes of Hell
What truly makes this cloak a Noble Phantasm, is that it contains a familiar composed entirely of prana energy. This familiar is also known as a Rashomon and is composed entirely of white Prana. It exists within the cloak, with the Noble Phantasm acting as the vessel of it's containment. The physical form it takes varies from user to user but it is always some kind of animal, creature or hybrid. Upon being summoned onto the body of a Surgebinder, the Rashomon will sap some of their chakra (equal to this jutsu's chakra cost) and essentially adopt the colour of their Prana. This will change it from it's 'dormant' state to it's 'active' state whereby it's capable of acting autonomously and independently of the user. This will neither cost a move nor occupy a slot in the timeframe, it occurs instantaneously upon the phantasm being summoned. The cloak will develop a glowing aura of light in the colour of the user's Prana to signify the Rashomon's activation. This Rashomon can be controlled through mental commands. It can seamlessly emerge from and reintegrate with the cloak at will. It can be released in any shape or form such as tendrils, spikes, limbs, weapons, animals or any other configuration. As it's body is composed of raw Prana energy, it will exhibit the absorption traits of Evocation. This translates to the ability to absorb objects, parts of the terrain and techniques that possess lower chakra than the Rashomon, however upon clashing with a technique of equal chakra, both it and the opposing technique will cancel eachother out. Upon absorbing a technique possessed of lower chakra, the Rashomon will passively leech the amount of chakra it took to neutralize the jutsu from the user's body to restore itself to full strength. Absorbing techniques will count as a move each time it's used (on the turn of summoning, any absorptions count as part of the single move slot used to summon the weapon) but the user is free to perform other techniques while it occurs. Even while released, the Rashomon possess the ability to constantly reshape and reform itself but it's total size can never exceed mid-range in dimensions. All of these manoeuvres, including its initial release and returning to its vessel are passive manoeuvres. However, it should be noted that when the Rashomon is used to attack an opponent, it will cost a move to do so but again, the user will be free to perform other techniques while this occurs.
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Knightmares of Hijikata - Shinsengumi's Vengeance
Knightmares of Hijikata is a very similar variant to the Seven Princes but instead of a cloak, it creates an oversized suit of armour which surrounds the user entirely. The summoner or wielder of the NP is nestled at its core, and the Knightmare can be thought of as a suit of armour suited to a three or four-meter tall giant. The user's chakra is capable of diffusing through the suit, to perform techniques which require contact with the ground or a water source. It possesses all of the aforementioned abilities except in this variant of the technique, is that the Rashomon, is infused with one of the user's basic, advanced or custom elements. The prana then, does not absorb but rather burns, crushes, cuts or electrocutes upon contact and follows the S/W of the chosen element exactly. If the chosen element is solid, the Knightmare itself can also be made of that material but this is optional. It possess the same regenerative abilities as the first variant, allowing it to regenerate fully from A-Ranks it is weak to, S-Ranks it is neutral to and Forbidden Ranks it is strong to. A Knightmare's Rashomon can be destroyed quite easily if struck with any jutsu that exceeds those stated ranks in damage (an A-Rank of 70 damage of an element it's weak to will destroy the Rashomon and return the Noble Phantasm to the throne). Since the prana is infused with chakra, it no longer absorbs and therefore the Rashomon can freely interact with the terrain. It can grab a hold of trees and other features of the terrain to travel by rappelling the Knightmare towards that location, it can throw or catch objects and can interact with anything solid as well as energy-based. As with the cloak in Demons of Mephistopheles, any jutsu the user released or created from the user's body or skin, will manifest outside of the Knightmare. Any jutsu which teleport the jutsu or anything similar, will also teleport the Noble Phantasm as it is considered a physical extension of their body. Once a turn, the user can shoot beams, blasts or create geometrical shields that detach from the Rashomon or other projectiles, which are A-Rank in power and count as a move slot but leave the user free to perform other techniques. The Rashomon immediately regenerates its defensive power upon performing this ability, but as with earlier, it will absorb chakra from the wearer to do so. This Noble Phantasm can be worn by summons, as it can take on any humanoid or animal shape, for example a Griffin summon could have dragon-shaped armour.
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(Busou: Kenshoushi no Seiki) – Surge of Armament: Century of Champions
Type: Defensive/Supplementary
Rank: S
Range: Short-Long
Chakra Cost: 40
Damage Points: N/A
Description: This technique is the most fundamental Armament technique in the Surgebinder arsenal and covers each major class of warrior. The user can summon the Noble Phantasm anywhere on the field, but it must be at least short-range away from the opponent unless the user is also inside that range. Servant rank Surgebinders can sustain the summoned Phantasm indefinitely but they will be prevented from calling forth any further Noble Phantasms until they return this one to the Throne. Heroic Spirits and above can sustain two Noble Phantasms indefinitely but will also be prevented from calling forth any further weapons until at least one is returned.
Blades of the Saber
The user will summon a sword from the Throne with a glowing metal blade that vibrates at the frequency of lightning. It is coated in and charged with a never-ending current of electricity that cannot be short circuited or insulated. The blade can be stabbed into a conductive surface such as earth, water, metal, mist, etc to release currents of electricity in every direction, that quickly form into dozens, hundreds or thousands of replicas of the metal blade jutting upwards, downwards or in any direction. This counts as a move, deals 60 damage per attack (regardless of the number of blades used) and the user is free to perform other techniques. If the user drops the blade, it can be recalled to their hand with a mental command or manipulated remotely through hand gestures in a similar manner to Lightning Blade Levitation. Upon summoning, the blade leaks prana into the user's body which renders them immune to electric shocks and paralysis. Alternatively, the glowing blade is coated in wreath of prana-infused flames which cannot be extinguished. Both the fire and the aforementioned electricity, can be used as a source for Fire, Lightning and advanced or custom elements which are energetic (e.g. Dark, Rhythm or Storm). This fiery blade renders the user immune to burns, dehydration and the effects of scorching temperatures. The blades themselves deal 80 damage on direct contact with the opponent’s body or techniques. Using it to counter a technique counts as one of the user’s moves per turn.
Spears of the Lancer
The user will summon an indestructible, two-meter long spear, staff or lance from the Throne into either of their hands. These weapons will be slightly elastic to the point they can be used for pole vaulting and will be capable of extending their length. The speed of extension will be twice the user's base speed but retracting it to restore it's original size will occur instantly. Since the weapon is not subject to the effects of gravity, the user will not be weighed down regardless of how much it increases in size. This will also enable it to fly through the air and the user can control it's movements through mental commands. The weapon will also have the have the malleability of a liquid, allowing it to change shape at will. Noble Phantasms in this class will possess the ability to enter and exit the Throne passively and instantly, taking no slot in the timeframe. Each time it disappears, an exact replica of the weapon will remain it's place, completely camouflaging it's teleportation to the naked eye. These replicas will possess all of the abilities of the original but they will only have the durability of a basic kunai. Their creation process is exactly the same as the Shadow Shuriken technique but there is no puff of smoke. It can teleport any number of times in a given turn but all the created duplicates will collectively count as one move.
Bows of the Archer
The user will summon any kind of bow as well as a quiver full of arrows onto their back. The quiver will appear with a strap that will be fastened onto the user's body. Upon contact with the bow, the user's body will be flooded with an incredible amount of prana. This will enhance their sense of sight without making them more sensitive to bright lights or intense stimuli. This increased visual acuity will allow them to see everything in the landmark they're in as well as see through clouds of dust, mist and heavy rain. This means they will be completely unaffected by such conditions present in certain landmarks. Their eyes will also become capable of following the speed of quicker targets, which translates to a tracking increase of x3. The arrows will not be subject to the effects of gravity or air resistance and so they will continue perpetually nor will they ever slow down since no energy is lost. They will also cleanly slice through basic weapons and ninja tools them without being deflected off their trajectory in the slightest. They will seek out and be drawn to targets with chakra foreign to the user's own once they are fired. When multiple sources of foreign chakra exist, they will always be directed towards the ones with the greatest concentration of chakra. Once per turn, by pulling back the bowstring and releasing it, long stream(s) of wind-infused prana will be emitted from the front of the bow. The infusion of wind chakra will give the prana distinct slicing properties, enabling them to cut straight through solid targets. This is an A-Ranked ability, will cost a move and has a long-range reach. Both the normal arrows and the streams of prana will travel at twice the user's speed.
Chariot of the Rider
The user will summon a chariot, golem, fortress or anything else that can be ridden. All of the Noble Phantasms in this class are capable of flight and can be a maximum size of twenty meters in radius. They will also be durable enough to tank one S-Rank technique per turn, whereby they will then passively regenerate from the damage sustained by the end of the turn. The golems can come in any shape or form, whether it's animalistic, humanoid, a hybrid or monstrous. Large-scale phantasms will displace the user's body in the same way as summons do if they're manifested beneath them. Earth-based phantasms will be constructed of rock and stone while Water-based ones will be made of ice. More accurately, most of the exterior will be made of ice that can't be melted and the interior will contain a large quantity of water. The water will be encased by the ice from all sides barring the top, allowing it to be accessed. The user will be capable of manipulating the earth/water for the use of techniques. The phantasm can be made of any solid or liquid material and be used as a source for Custom Element or Advanced Element techniques. This will be supplemented by their ability to regenerate, meaning the source will replenish itself upon and even during use and therefore can even be used to perform techniques larger than itself. Since it is infused with copious of amounts of Prana, it can't be manipulated by the opponent and techniques created from that source will have their strengths and weaknesses erased.
Armour of the Berserker
The user will summon an armour slightly larger than their body, made of any material, over their current attire, which will envelop them fully or partially. In the case of full body armours, by default they will not conceal the user's eyes or mouth unless specified otherwise. All armours in this class can be reshaped passively to extend weapons, limbs, spikes, tendrils, prehensile tails, hands which can perform handseals and wings capable of flight. These suit of armour will be both weightless and flexible at the joints, meaning they will not hinder the user's ability to move in the slightest. The composition of the armours makes them incredibly durable, rendering them immune to damage from A-Rank and below techniques. It can completely block/negate the damage of one S-Rank technique but this will neutralize the Noble Phantasm and return it to the Throne. The armour insulates both electrical currents and extreme heats and will also absorb the force of massive impacts or techniques. They user will sustain no fall damage, from any height, and the armour will absorb and reflect the impact of any physical strike onto the attacker. Since they are fully infused with prana, the armour cannot be manipulated by foreign chakra or energy. Only the user can use the armour as a source for techniques.
Grimoire of the Caster
The user will summon a 'spellbook' onto their person that can't be made wet, burnt or corroded. It will also insulate any electrical currents and despite it's composition, possess enough durability to sustain S-Rank and below offensive techniques without taking damage. Upon contact with the user's body or attire, the book will leak prana into them to enhance their body and ability to mold chakra. The prana infusion will render the user's body virtually weightless and lighter than air, allowing them to fly through the air while they're in contact with the book. The main effect of the infusion is that the user gains +20 damage to the element or ability of their choice (defensive and supplementary jutsu can defend against or affect jutsu one rank higher than normal). The user can perform all techniques by gesturing a single hand, as long as they're holding the grimoire in the other. These effects only apply if the user is holding it, and the effects will have to be recast if the user reacquires the grimoire after dropping it or being disarmed (although it does not cost a move or take a slot in the timeframe to do this). Once per turn, the grimoire can release a large amount of Prana that will form into shields or geometric shapes around the user. The shields can be linear walls or they can expand into 3D shapes that encapsulate the user partially or completely. The user can extend spikes, tendrils and other harmful constructions from these shields up to a short-range distance but these extensions will always remain connected to the central structure. This is an S-Ranked ability and will count as a move when used.
Masks of the Assassin
The user will summon a mask and cloak filled with daggers, which will manifest over their current attire. Both the cloak and mask are waterproof, fireproof, and will defend against freeform damage of all kinds. Every cloak and mask will possess a unique colour and design and will fit the user perfectly as each is tailor-made for the individual. Within the interior of the cloak, held in place by numerous pockets, are countless throwing daggers known as 'Black Keys'. These daggers are invisible, unaffected by air resistance, produce no sound whatsoever and are impossible to sense. Whenever they clash with or come into contact with anything, no sound is produced by the collision/contact. These daggers can be used in exactly the same manner as basic ninja tools.
Emiya returned his full, undivided attention to Demetrias. There was no way he could talk him out of this. Last time he announced his age, and accomplishments seemingly more out of frustration than any attempt at bragging. It was clear that the Voidlord's were dead set in their goals. One ruled over Irkalla for millennia with an iron fist, while the one before him only retreated last time as his only method of harming his quarry to ensure their cooperation was removed from the equation. Compared to such strength, Emiya was little more than Demetrias' begrudged ticket to the Blacksmith. Emiya shuddered to think why they would want Marzan, never mind what they could actually achieve with him. It was like he was missing a piece of the puzzle however, as Phetra had Marzan within her care for millennia. If Demetrias wanted him he could have simply asked, unless she was the uncooperative sort, or merely "having" Marzan wasn't enough. Demetrias did thank him for opening "his sanctuary" so perhaps the Armory or something within it was the goal, and Marzan was simply a bonus? Questions for later. For now, Emiya raised his sword at the ready towards the Voidlord in direct defiance, but his heart wasn't entirely set on violence. So he replied to a question that had been weighing on his mind since Kythira, then asked one of his own.
"I'm... Not afraid of you, but I can't deny the reality that you're stronger either. And though you don't owe me an answer I have to ask.
What's the point? Of any of this? Phetra was one of the strongest people I've ever met. She had the power to change the world, and maybe from your perspective she was working towards making it better, but she hurt so many along the way. What end could possibly justify those means?
How does someone like that, someone like you come to serve someone or something seemingly bent on destroying the world?"
Chakra: 1600 -20 (Outer Body Training Method (The Threshold) -40 x2 (Reign + Century) = 1500.
Marzan took a step backward, shocked that someone could have entered his Armory uninvited. His methods had even eluded the gods thousands of years ago. "I'm...I'm not really a combatant..." He wasn't afraid. Even the Underworld couldn't frighten the old blacksmith. But he knew aside from his weapons he was helpless here.
"Did she not change the world? Phetra, one of the few humans who has ever slain a god, usurped the Underworld, made it her own. And because of her machinations, alongside another one of my comrades, death has left this world. Death! The great finality! The ultimate arbiter! The fates of millions ended, tampered with. Have we not changed the world? Is this not better? Millions will not die. Their lives will go on into eternity. You mistake me. I do not hate humans, nor do any of my other colleagues. We simply hate the gods." Demetrias paused, his gaze shifting from Marzan and Emiya to around the room as if he was searching for something. Perhaps he sought the hidden God-Slaying Tools that survived the millennia. "I ask a similar question of you, Emiya Shirou. Why sacrifice yourself for the Ordered Way? You do not defend humans. You defend the gods. You defend an ancient Pantheon of capricious beings that ordered death into the universe, wrote greed into reality, and granted political structures to humanity to wage endless wars upon each other? Why is your sacrifice more honorable or morally good than my own?"
With Marzan's statement that he wasn't a combatant, and the fact he didn't act on Emiya's advice to use the same means they had to arrive to leave, this was beginning to look like the worst case scenario, just like back on Kythira. As Demetrias gave Emiya an earnest answer, he had to perform a double take at how casually the Voidlord stated that death itself had been removed from the world. Emiya had a similar thought back in Irkalla, that they were messing with the flow of souls into the afterlife by assaulting both those who weaved fate, and the one who judged souls upon entering the afterlife. But even the he did not in his wildest dreams believe that the world could be affected to such a degree, though it sounded as though it were more of a product of their fellow Voidlord than the Champions themselves. It was hard to believe, and yet Demetrias did not seem to be the sort who lied. If that was the case then some small part of Emiya felt joy, for a byproduct of this effect was a personal goal of his... For people to not suffer any more. If death had been removed from the world in it's entirety, was that such a bad thing? It was hard to put into words exactly how wondrous that sounded, yet at the same time, simply due to living in a world where death was the norm, Emiya couldn't help but feel as though it were unnatural. What did that mean for humanity? The Soul was apparently the creation of Nergal, and could persist beyond death, and if that soul had lived a good and proper life they got to spend the rest of eternity in bliss. That didn't sound so bad. But what of the body? Would that simply continue to age and wither with time until that which one called life would be so unrecognizable that it could only be called a curse? As before, Emiya saw the goal, but couldn't agree with the methods. He saw the compassion in Demetrias' words, but couldn't overlook the sheer disregard for the innocent it took to achieve. Emiya's response was more energetic than his initial words, but again his emotions were kept in check as he gave his answer.
"You know, you almost convinced me that what you're doing is for the greater good... But what Gods were slaughtered when Phetra assaulted Last Bastion, and laid waste to the lands beyond those walls? What Divine beings were you hurting when you all orchestrated Tiamat's release in the Hokubu, and she carved a trail of destruction to the West? How many people suffered from the disease you and yours spread across the world for no good reason? How many innocent people died in the name of your cause before you decided to remove the concept of death from the world?! How much suffering do you intend to inflict upon those who've never done you any wrong before you decide you're satisfied?!
I don't care for whatever 'Order' you claim I defend. I do what I think is right, and nothing else. Not you, nor or any other, not even the Gods themselves could ever change that. Only I decide what I fight for, and I fight for Humanity. If the Gods ever threatened that, I would fight them too, but I would do it without abandoning my humanity, or using people and their lives like tools to be discarded. That, to me, is what makes my cause more honorable and morally good than yours. The only thing I'm willing to sacrifice is myself! And if that's enough to make a difference, change the world, save the day, I'd do it with zero regrets or hesitation!!"
As he laid his convictions bare, an aura of pure silver engulfed Emiya, dazzling silver stars burning brightly within the seemingly vast expanse of Prana-infused Chakra enveloping Emiya's form, his typical azure hue completely engulfed now by his belief in the righteousness of his actions. Nothing Demetrias said or did could change that. If Merlin were preset he may have made a comment about the former Grandmaster of the Knights Radiant, Galahad, and how Emiya's Prana was almost a radiant as theirs. As the shroud was energetically expelled from Emiya's entire body, he awaited Demetrias' response to his clearly galvanized convictions.
(Ninpō: Ritomasu Fōmu) Ninja Art: Litmus Form Type: Supplementary Rank: N/A Range: Self - Short Chakra: N/A Damage: N/A Description: A simple technique, with varying applications, Litmus Form takes principles from both of it's related techniques, namely the simplicity of Litmus Finger, and the full body applications of Litmus Fist, and combines them both, to create a full-body application, which is achieved through a very simple method. This technique utilizes the Chakra that naturally leaks from the body [SUP][
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][/SUP], and is what allows Chakra Sensor-types to detect other lifeforms, such as enemy Shinobi, to create an unranked, full body cosmetic. It has been shown that this naturally exuded can be directly manipulated, such as with the "Chakra Suppression Technique", allowing the user to prevent this Chakra from escaping the body, making them virtually invisible to Chakra Sensors. This technique follows a similar principle, allowing the user to passively manipulate this ambient Chakra, moulding it much like they would for a Jutsu, applying both changes to the Shape and Element, giving it a basic "form" as it leaves the body. This however, unlike the aforementioned technique, doesn't make the user invisible to Chakra Sensors, as the Chakra is still "leaving" the users body, simply in another "state". This allows the user to re-purpose this Chakra, for example, allowing them to wreathe themselves in flames, or cloak themselves in an aura of electrical energy, vortex of wind, etc, and other purely cosmetic applications, without any actual Chakra cost, or effort on part of the user, leaving them open to perform other actions without interference. These cosmetics carry no damage, or tangible properties, not from a lack of control or influence from the user, but simply due to them being composed of the "dregs" of one's Chakra Flow, Chakra that would otherwise go unused, making any impact on both the user, other beings, and the world around them, almost entirely negligible.
Note: Can only be taught by Iᴍᴘᴇяғᴇᴄᴛ, and only to those who have learned "(Ninpō: Ritomasu Fingā) Ninja Art: Litmus Finger" and "(Nintaijutsu: Ritomasu Fisuto) Ninja Body Technique: Litmus Fist".
Demetrias's Mangekyou Sharingan faded away, reverting to its Three Tomoe form until his eyes finally changed back into the signature eyes neutral eyes of the Uchiha - simple black marbles. "Then fall on your blade. Kill yourself for what you claim to defend. Sacrifice yourself upon the altar of the gods in defiance. If you do, I will leave. I will allow this ancient human, a product of the gods he claims to equalize, to remain free. His armory untouched." It was an ultimatum. A simple and elegant choice.
Emiya was blatantly taken aback by the request, and more importantly promise proposed. But there was no long, protracted silence. No scheming ploy to get out of this. If they fought, Emiya would most likely perish. If he tried to be deceitful, he would most likely invoke the Voidlord's full wrath. Maybe he could put up a decent fight, but the reality was he couldn't fight within this enclosed space, with an ally he needed to defend, against someone who so thoroughly beat him last time. That black mist technique alone could have most likely killed Emiya already if Demetrias wished. This "deal" was the only way to prevent Marzan and his creations from falling into the Voidlord's hands, provided Demetrias was sincere. Emiya lowered his blade to his side to mirror Demetrias' deescalation of the situation by deactivating his Sharingan.
"You would do that, even after all this? How can I trust you to uphold that?"
"You have my word."
It took only a moment for Emiya to return the Rashomon Noble Phantasm that had been called to protect him to the Throne. Emiya's gaze drifted to the floor for a moment as he thought of everything he had been through since he started this journey. Ironic that, despite dying numerous times, he still made it out of Irkalla alive. Even more so that he would die to the same opponent twice. His eyes then focused upon the pendant hanging around his neck, it's energy long since spent. It would not save him this time. Finally his gaze drifted to Marzan. A thousand thoughts flooded his mind in that moment, all the messages he wanted to entrust to the smith. To tell Solomon that he was sorry, to tell Merlin that he tried his best, to tell Enkidu that he was proud of him, and hoped he was proud in turn... And to apologize to the God for rendering his heroic, kind act in Irkalla utterly useless by dying within minutes of returning. Instead, Emiya decided to be selfish for a change.
"Shame... I really wanted to see what 'Tsumukari' could do."
With a swift motion he plunged his own Noble Phantasm into his chest, aiming for a killing blow by piercing, and perhaps even completely destroying his own heart as the blade that warped reality effortlessly cut through, and began burning his body. Immediately a torrent of blood was violently ejected from Emiya's mouth through grit teeth, his face twisted into a scowl of suffering at his self-inflicted wound. Labored breaths followed as he couldn't help but fall to his knees, but he didn't regret his decision. When weighed against humanity, and the unknown threat the God Slaying Tools and Marzan posed to them in the Voidlord's hands, there was no choice to be made. He had made up his mind from the moment Demetrias offered it, he simply needed to come to terms with it, and prepare. Even now as his body began to shut down from the sheer pain, the shroud enveloping his form didn't waver, nor the Prana within change color. Just as vibrant and indicative of his belief as it was before. He believed, no matter how stupid some may call it, that his action was the right one. As his vision began to blur and darken, Emiya finally stared Demetrias in the eyes, unable to muster the breath to speak, but emitted a look that conveyed all he had to say.
"Remember, I have your word. Now leave and do not return."
With that, Emiya closed his eyes and waited for whatever came next... Probably the imposing aura of Falnir, with the smuggest look the lesser Divinity could muster, and a sarcastic question, like "Back so soon, Mortal?". That would be pretty funny, though the truth was he didn't know for sure what the future held for him. But he had no regrets, this was the only path. His whole life was... For this single moment.
Demetrias stood there silent as the spectacle unfolded, watching as Emiya's body collapsed onto the cold stone floor of Marzan's Armory. No smug expression, no satisfaction - just puzzlement. Demetrias could only wonder how strange it was that this boy, so young, could be so dedicated to stopping their crusade. Or at least hindering it. "Heal him, old man. He has a role to play in this cosmic struggle. The boy's life can yet be saved." Demetrias turned away, leaving a stunned Marzan nearly speechless. What had his intention been all along? To merely test his convictions? Either way, he vanished. Turned into a cyan inferno as his Soul Fire carried him elsewhere, toward whatever mysterious destiny was in store for him. He was gone.
Marzan turned away, looking at Emiya's now lifeless body. Heal him? The smith was no healer. He was a smith, a master of the forge. All he knew was how to forge a blade, though his could kill the Divine. The great equalizer. But then it occurred to him, moving toward the forge as he took the shattered pieces of an empty sword. It still radiated with the Void, the dark energies of cosmic nothingness. But to Marzan that was not a flaw. It was an opportunity. It occurred to him, just as he had said before, that death was a metamorphosis. If it was a blank slate then Marzan would write upon it, using the only skills that he knew: hammer, anvil, fire, and forge. He took the shards and using the ever-lasting flame tossed them into the blaze. The atavistic flames licked at the fragments of Blessings, their form melting away into a molten heap of formless metal alloy. Marzan turned, letting the flames do their work, and retrieved the mold for a standard katana. This would be his a masterpiece, a weapon fit to cut through reality itself just as the Void and the Divinity it would wield. "In the wars to come this blade will cut not only gods, but the very tapestry they have woven. Wielded by a Champion of Humanity and pointed at the forces that would take our freedom!" Marzan took his anvil as the metal pooled from the forge and into the katana mold. Water fed from above as sparks illuminated the room as he struck the mold of the blade, fashioning it into a sword.
It wasn't long before the blade was finished. "Tsumukari. A blade to cut the gods." He knelt at Emiya's side, looking at the lifeless body. "A blade to cut causality." He drove the sword through Emiya's chest, draining some of his own life force to 'cut' what had killed Emiya - his own Noble Phantasm.
(Tsumukari) – Heaven Reaching Blade
Type: Artifact
Rank: S
Range: Short – Long
Chakra: N/A
Damage: 100
Description: Tsumukari, or the Heaven Reaching Blade, is the first katana reforged in the Armory of Marzan after the raid on Irkalla, the Underworld. The sword was reforged using the remnants of the God-Slaying Tool Blessings from the End of the World. Tsumukari is the first of a new generation of God-Slaying Tools, weapons noted to be the great “equalizers” in a cosmic conflict between the gods and man. Forging the blade was a cooperative effort between Marzan, the original engineer of the God-Slaying Tools, and his apprentice Emiya in the aftermath of the demise of the Domain of Death. Because its former iteration was rife with Void energy, Tsumukari has been endowed with unique abilities that go beyond what a standard God-Slaying Tool is capable of. On a basic level Tsumukari and the techniques it produces, be it through the sword or the sword as a proxy, contain proper Divinity to damage and slay a god. Passively, Tsumukari increases the user’s Kenjutsu techniques that utilize the sword by 30 additional damage. All the user’s Kenjutsu techniques, with the exception of those of Tsumukari’s active abilities that explicitly exclude them, gain a single range unit. Visually this appears as crescents and strikes of energy lashing out from the edge of Tsumukari, extending the range when necessary. Tsumukari is unbreakable; though its unbreakable nature cannot be used defensively alone. Use of any of the active abilities of Tsumukari puts the other two on cooldown for two turns.
Yōtō (lit. 妖刀, "wicked katana"): The first and most basic attack afforded to the wielder by Tsumukari. The user adorns the edge of the blade with chakra, infusing it with trace Divinity, and performing simple slashes or piercing attacks with the sword. The user can either maintain the energy along the edge of the blade, empowering its basic attacks to inflict considerable damage for up to three attacks or five turns, whichever comes first. Alternatively, the user can consume the adorned edge and focus it into an arc of Chakra as a projectile with long-range reach. In either case, the blade strikes for 100 physical damage. This damage is treated as strong to all natures and abilities, with the only exception of Anutu and its components. Can be used four times per battle.
Will of the God-Slayer: A state activated through Tsumukari. The Will of the God-Slayer is the legacy of Marzan himself; through raw determination and human ingenuity the blacksmith forged the first God-Slaying Tool. It is an evocation of tenacity and hope, the desire for a better tomorrow by equalizing the war of today. When activated the user’s Kenjutsu prowess is further augmented, increased by an additional 20 damage while gaining an increase of three times their base speed. Additionally, any critical strikes they land with Tsumukari are increased by 30%. Lasts for four turns, can be used twice per battle.
Tsumukari Muramasa: A unique technique that emerges from Tsumukari’s unique composition between Void and Divinity. In short, this ability affords Tsumukari the power to cut causality. The technique is initiated through the user’s Chakra, costing 120, though its true cost lies in the Health Points it drains. Because the user possesses no Divinity the combination of Void and Divinity siphon the user’s health, costing the user 70 Health Points to perform. This health cannot be regenerated while in a battle unless the user possesses full Anutu or Atavistic Flame, in which case it can only be regenerated four turns after Tsumukari’s use. In the case of Atavistic Flame it heals at a rate of 50%, meaning if the user heals for 70 Health Points with Atavistic Flame it will count as 35 toward their total. In essence, when this technique is activated it becomes able to ‘cut’ causality and concepts that the user is capable of perceiving. It cannot cut the concept of ‘life,’ meaning to instantly kill another target. When Tsumukari is used like this it does not physically cut the target, rather it performs a metaphysical cut. There is no visible slash, gash, or piercing wound left on their victim, though contact with the blade is still required. Tsumukari Muramasa can cut Chakra, bonds, summoning contracts, and even Edo Tensei links. This ability can be used thrice per battle.
With a horrified gasp endless darkness in every direct gave way to the cozy, welcoming aura of the humble workshop. Emiya couldn't have been out for more than a few minutes, and yet to him the transition was both eternal and instant. One moment collapsing in on itself into infinity, an infinite black void wherein no light could exist, but then hope rekindled as effortlessly as it was extinguished. For just a moment Emiya stared off into the back of the room, wondering if this was simply one of the last sights he saw repeated by his mind struggling to comprehend his own death, but as Marzan's form shifted slightly it gave Emiya the awareness to break free from his stupor. As he cleared his throat and took a cautious swallow it was definitely hoarse, but not as bad as he was expecting. There was breath in his lungs, more than he dared to imagine was possible after he'd run himself through.
"What...?"
As life returned to his eyes with recollection of the situation they darted to Demetrias' prior position, the corner of the room completely empty, the Voidlord seemingly making good on his word. It was only when Emiya's gaze returned to Marzan, the slow, deliberate movement revealing a strange weight in his chest. Looking down, there, embedded in roughly the same area he'd self-terminated not moments ago was another different, yet familiar hilt. It was that of Blessings-no, Tsumukari by the looks of it, seeing as the blade had been clearly reforged. Emiya hesitated for a moment, but as he withdrew the blade from his chest there was no pain to speak of, in fact there wasn't even a wound. How this blade had clearly run him through, yet left no mark was an answer only the smith behind the blade could answer.
Marzan watched as Emiya clearly struggled to grasp what had just occurred. Sword buried in his chest, yet no wound to speak of, and even the one that was there was missing
"It might be hard for you to wrap your head around, but Tsumukari cut causality. That injury you inflicted upon yourself? Tsumukari 'cut' it. Not the injury, but the concept of that injury. Though that injury no longer exists make no mistake, for several minutes it did. In every sense, you were dead. Now you are not."
Though Emiya didn't fully understand the extent of the meaning behind those words, he could understand that the sword had cut the "reality" that was his injury, erasing it. Ironically Noble Phantasms operate under a similar logic of bending reality, though if he understood it right, Tsumukari didn't so much as bend reality as much as circumvent it entirely. Rising to his feet, Emiya began to come to his senses, the initial shock, and following confusion subsiding as the gravity of the situation, and weight of reality came crashing down on him. Though he didn't regret it, and would uphold that, he definitely owed a lot of people an apology for ending things so unceremoniously. Putting that potential drama to one side for now, Emiya instead turned his attention back to the Armory, and Marzan.
"Thanks. I probably should be surprised he kept up his end of the deal, but honestly I'm not. I'm just glad things worked out this well.
I have no clue what they want with your creations, but it can't be good."
"Actually, I need to talk to you about that."
"Is something wrong?"
Marzan took Emiya over to a corner of the room where a previously unseen, incredibly reinforced looking door stood defiant against time. Though covered in a layer of dust, runes could be made out, a faint glow softly pushing against the warm radiance of the long-burning forge.
"Yes, in a sense. The last time I was here I locked the God Slaying Tools away here within the Vault."
"So what's the problem? Open it."
"I can't."
"What, did you forget your keys in your other Forge?"
"Just trust me when I say I locked the vault up as tightly as I could, and opening it will take more time than we can afford at the moment. Not even the Gods themselves could get in here, and trust me, they tried. I need you to use Tsumukari to cut the seal on the Vault. I would do it myself, but Tsumukari comes with a cost which you will come to understand in time. All that matters for the moment is that you focus on your target. Envision this seal as a lock, and Tsumukari as the key. Perceive it's conceptual purpose, to seal this space away, and rend it's existence from reality. Tsumukari will do the rest."
A cost, huh? That was apparently the theme of the day, but since Marzan had apparently used Tsumukari and was still standing, it couldn't be that bad, could it? This would make for a nice controlled test of Tsumukari, outside of combat, where he didn't need to worry about managing this "cost" on top of an opponent, and their actions. Taking a free style stance, Emiya prepared to deploy his first usage of Tsumukari Muramasa, the Heaven Reaching Blade of the Demonic Blacksmith. The blade both fit perfectly to every groove and contour in his grip, like it was made for his hands alone, yet was so perfectly balanced it felt like it wasn't there at all. The blade itself suspended in a state between Divinity and the Void, something that both incorporates and at the same time transcends them. Marzan took a step back, folding his arms over while he watched Emiya, who himself was solely focused on the vault's door. With a tremendous amount of Chakra, Emiya activated Tsumukari, believing this absurdly high amount of Chakra to be the cost Marzan mentioned, he would soon realize that would come after. With his sights set solely on the Vault's door before them, and more specifically the seal preventing their entry, Emiya took a step forward and swung. It was not particularly forceful, nor was it a light scratch, but somewhere in between. Where he expected to meet resistance as the blade began to cut into the Vault's door itself, it passed through meeting none, the blade cutting through reality, and carving the seal from existence, while leaving no mark on the door, nor the undisturbed debris that clung to it's form. The faint trail of wind from Emiya's motion had more of an effect on the flecks of time than the sword ever would. With an initial burst of light from door the markings faded, as a faint wisp of air both rushed into and out of the room, as though a hermetic seal had been broken. Immediately following, Emiya felt a tremendous wave of pain as he felt the conceptual recoil of utilizing a fragment of Divinity to overwrite reality while not being a Divinity himself. His body was wracked with pain as his vitality was drained, and quite a large portion at that. It felt as though a third of his being had taken recoil from the rather simple act. Looking to Marzan, Emiya knew he had taken this same recoil when he had reversed his "death". Despite saying he absolutely had no capacity for combat, he still managed to withstand this amount of pain, and to his very being? Emiya gained even more appreciation for the act, and respect for the Smith.
With the Vault open, Marzan triumphantly approached the heavy door, and gave a not so light push, straining somewhat slightly. As the doors swung open, Emiya could just make out the faintest outlines of the room beyond the blacksmiths form. As the doors continued to resist, but slowly gave way to the Vault beyond, Marzan began.
"Though they have been locked away for Millennia, they shall finally see the light of day once more.
These tools whose can defy the Gods themselves shall fulfill their purpose; to protect Humanity from those beyond their reach.
Emiya Shirō, behold the weapons that equalized and won humanity the Old War, the God Slaying Too-..."
It was empty. The room void of anything remotely resembling a weapon, or tool, or anything that could kill a God. Marzan looked on in stunned silence. The Gods themselves couldn't enter this place, and Demetrias apparently needed Emiya to do so, and the exact means for how he was able to circumvent the Armory's mystical protections was itself a mystery. So how? Who? Emiya looked passed Marzan to see the empty Vault, and understood the reason for the silence. They were all gone. Evidently Tsumukari was the last God Slaying Tool that humanity had, or knew the location of. Whatever once decorated these halls, lost to the annals of time, or more likely whoever stole them.
"This doesn't make sense. They're gone... How can they be gone?!"
"How many Tools were here?"
"At least fifteen last I counted. I just don't understand, this entire Armory is sealed, no one can get in or out, and the Vault sealed on top of that. This place is untouched, yet somehow the Tools I sealed away are gone. This...!!"
Marzan was both clearly angered and bewildered at the loss of the Tools within the Vault. Fifteen of some of the finest weapons ever crafted, able to render the Gods susceptible to humanity's efforts are now lost, and could have been for as long as Marzan was missing, which is quite the span of time considering he'd spent thousands of years within Irkalla. With no answers nor solutions to give, Emiya gave Marzan the same courtesy the blacksmith gave him when he was coming back around; time to process what had happened. Emiya was clearly there, but gave Marzan space so as to not crowd him. This was clearly a problem, and one which could not easily be solved least of all with the help of an inexperienced Hero of Justice. Dismissing Tsumukari with a flick of his hand, as the weapon vanished into the aether Marzan spoke up.
"You can leave whenever you want. You're under no obligation to stay."
"I know. And even though I can't really help, I also can't help but want to."
"While that is a commendable desire, there's not much you can do to help me now. I'm sure there are others that could use your help, and as ironic as it may sound, I could use some time to myself. Just know you are always welcome here."
"Honestly, you're right. But if you ever need help, don't hesitate to let me know, okay?"
"Of that you can be certain."
"I'll hold you to that. And thanks. Not just for Tsumukari, but also what you did with it."
With little else to say between the two, Emiya left the God Slaying Blacksmith to his own devices, ascending the stairs that lead to the exit of the Armory and out into the Port of Innovus. This long, arduous chapter in the Hero's life over, at least for the moment.
Marzan hadn't expected visitors so soon after Emiya left the Armory, though he was always welcome to come back at any time. "Emiya? Back so soon? And with guests?" He turned from his seat before the forge, hair matted down in front of his eyes as if he had been napping. He used the past few hours as a moment of respite; the first time he had been alone in thousands of years without being tormented.
Marzan hadn't expected visitors so soon after Emiya left the Armory, though he was always welcome to come back at any time. "Emiya? Back so soon? And with guests?" He turned from his seat before the forge, hair matted down in front of his eyes as if he had been napping. He used the past few hours as a moment of respite; the first time he had been alone in thousands of years without being tormented.
As he lead the duo down into the heart of the operation the Blacksmith himself bid them welcome, noting how brief the duration of his departure from the Armory ended up being.
"I know you said you'd call for me, but as fate would have it, you've already got your first customers and they're rather driven. Apparently one of the Voidlord's, like Phetra and Demetrias, is a God, and is up to some pretty concerning things. According to these two, he's managed to remove 'death' as a concept from the world while we were in Irkalla, and that's just the tip of the spear so to speak. This is Mirabelle and Isabella, they can tell you far more about it than I ever can, but they're here to ask for your help."
With the introduction out of the way, Emiya stepped aside, and let the ladies speak for themselves.
Mirabelle and the others would have arrived, several meters below the surface of the earth though she would mentally keep note of the tracks needed to arrive here at the armory. A sense…excitement yet anxiety overcame the young maiden. She wasn’t sure what Marzan would be like, though the thrill didn’t die down, as she arrived to the armory’s exterior. She inhaled and exhaled, allowing herself to be guided by Emiya as they arrived towards a male figure in the distance. She was a bit nervous and honestly, rightfully so. The man would have addressed Emiya, asking him about brining guests to the forge. Perhaps Mirabelle and Isabella were intruding a bit too early…but the Kage and her ally needed to speak to the Blacksmith, quite urgently at that. As Emiya would have introduced the ladies, Mirabelle would be the first of the two to speak up. “Greetings, Marzan,” she started. “I am Mirabelle Nariyuki, Sandaime Tsumikage, its an…honor meeting someone of such a grand legend…” she bowed, she was truly in respect of the man before her. She kept the pose for a bit, until she rose and her soft smile soon became drowned with sorrow. “Yes, I’m afraid to say but as Emiya told you, ‘death’ has apparently been removed from the world. We’re under the assumption it had to do with the death of Phetra, but we still don’t know what they meant. On the other hand, we’ve met a few others not too long ago who called themselves immortals, we watched them quite literally burn, yet somehow managed to remain alive. There’s so much we can go over…I really don’t know where to start…” she scratched the back of her head. “Though, one thing is certain…we need your help, Lord Marzan” she said with a pleading voice, one of true concern. She would have remained quiet to listen to Marzan’s returning words but also Isabella’s own.
Marzan hadn't expected visitors so soon after Emiya left the Armory, though he was always welcome to come back at any time. "Emiya? Back so soon? And with guests?" He turned from his seat before the forge, hair matted down in front of his eyes as if he had been napping. He used the past few hours as a moment of respite; the first time he had been alone in thousands of years without being tormented.
As he lead the duo down into the heart of the operation the Blacksmith himself bid them welcome, noting how brief the duration of his departure from the Armory ended up being.
"I know you said you'd call for me, but as fate would have it, you've already got your first customers and they're rather driven. Apparently one of the Voidlord's, like Phetra and Demetrias, is a God, and is up to some pretty concerning things. According to these two, he's managed to remove 'death' as a concept from the world while we were in Irkalla, and that's just the tip of the spear so to speak. This is Mirabelle and Isabella, they can tell you far more about it than I ever can, but they're here to ask for your help."
With the introduction out of the way, Emiya stepped aside, and let the ladies speak for themselves.
Mirabelle and the others would have arrived, several meters below the surface of the earth though she would mentally keep note of the tracks needed to arrive here at the armory. A sense…excitement yet anxiety overcame the young maiden. She wasn’t sure what Marzan would be like, though the thrill didn’t die down, as she arrived to the armory’s exterior. She inhaled and exhaled, allowing herself to be guided by Emiya as they arrived towards a male figure in the distance. She was a bit nervous and honestly, rightfully so. The man would have addressed Emiya, asking him about brining guests to the forge. Perhaps Mirabelle and Isabella were intruding a bit too early…but the Kage and her ally needed to speak to the Blacksmith, quite urgently at that. As Emiya would have introduced the ladies, Mirabelle would be the first of the two to speak up. “Greetings, Marzan,” she started. “I am Mirabelle Nariyuki, Sandaime Tsumikage, its an…honor meeting someone of such a grand legend…” she bowed, she was truly in respect of the man before her. She kept the pose for a bit, until she rose and her soft smile soon became drowned with sorrow. “Yes, I’m afraid to say but as Emiya told you, ‘death’ has apparently been removed from the world. We’re under the assumption it had to do with the death of Phetra, but we still don’t know what they meant. On the other hand, we’ve met a few others not too long ago who called themselves immortals, we watched them quite literally burn, yet somehow managed to remain alive. There’s so much we can go over…I really don’t know where to start…” she scratched the back of her head. “Though, one thing is certain…we need your help, Lord Marzan” she said with a pleading voice, one of true concern. She would have remained quiet to listen to Marzan’s returning words but also Isabella’s own.
Isabella stood within the place with awe, her sharingan gazing upon all the corners of what seemed to be a very humble room, yet the power and chakra it exuded told a much more profound story. She was particularily interested in the flames within the forge, which have been burning for a thousand years, and pondered at their nature. Even her Amateratsu flames were extinguished after 7 days and 7 nights.
Turning her gaze back at Marzan, she allowed Mirabelle to take over the conversation, even if she didn't have much to add. Isabella couldn't say that time was of the essence here, but she was indeed eager to move on. With a sure voice, Isabella introduced herself afterwards.
My name is Isabella Uchiha. I believe I will be able to stop Nefarian. He unwittingly linked our destinies together when he killed me and brought me back to life. He looks down on me, or even dismisses me entirely, for I am just a human. Yet humans are agents of change, and I will not be overlooked anymore. These gods play us like toys, our world their playground. But our lives matter, and our ability to change the world is great.
The weapons you can produce are instrumental for our freedom and for our salvation. Please allow me to protect myself and our kin.
"I am neither a legend or a lord, miss," Marzan replied, somewhat exasperated by the sudden chaotic activity. Had Emiya really taken two strangers to him so quickly? "Though I do appreciate some of what you say. We live in a human age, Marduk made that much clear when he left with his Pantheon. It was the inspiration for my weapons in the first place. But.... Marduk looked at the cold stone ground beneath him, a sinking feeling in his stomach as he was reminded of the thieves that stole his tools. "I have none to give. They've all been taken, stolen. I can, and will, forge a new generation. But it takes time and resources."
As Mirabelle heard the blacksmith refute her claims of him being a lord and legend, she couldn’t disagree more with the latter. However, before she answered, she decided to listen to the rest of his bad news to the ladies. Once again, she took the lead in response to the immortal man. “Deflect as you may, Marzan-sama, your works itself are masterpieces, if even simplistic in appearance. They carry weight, being a weapon capable of slaying gods is no easy feat to scuff over…” she said in return. “That to me is a legend in itself...” she said stepping forward. She would breath in and out to his claim about not having any to give at the moment, needing time and resources to forge more. “Worries not, we are fully intent on gathering whatever is needed for you to forge these divine weapons…right Isabella?” she gestured to her friend. She then turned to Emiya and smiled, a silent thank you for guiding her and Isabella here.
As Mirabelle heard the blacksmith refute her claims of him being a lord and legend, she couldn’t disagree more with the latter. However, before she answered, she decided to listen to the rest of his bad news to the ladies. Once again, she took the lead in response to the immortal man. “Deflect as you may, Marzan-sama, your works itself are masterpieces, if even simplistic in appearance. They carry weight, being a weapon capable of slaying gods is no easy feat to scuff over…” she said in return. “That to me is a legend in itself...” she said stepping forward. She would breath in and out to his claim about not having any to give at the moment, needing time and resources to forge more. “Worries not, we are fully intent on gathering whatever is needed for you to forge these divine weapons…right Isabella?” she gestured to her friend. She then turned to Emiya and smiled, a silent thank you for guiding her and Isabella here.
Your work speaks for itself, Marzan, regardless of how you see yourself. I can't promise you time, for that is of the essence in this matter. But I can promise you the materials, at the best of my abilities. Will they be as... Unique... As this flame? Is it a creation of yours?
She voiced, approaching the flames within the forge, though wary not to get too close, at any sign if discomfort from the Smith, lest she breaches on Marzan's hospitality.
Marzan was confused. How could someone decipher that these flames were unique? They were eternal but their eternity was bound to humanity itself. Dimmed but not extinguished, burning but not raging. Otherwise, they appeared completely normal. No chakra could be sensed nor was any Divinity radiating from them. How could she tell? How was that possible? "I'm not sure what you're referring to. Any forge you see will have fire. If I'm being honest, I need ore. The rest of the materials will come from you, as humans." He paused, contemplating what he had just said and then laughed. "Ha, no. I don't mean your body parts. But I will bind your souls to the tools. Whatever form you might choose for them to take."
Marzan was confused. How could someone decipher that these flames were unique? They were eternal but their eternity was bound to humanity itself. Dimmed but not extinguished, burning but not raging. Otherwise, they appeared completely normal. No chakra could be sensed nor was any Divinity radiating from them. How could she tell? How was that possible? "I'm not sure what you're referring to. Any forge you see will have fire. If I'm being honest, I need ore. The rest of the materials will come from you, as humans." He paused, contemplating what he had just said and then laughed. "Ha, no. I don't mean your body parts. But I will bind your souls to the tools. Whatever form you might choose for them to take."
She whispered, loud enough for all to hear even if said introspectively. Her crimson eyes blurred out, as the flames of the void started dousing out the crimson pupils, until the Shinkaigan revealed itself in all it's cosmic glory, smothering out her Sharingan. The eyes of Knowledge had the ability to read the lifecycles of everything in existence, and peer deep into the void. These flames were primordial, their cycle of existance ruled by something other than Fire as humanity knows it.
I have mastered many Flames. The Flames of Fire (Katon), Amateratsu, Decay. I can make Ash and Gas, Embers and Heat. I can burn away the passage of Time or induce Genjutsu through my Flames. But I do not comprehend these Flames. What are they?
She turned to Marzan, careful to allow him to witness her Shinkaigan and know the truth behind her words, but shifting her eyes back to the crimson Sharingan before any excessive loss of sanity would chip away at the blacksmith's proficency.
You may use my soul as your material, Blacksmith.
She looked around the workshop for the form that suit her the most. She wasn't interested in the typical weapon, sword or spear. She has favored the scythe and the blowstick before, finally landing on the Shakujo as her main weapon for the longest time. She has dabled in the ranged weapons, and the bow will always be near and dear to her heart. But none of them called to her soul. Until she found the most innocuous of utensils.
She approached the forge to pick up an ordinary utensil.
In honor of my interest in Fire, and this one in particular, I want my form to be that of the Bellows.
The iron-cast tool she picked up was a blow poker, a bellow, a tube of metal through which one would blow into the embers of the fire, to enliven a smouldering flame. This particular one ended in a two pronged tip, two sharp pokers which typically serve to rummage through the ashes and kindle, but would serve equally well to pierce and impale her opponents. The perfect tool to control, handle and empower Fire.
Mirabelle couldn’t help but allow a light chuckle be released from her lips at Marzan’s joke. At least he has a sense of humor, but Isabella would got a small flexing tangent – explaining all the “flame” like powers she possess. Mirabelle wanted to interject but she decided to keep quiet. She lamented on the idea of how she wanted her weapon to be. There’s various forms it can take, based on her own desire…one thing she wanted to do was create a weapon that was of divine nature in her mind. She was swordsman and archer first and foremost. Any other weapon are just extensions that she can use, but she desired something a bit…more. It took a moment but that’s when she peaked her mind. “A naginata. That will be my weapon form of choice Id say” she said out loud. She even had the appearance in mind, as she nodded. "A name I have for it too…but I’ll wait for it be forged before I bless it with its name” she said. Now turning to Marzan. “Tell us, where can we find the ore for you? We can leave as soon as possible to retrieve them for you” she said.
