Everyone dreams.
Those who harbor grand ambitions; those who aspire to the path of hegemony; those who pray for a tranquil road; those who yearn for an impossible future. All of these become dreams, turning into the very vitality of life. Guided by the natural flow of human emotion and prayer, bound together by the human will.
Humans are creatures that weave wishes, weave tomorrows, hope for futures, and cherish peace and tranquility.
And precisely because of that, humans fear threats, fear aberrations, and fear impossible horrors.
...This is not something to be particularly abhorred. So long as a human remains human, it is the utterly natural movement of the heart.
If that is so—then perhaps it is inevitable that someone would be guided to this land in response to those wishes. Perhaps it is only natural that a savior should appear in this eastern land of the Sun's Origin to bring pacification.
...Are they a sinister calamity, or a brilliant light sweeping away the dark clouds? That, perhaps, is known only to fate and divine fortune.
...Then, if I do not stand, who will? When dark clouds gather and the omens of mountains of corpses and rivers of blood draw near, who will sound the alarm?
If no one else can fulfill that role... If I cannot simply overlook this land that should be at peace...
Even if I exist in this present world with a body no longer human, I—and no other—must announce the sign of this disaster.
My body is no demon.
My body is no vengeful spirit.
I am a guardian, sworn to protect the peace and living that ought to be—
"...Nn?"
In her My Room at Chaldea, Rikka—who was supposed to be sleeping soundly while hugging Jeanne and Arcueid—woke up to an unfamiliar sensation, feeling a strange touch against her skin.
The texture of grass, the breeze tickling her skin, warm sunlight, a balmy atmosphere. Sensations like being in the middle of a meadow hummed through her five senses, slowly rousing her hazy mind, spirit, and soul.
"Huh...? Am I half-asleep...?"
Slowly shaking her head, she pushed herself up.
"Heyyy. Who threw me into a simulation room without asking~?"
She raised her voice to check. But... even when she called out again, no answer returned. In the first place, was this even Chaldea? Where on earth was she?
"~?"
She looked around. Unpaved roads, rolling mountains, and a grassy field overlooking it all—that was where she stood.
The sky above was an endless, piercing blue. Judging by the tilt of the sun... it seemed to be early morning. She could grasp at least that much intuitively.
"What is going on..."
She called out to her mother dwelling within her chest.
(Hey, Mother, what's this about? A dream? Is it a dream?)
Ushigozen, the mother resting deep within her heart, offered no reply. What this place was, what this space was, what this moment was—she remained silent, refusing to speak.
"No response... It seems she's just an ordinary mom."
Though there was no answer, the Dojigiri Yasutsuna, in which her mother's soul resided, was firmly in her hand. ...Testing the waters, Rikka stood up and unsheathed the blade.
"—Hah!"
With a crisp swish, she gave it a light swing. Even with a casual flick, the line of her strike was flawless and devoid of hesitation—a martial skill belonging purely to the Guardian of Heian.
"Yep, no problem. If Mother wasn't here, I wouldn't be able to swing it like this, so she's definitely inside."
In that case... there was no real need to worry. This was probably just a dream—a ridiculously realistic one. Even her clothes had changed from her sleepwear to her usual outfit. Pretty thoughtful for a dream, Rikka thought to herself with a warm, easygoing smile.
"Alright! Well then... maybe I'll go back to sleep..."
Plop. She collapsed onto her back, sprawled out in the shape of a star, staring up at the sky. Since Roman, Olga Marie, Mash, and Gilgamesh hadn't said anything, it probably wasn't a big deal. Gazing at the picture of absolute peace, her cheeks softened as she looked at the sky.
"So peaceful~"
She had no idea where she was, nor why she had come here, which felt a bit too airy-fairy, but demanding logical consistency from a dream was bad taste. For now, it was best to enjoy things as they were and take in the sights.
"Ah, a hawk is flying."
With a sharp pee-hyororo, a black kite soared through the cloudless blue sky. Its unpretentious, natural presence felt incredibly free and heartwarming to watch.
"—..."
The sound of the wind ringing in her ears, the sensation of grass tickling her body, the smell of earth reaching her nose. They were vivid enough to stimulate all of Rikka's five senses. It felt deeply nostalgic, yet strangely fresh... and curiously calming. As if she had returned to her hometown. As if she had stepped onto something she hadn't trodden upon in a very long time.
"Is it really okay for me to lounge around like this...? Ahh, I wish Jeanne was here to make me rice balls..."
She mumbled hazily. Peace was good. After all, it was a unwritten rule that dreams didn't need useless clutter. If she didn't have to do anything, it meant the world was spinning smoothly without her.
The sun gradually showed its face, rising higher. Its light grew bright enough to warm her face and her entire body—
...—No. This tranquility was torn to shreds by a sudden anomaly.
"—?!"
In that instant, the impossible happened. Dark clouds gathered in the blink of an eye across the blue sky that had been clear and bright only a moment before, painting the pleasant azure a solid, ink-black lacquer.
"Is this a dream? Yeah, this has to be a dream."
Though the words left her mouth, her body reflexively dropped into a combat stance. She cracked her knuckles with a heavy thump, instantly alert to her surroundings.
"—...?"
In stark contrast to a moment ago, a gloomy, oppressive atmosphere dominated the field. It felt like an excruciating battlefield, or perhaps the heavy, suffocating air of a middle school classroom.
"For now... I guess I'll walk around."
Standing still wouldn't get anything done. The moment she resolved to move and grasp the situation—
"!"
They appeared before her. Monstrous beings, not human. Transformed aberrations, wandering ghosts birthed from malicious, harm-seeking souls.
They wore armor, held katanas, and wore masks. Black-armored samurai... that was the impression their appearance gave.
"Enemies? ...Ah-ha."
It made sense. This absurd environment, the sudden anomaly, and the impossible enemy attack. These clues pointed to only one conclusion.
(This must be Gil's unannounced surprise simulation. He's trying to teach me that the moment right after waking up—or while sleeping—is the most dangerous! That's gotta be it!)
The reason Mother wasn't responding was probably part of it too. "Hardening her heart for my own good," as they say. Was this some kind of sleep-learning exercise? Yeah, that's definitely it, she convinced herself.
—!!
One of the armored samurai holding the center leaped forward. Raising the long katana in its right hand with inhuman strength, it brought the blade down in a single, terrifying stroke—a demonic blow packing enough raw power to split a helmet and shatter armor.
An ordinary human would have been sliced clean in half from the crown down. A normal Master without a Servant by their side would have found themselves in dire straits.
—!?
However... the girl standing here was far from ordinary. Though possessing a gentle soul, her entire body, down to the very tips of her limbs, was soaked in magical energy that was pure, lethal mud.
With just her right hand—her right hand alone—she nullified that full-power strike. She caught the edge of the blade on her right forearm. In that exact spot... a pitch-black gauntlet had materialized.
!!!
Simultaneously, death came. Unsheathing her katana with her left hand, she instantly thrust it forward, shattering the creature's core in a single heartbeat. The samurai dispersed into mist before her exquisite technique. Switching the famous sword—one of the Five Swords Under Heaven—to her dominant hand—
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