After putting all the kids to bed, Morgan and I are in the bedroom, I am putting on my armor.
Morgan looked worried: "Are you sure? Scathach isn't someone you can handle."
Morgan looked sad, even though she hadn't seen Scathach much since the kids were born, she had continued to train me. I didn't have her power, but my strength wasn't to be underestimated. Today, I would fight with everything I had. I'm ending this nonsense.
The primal runes I learned from Scathach, I had taught them to Morgan when she couldn't come.
I approached Morgan, held her cheeks, and started to pull them a bit: "Come on, don't be so sad, a smile suits you better."
Then I let go of Morgan, she grabbed my head with her hands, rose on her tiptoes, and our lips met: "You'd better come back, or I'll bring you back from death and make you my slave."
I know she could do it, so I pressed my forehead against hers: "I promise I'll come back."
Then a purple portal appeared behind me, and before stepping in, I joined the chat group, started a live stream, and entered the portal.
The camera shows me in third person.
After entering the portal, I find myself in the Lands of Shadow again.
There are black trees around, the air is dark, a suffocating atmosphere, the part I hate, the smell of death.
Everyone joined the chat and was looking around.
[Killua: Are you dead, Lott?]
[Kazuma: Praying for your soul.]
[Makima: This place looks a lot like hell.]
[Killua: Hell…]
[Gilgamesh: Are you in the underworld?]
I put my hand to my head: "Yeah, kind of an underworld."
Before I could continue, Scathach emerged from among the trees. As we agreed today, we would fight to the end. She came with a single spear, holding Gáe Bolg.
I have Ryujin Jakka hanging on my back, resembling Western swords.
(Waiting for your photo suggestion.)
[Kazuma: This woman looks very dangerous.]
[Gilgamesh: Mongrel, the one Lott is fighting resembles Ereshkigal, I can tell even from the stream.]
At that moment, Gilgamesh was drinking wine in her palace, watching the stream, and it intrigued her.
[Killua: So, are you dead?]
[Makima: There are ways to go to hell alive; he probably used one of those.]
Scathach pointed the tip of her spear at me: "My student, today everything will be decided."
I point at her with my sword in the same way: "I'll tell you my wish after I defeat you, please don't hold back."
Scathach nods, then suddenly appears in front of me with her spear, swinging from left to right to cut my chest.
I block with my sword, then kick her chest. She slides to the left, suddenly shifts to a thrusting stance, aiming for my head.
As the spear is about to pierce me, I use Shunpo, moving to her right at the last moment. When I aim to cut her leg, Scathach writes a primal rune in a split second, and a shield stops my sword. A shockwave spreads, deforming the surrounding environment.
[Killua: They're moving so fast, it's hard to see, but I can kind of understand what's happening.]
[Kazuma: I can barely see afterimages.]
[Makima: …]
[Gilgamesh: Mongrel, he has some talent.]
I ignore all the messages.
Scathach starts attacking more aggressively. Ryujin Jakka transforms and turns into a spear in a split second.
But in that split second, Scathach's spear emits red lightning. Realizing what she's about to do, I create some distance and shift to a throwing position.
From Scathach's side, I hear only one sound: GÁE BOLG!!!!!!
The reiatsu around me rises, and my armor tears apart. I fill Ryujin Jakka with as much reiatsu as I can: "Bankai: Zanka no Tachi."
Scathach's spear starts flying like a light, and Gáe Bolg comes toward me in the same way. The spear tips collide, and red lightning spreads destruction around. As the spears clash, cracks form in the surroundings, the entire aura fractures, then explodes.
BOOMMMMM!!!!!
A lavender-shaped aura engulfs me and Scathach, then forms a mushroom cloud.
Then, only white light, the entire aura fractures, and the crack closes.
At least a 10000-km2 area around is destroyed, something you'd see in an apocalyptic scene.
Scathach's condition is slightly better than mine, but her entire body is covered in blood. My body is full of burns and scratches. Both of us have regeneration abilities.
Then I summon Ryujin Jakka, and it comes into my hand. Scathach does the same with her spear. I'm barely walking, but I have hope that I can fix this woman.
The flame of hope inside me grows, and all my abilities increase wildly.
[Killua: Did a nuclear bomb just go off?]
[Kazuma: Absolute cinema, that's it, give that woman a good lesson in the face.]
[Makima: Are you sure you're not a god?]
[Gilgamesh: Mongrel, this king liked the show.]
Right now, all my focus is on Scathach. She slowly gets up, trembling, her face looking down: "You've gotten stronger, Lott."
My blonde hair is waving: "Yes, Master." Scathach's eyes widen because Lott called her Master for the first time.
Then I make her an offer, one I know she'll accept: "Master, this fight isn't progressing. How about we fight hand-to-hand? It'll be even more fun."
Scathach lifts her head and shows a wild smile: "I hope you manage to kill me, my student." Then she throws her spear to the ground, and I do the same with Ryujin Jakka.
I use Shunpo, appear in front of Scathach, and punch her stomach.
She flies back a bit, and the spot I hit is burned. Since my magic and reiatsu are the same type, the effect is quite strong.
If it were a normal servant, they'd be incinerated.
But as she flies, her legs grab my head, she spins in the air, and slams me to the ground. As she's about to stomp my head, I grab her foot. My body is struggling, but my heart doesn't give up.
I grab her foot, lift it while spinning her. Scathach's ankle breaks, but it heals instantly. As she moves away, I get up. To prevent her from healing, I throw a flying kick, but she ducks, then kicks upward with her leg. I fly into the air, but I grab her ankle again, using her weight to slam her to the ground.
Her body leaves a mark on the ground. As she's about to get up, my hands turn into claws, and I stab her shoulder.
But she grabs my shoulder and headbutts me. We're both on the ground.
There's an unspoken agreement between us not to use primal runes for healing.
I'm barely breathing, and Scathach is the same.
Her condition is slightly better; her only serious injury is her shoulder. Then I gather the little strength I have left and climb on top of her: "Teacher, is this really what you want?"
Scathach gives a smile: "Yes, Lott." But I don't let her finish and punch her.
[Kazuma: Bro, you're too serious.]
[Killua: Wait, that hand technique just now, that's our family's technique, explain.]
[Makima: It's like watching a battle between gods. One of those shockwaves could destroy a small town or a small city. I can't imagine how strong that blow was.]
Gilgamesh, in her palace, is watching the screen with a serious expression. This kid named Lott has piqued her interest; she'd even want to add him to her treasury.
But then something strange happens.
Lott is crying.
Fate universe.
Right now, I'm so angry, so angry at the foolish woman beneath me. No matter how much I refused to build a relationship with her, she was my teacher, even if it was by force.
My tears fall on Scathach's face. She places her hand on my cheek.
Even though my body is covered in wounds, I know Scathach could defeat me.
That woman held back her power. If she had used primal runes from the start, it would've been the end for both of us.
I can't look at her: "Teacher, can I make my wish now?"
Scathach's mood darkens. Lott was always either very serious or very playful; seeing him like this breaks her heart: "Tell me, my student, what is your wish?"
Then I stand up, stumbling. I raise my hand, and the spear-shaped Ryujin Jakka comes into my hand.
I don't turn back: "Teacher, live. No matter what, live. Look at the good sides of life, please. My heart can't take it. I don't care if you're a fool inclined to suicide, but just fulfill my wish. If not for yourself, live for me, for Morgan, or your other students."
My tears are soaking the ground.
Scathach stumbles and walks toward me, barely holding her spear. She places her hand on my shoulder: "My student, are you okay?"
Lott lowers his head, as if he doesn't want to be seen: "It's a bad day for rain, huh?"
Scathach is surprised. Lott isn't okay: "It's not raining, Lott."
Then Lott looks at the sky: "No, it is." The tears in his eyes flow even more.
Scathach lowers her head and cries too: "I'm sorry, Lott, for making you go through this. I only cared about myself."
Both Lott and Scathach lean on each other's shoulders, and for both of them, it was raining that day, but this rain didn't come from the clouds—it came from their eyes.