Metropolis Lostbelt (8) - How do you use a sword?! ...

"Suspicious object found in Upper West Side, requesting backup."

"Bomb found in Miller Harbor."

"A bomb has been found in the new town."

"..."

Messages were being compiled onto the oracle's computer. The monitor reflected the red-haired woman's tired eyes, with dark circles under her eyes, a testament to the previous sleepless night.

Oracle, also known as Barbara, had asked her boss for a short leave a few days ago. Her boss was understanding and, assuming the reason for her leave was probably related to Batman, readily approved it.

That's not entirely untrue; she did take leave for Batman, but not to see him one last time, but to save him.

While her family was busy, she was also behind the scenes gathering information and organizing manpower, so busy that she almost didn't realize it was the day of her execution.

No new information came through, and Barbara sighed. Turning her chair around, she watched Dick, whom she hadn't seen in a long time, leisurely drifting around her room, and couldn't help but roll her eyes.

"Aren't you going to participate in this operation?" she subtly asked, trying to scare him away.

"Oh, Little Ba, I've been rejected," Dick said pitifully. "They think that since I'm just a soul, I'm easily killed by powerful attacks, so they won't let me participate in core operations."

Barbara glanced at Dick instinctively, the light from the incandescent bulb shining through his transparent soul and into her palm. "...Then come and help me."

She composed herself. "The entire city of Gotham will soon be searched. But," she looked up, "even if Gotham is safe, will B be willing to leave?"

"Probably...?"

“No.” Gilgamesh said calmly in the square, “I have read the record of your singularity. Without a doubt, he will fight for his city.”

“Abandon his city and desert in the face of battle?” He raised an eyebrow, as if he had heard a great joke. “Ha, only the dumbest idiot would do that.”

"Even if Jason told him Gotham was safe?" Fujimaru Ritsuka asked, still clinging to a sliver of hope.

"Hahahaha, you idiot! A resistance fighter whose living space has been compressed into the sea, telling you they've solved the city's problems and can still take you away unharmed?"

The wise king shook his head, "That kind of suspicious man would never believe it."

"Oh no, that's it. If all else fails, I'll have to rely on Merlin to knock him out," Fujimaru Ritsuka thought to herself. Her gaze remained fixed on what lay ahead.

She realized the execution was about to begin and the peaceful atmosphere would soon be over when the microphone abruptly ended the speech with a sharp glide.

She took a deep breath, and her entire demeanor instantly transformed, becoming capable and fearless. She nodded to Gilgamesh, indicating that she would go and hold off Wodim as soon as the battle began in the administrative center.

Meanwhile, Jason, who had scouted the location beforehand, lay in ambush in the deserted administrative center. He stared intently at the entrance to the prison where Fujimaru Ritsuka had mentioned holding Batman.

Merlin yawned, squinted at the entrance, and enhanced the invisibility spells on the two of them.

They're out!

Jason leaned forward, his forehead beaded with a light sweat from his heightened alertness despite the cold. He watched as the two Batmen, who looked identical but possessed distinct personalities, entered the hall.

Actually, it's quite easy to tell them apart. Jason looked at the two figures standing side by side and realized that the old man was a bit fatter than the one next to him.

To his surprise, the two Batmen weren't wearing handcuffs or anything that would restrict their movement; they were acting purely on their own initiative... or perhaps Wonder Woman was supervising them from behind.

Jason turned to Merlin, his raised eyebrows seeming to ask him, "Are you ready?"

Merlin gave him a flippant smile, as if to soothe his nervousness, but Jason, who was sensitive to emotions, could easily see the emptiness in the Flower Magician's eyes that did not reach his smile.

It seems that this guy only shows any emotional fluctuation when he's around Fujimaru Ritsuka.

In the past, Jason would never have cooperated with such a person, but because Merlin's abilities are so suitable, and more importantly because he is Fujimaru Ritsuka's Servant, Jason trusts Merlin.

Because he completely trusted Fujimaru Ritsuka.

"Bang--!"

A violent explosion rang out, followed by a brilliant flash of light! It cleaved the ground between Wonder Woman and Batman, leaving a deep trench.

Merlin, sword in hand, stood alone in front of Wonder Woman. "Beautiful woman, though I don't want to hurt you, Ritsuka rarely asks me for favors."

Despite saying that, he drew his sword and attacked Wonder Woman without any hesitation, saying, "So, you'd better stay here obediently!"

The holy sword struck Wonder Woman's wrist guards with a piercing clang.

Jason, standing nearby, was utterly astonished. Wait, what had he just seen? What had Merlin pulled from his staff?! A sword!

"Damn it, aren't you a mage?!"

"Hmm, I'm not really good at magic anyway," Merlin teased while defending himself. "Little Ritsuka really asked me for help, so beating her up with the Holy Sword is much simpler and more straightforward, isn't it!"

Wonder Woman watched Merlin, who seemed completely at ease, with a slight smile on his face. Merlin even had the energy to chat with the person next to him, his flippant manner suggesting he didn't take her seriously at all.

Having not felt such contempt in a long time, Diana felt the string of reason in her mind snap instantly. She forgot Woodym's instructions and fought Merlin with all her might.

She aimed a punch at Merlin's face, but he dodged it with the agility of a fish swimming away. The punch struck the high wall of the administrative center, instantly spreading spiderweb-like cracks the size of a fist.

"Hey, hey, hey, why are you suddenly getting serious!" Merlin gasped, puzzled. "Also, hurry up and finish that over there! I don't want to be disfigured!"

"F***," Jason thought dryly. But he didn't forget his original intention, "Old man, let's go. We've taken care of things in Gotham. Nightwing and the others are waiting to pick us up."

"You and the others go back first." As expected, the two Batmen rejected the suggestion in unison, "Tell everyone to stay out of the way."

Tch, he knew that stubborn old man wouldn't listen to his advice!

As soon as the explosion rang out, Gotham's residents had already skillfully crouched down or run away, quickly clearing the square.

As Kirshtalia walked toward the administrative center, an Assassin, who had been lying in wait, thrust a dagger at his neck. He blinked and raised his hand to deflect the feeble attack.

But the very next second, an arrogant voice rang out from the sky.

"All cannons, unlock! Let the supreme wealth display the defense of Uruk! The earth is imbued with our resolve! King's Cannon!"

A massive sandstorm suddenly swept through the gloomy city of Gotham. A golden spirit soared into the air, holding a clay tablet, ancient golden runes swirling around him.

The walls of Uruk appeared from the sandstorm, and the next second, a dazzling arrow streaked across the sky, bursting out of the sandstorm like a meteor shower, instantly sweeping across the entire square and crashing into Kirshtalia without any chance of escape.

"Hahahaha, shoot, shoot, shoot! Happy now, you idiot? Then disappear!!"

The golden king's emotionless gaze looked down at the dust and smoke rising from the impact of the Noble Phantasm. He snorted, unsurprisingly seeing Kirshtalia almost unharmed.

But that's fine. Fujimaru Ritsuka stood opposite Kirshtalia, her gaze fixed on the familiar yet unfamiliar enemy.

She knew that her current mission was to rescue Batman, not to compete with Woodym, so the Wise King's Noble Phantasm was perfect for distracting people.

Attack power is not important; strong disruption is all that matters.

Judging by the timeline, Batman should have already been taken away by Jason and Merlin, right? She should also be preparing to leave.

Unexpectedly, Kirshtalia looked at her with the joy of a long-awaited reunion, "You've made it this far. Then I should congratulate you, Fujimaru Ritsuka and Chaldea."

Having defeated all members of Group A, he stood before him once more.

“…Yes.” Fujimaru Ritsuka blinked. The rain was getting heavier, and even though they were so close, the person on the other side was beginning to be swallowed up by the rain and become blurred.

“Mr. Kirshtalia, we are enemies again.”

"I have defeated you."

"But you are not him."

Fujimaru Ritsuka laughed. "So you've never beaten me."

Kirshtalia neither refuted nor confirmed; he simply changed the subject, casually inquiring about the bombs buried beneath Gotham.

Then he got the expected answer; no wonder Fujimaru Ritsuka had the energy to stop him. She really trusts her comrades, unlike Batman, who won't change his mind until he gets a definite answer.

But this is even better—if it's Fujimaru Ritsuka who comes, he won't have to go too far in favor of Batman and arouse unnecessary suspicion.

While Wodim was lost in thought, Fujimaru Ritsuka found it strange but didn't pursue it further.

Just as she was frowning, wondering why there was still no news after so much time had passed, Jason's exasperated shout came from not far away, "Damn you, Batman! You, the one who walked right into my trap, smashed through the wall that those two guys couldn't break through!"

Fujimaru Ritsuka: "...?!"

No way, even after all this, how come they still haven't knocked Batman out and taken him away?!

"Ah, the operation plan has failed miserably!" Fujimaru Ritsuka didn't dwell on her frustration for long. She immediately changed her strategy. "Alright, now we're going to launch a full-scale attack."

I originally planned to keep a low profile and not cause a scene in front of Superman, but it looks like things might not go well now.

She contacted Chaldea and said, "Sion, contact Shadow Border and activate the emergency plan."

But as soon as she finished speaking, Wonder Woman, who had been fighting Merlin, somehow rushed straight at her, swung her Lasso of Truth around Gilgamesh, and threw another fist straight at her face.

Merlin, who was originally on his way, was stopped by the smiling Kirshtalia, and Jason and Batman didn't even have time to react.