Avalon, originally the scabbard of the holy sword wielded by Artoria. In Singularity F, Ian obtained it from this King of Knights of the Age of Gods. However, during the process of Spiritron Transfer, in order to resist the distortion strong enough to tear apart a soul, it proactively exerted its effect and shattered without a trace. But now—
The power of [Slaanesh] had repaired it into a different form.
[Slaanesh Avalon].
Looking at the pitch-black scabbard in his hand, Ian was naturally quite concerned about it. This was... something that shouldn't exist normally.
"Hey, what's wrong?!" Fujimaru Ritsuka's voice came over. "You've been looking distracted all morning..."
"I know~" The girl raised her eyebrows. "You just want me to fail to perform better so you can do bad things, right?"
"..."
"Oh?"
Ian stood up and backed Fujimaru Ritsuka, who was saying such things, into the corner of the training room. His hands pressed against the wall on either side of her ears.
"You mean, you plan to admit defeat directly and then be ruthlessly humiliated by me?"
"N-No way!" Fujimaru Ritsuka covered her chest. "I... have a reason I absolutely must become stronger!"
"Then that settles it." Ian knocked on Fujimaru Ritsuka's head. "Practice double for me. Otherwise, how can you justify what you said yesterday."
"But people occasionally want to try new things!" Fujimaru Ritsuka pulled on the hem of Ian's clothes and acted spoiled. "Isn't there a magecraft called 'Projection'? Teach me that—please? If I have a weapon, I can fight side by side with Mash too!"
"It's not impossible..."
"I knew you were the best!" Fujimaru Ritsuka took Ian's hand. "Then let's start right away!"
"I feel like you're trying to lose on purpose—" Ian retorted, preparing to use the [Sword of Slaanesh] as teaching material to give her a good lesson. After all, the desire to fight was indeed correct. Mastering the basic concept of "Projection" would be beneficial for both her and himself.
However—
What finally appeared in Ian's hand was not the [Sword of Slaanesh], but [Slaanesh Avalon]. It was like a hungry beast, forcibly replacing the appearance of the [Sword of Slaanesh].
"Eh? What is this again?" Looking at the shiny black scabbard in front of her, Fujimaru Ritsuka naturally turned into a curious baby. "I haven't seen you take it out before— Can I touch it?"
"This... should be fine, right?"
Before Ian could make a final judgment, Fujimaru Ritsuka's small hand had already reached out. "It's nothing, just a normal..." Fujimaru Ritsuka stopped halfway through her sentence. Ian thought she realized she had misspoken, but the moment she looked up, he saw Fujimaru Ritsuka with dull eyes. She was muttering something, looking completely entranced.
It's [Slaanesh Avalon]!
Ian immediately confirmed the reason for Fujimaru Ritsuka's state. Could it be... [Avalon] itself is absolute protection; while [Slaanesh Avalon] gives it a new meaning? Unable to be sure. Ian gently moved Fujimaru Ritsuka's hand away from [Slaanesh Avalon]. The girl's eyes slowly recovered, but it seemed to have left some irreversible "effect".
"Ian... Why do I feel like my body was suddenly hollowed out..."
"Sorry, I have to do something bad."
Thus—
Ian looked with confusion as Fujimaru Ritsuka slumped against his sturdy chest. She... was clawing at his clothes.
"Mn— Came back to life!"
Looking at Fujimaru Ritsuka who looked like she recovered from the brink of death, Ian felt he understood something. As the power capable of breaking Olga Marie's death, the strength of [Slaanesh] was naturally beyond doubt. Under this, the [Indulgence] and [Immorality] he had explored also had the ability to strengthen Servants and magi. Precisely because of this, the Noble Phantasm crowned with the name of [Slaanesh] could display effects completely different from the original.
[Avalon] is protection. Then [Slaanesh Avalon] is absorption, and it is very likely still an effect linked to [Indulgence].
Looking at Fujimaru Ritsuka who was still "absorbing" the coach's energy in front of him, Ian thought for a while, then gently stroked Fujimaru Ritsuka's thigh. In the process of gradually moving closer to a certain place, the man could clearly feel Fujimaru Ritsuka's breathing accelerating. And such a reaction reached its peak synchronously with the thoughts conveyed by the girl the moment his fingertips reached the hollow.
[Slaanesh Avalon] resonated at this moment. This time, Ian clearly saw its operation process. Absorbing the power produced during indulgence, and then storing it in the scabbard of the same model as Avalon, making it shine. No mistake. Its essence is still [Protection], but due to the influence of [Slaanesh], it has become a restructuring similar to a battery. The more they indulge, the more power [Slaanesh Avalon] can store. Perhaps— If it reaches the limit, maybe it can block something incredible.
And in this way, one thing can be proven. That is, the power of [Slaanesh] can cover the anecdotes of the Noble Phantasm itself, causing it to "sublimate" into an existence that retains its original abilities but is activated in a different way! This is simply... "Creation", right— If he can get more Noble Phantasms from different Servants, wouldn't he have no need to worry about danger at all?
"Ian, how was my performance today?" Fujimaru Ritsuka suddenly asked.
"Pretty good."
"Mn, pretty good."
His mind still on [Slaanesh Avalon], Ian didn't answer Fujimaru Ritsuka too seriously. But she did work hard, so answering like this should be fine... right?
"Then since it was pretty good, why did you suddenly touch me like that?"
"..."
Ian then realized Fujimaru Ritsuka was setting a trap for him.
"Um... I see—" Fujimaru Ritsuka pretended to be angry. "You are bullying your own student, Coach Ian. That won't do. I'm not easy to bully—"
Quietly, Fujimaru Ritsuka's hand retaliated like an assassin, an eye for an eye.
"You touch mine, so I'll touch yours too!"
"Mn— Now we're even."
Skilled techniques are boring; clumsy methods are the truth. Fujimaru Ritsuka's look of happiness from taking advantage actually made Ian feel it was sincere. Her on this timeline seemed unexpectedly lewd—
"You guy, do you want to rebel?"
"What, just following the example."
Ambiguous relationships are always prone to chaos. The girl closed her eyes, quietly waiting for the consequences of her rebellion.
However, just at this moment—
"Senpai!"
Mash's voice came, panting from running. The perfect atmosphere was broken in an instant, and both Ian and Fujimaru Ritsuka subconsciously took back their hands. The savior girl who opened her eyes shot up instantly.
"Ma! Sh!"
"Wh-What's wrong!"
"You ask what's wrong! I'm going to use a Command Spell to order you not to sleep for a week!"
"Eh eh?"
"Alright." Ian stopped the pouting Fujimaru Ritsuka. "Mash, what's wrong?"
"That..." Mash looked at the man in front of her, her face turning slightly red. "The Director wants you two to go to her place— Seems like there is something very urgent."
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