BB, despite feeling irritated by the situation they were in, remained calm. After all, it wasn't as if it was the first time a Servant had intervened. Even though few Servants noticed, because she always made sure there were no loose ends, as an AI, she had control over the entire Chaldea system and surveillance cameras.
She controlled everything; rarely did something escape her (like areas without security cameras), but since her [Master] enlightened her, she had installed more hidden cameras. She needed to be aware of every detail and keep an eye on all the Servants who hadn't yet been "blessed" (Corrupted) by the [Haze].
And despite almost knowing everything that happened in Chaldea, some found ways to hide from her presence. King Hassan was an example of this. They had to kill him and then summon him again in an instance where he wouldn't remember what he had discovered about [Haze]. Unfortunately, he was very resistant to the influence of [Haze], so they had to discard him. And to ensure no one suspected, they had to summon him again… Unfortunately.
They had to use some of the Holy Grails they had collected to cover this up. it would have been better if you had not used them. You have no right.[1] It was totally worth it. All for the will of her true and only [Master].
And now, those plans might derail due to an intruder. As much as she hated it, Ryōmen Sukuna was far smarter than her at hiding his knowledge for so long. She discovered him purely by luck, honoring her best parameter.
It was a week ago when Gudako tried to take him to the singularity. Thanks to her luck, he didn't go to the singularity. Unfortunately for BB, she couldn't help him see the truth. Had she confronted him in the singularity, it would have been an easy victory, but now she was going to face him in Chaldea.
All because she miscalculated Sukuna's personality. Since his summoning, she had been monitoring him a few times (not all the time since she had to manage a certain club). There was an aura around Sukuna that intrigued her, not to mention the mystery that surrounded him.
She knew about Sukuna. An AI like her, with vast knowledge. It also covered all the world's mythologies, each of them. So when Gudako summoned Sukuna, she felt it was a sign of an omen. From what she understood, Ryōmen has two different mythologies.
In the modern world interpretation, it narrates a legendary figure from historical and mythical Japan, known for his dual figure as a hero and a demon. Originally, Sukuna was described in the Nihon Shoki as a rebel who defied imperial authority and terrorized the people. However, in other regional interpretations, he is presented as a benevolent protector and a savior who helped those in need.
In the ancient world, when the Heian era was at its peak, Sukuna was characterized as an evil spirit or "demon" with immense Buddhist magic, curses, and powers equivalent to the legendary Abe-no-Seimei.
To satisfy her curiosity BB asked Raikou, Murasaki, Shuten, Ibuki, and even Tamamo... Unfortunately for her, no one could verify if this was the real Sukuna. None seemed to know much about Sukuna beyond hearsay. And Douma wasn't much help by keeping quiet on the matter.
Ibuki even commented that she had heard rumors that Sukuna had a very different body and did not resemble a human. She described him as a hybrid of Oni and human blood, and the stories said he was a "demon" born with four arms and two faces.
Given these interpretations in his legend, combined with BB's surveillance of Sukuna's personality, she thought that it didn't matter about the humans, and even she noticed that he enjoyed people's suffering. He didn't even care, enjoying the pathetic display of Ritsuka and then looking at him with inhuman indifference.
She thought this was the legend of Sukuna the "demon" and not the "savior." So, she was planning to corrupt him and make him join, even if he didn't want to, for a fun time (not that she would stop trying to convince him), he could be useful in other ways. She thought he wouldn't care about joining as long as they gave him what he wanted.
BB looked at Sukuna. Just moments ago, he had shown a terrifying intellect and ingenuity. Not quite like hers, of course, but enough to raise her guard and know that this opponent would not be like the others she had faced. Despite seeming human, there was something in Sukuna's nature that felt both fascinating and terrifying to her.
Maybe Sukuna had made a great effort to hide his aura, but from the first contact, she felt the malice and malevolence. Sukuna radiated an obvious malice despite trying to suppress it, not to mention the cold and now analytical look he had. He exuded an aura that made her want to kneel and, if you sided with him, you could come out victorious by a good margin. Undoubtedly, for her, Sukuna seemed like a strong and ideal man.
BB sighed in frustration. It would be a waste to kill him, but they couldn't let a Servant like him remain much longer in Chaldea. Her instincts warned her that he would be a danger to the [Master's] plans. So he needed to be eliminated.
What a shame. She would have to use another Grail to erase Sukuna's memory from all the Servants who could have known him. And once Sukuna was eliminated, she would erase the memories of her beloved Senpai... After all, it was not yet time to break Ritsuka. Damn bitch. You won't get away with this.
BB raised an eyebrow as she watched Sukuna remove his kimono and throw it to the ground dramatically. Then he looked at them with an arrogant smile, his eyes seemed to carry a joy that only he understood.
Why does it seem so fun? They outnumber him, and each one is strong in their own right. Not to mention, more blessed Servants will soon answer the [Master's] call... So what am I missing? BB narrowed her eyes as she analyzed the situation, her mind running at an incredible speed, planning to quickly defeat Sukuna without much destruction in the halls of Chaldea.
BB smiled playfully before making a "No, no!" gesture. "Come on, Su-ku-na-chan~. You really shouldn't fight us. You can still join us." Then BB gave a dark and sadistic look while smiling eerily. "Last warning."
Sukuna didn't respond. Instead, two eyes opened beneath his normal eyes, right where the black marks were on his cheeks, and demonic claws emerged from all his fingers, painted in purple. Then his malevolent aura exploded with power.
BB's eyes widened in surprise, and it didn't take her long to deduce that the eyes were also surprised.
Seize the momentary surprise. Sukuna looked at them with anticipation and said, "You'd better give me a good fight or I'll kill you slowly and painfully." Then he smiled a completely sadistic and evil smile that made BB's hair stand on end. "If you don't, at least you'll have the honor of saying that the King of Curses was the one who led you to your doom."
Artoria Lancer frowned and spoke for the first time. "You're quite arrogant to call yourself a king. A king shouldn't carry such a disgusting aura as yours."
Sukuna laughed maniacally. The creepy laughter echoed throughout the room. "And spreading your legs for every man is worthy of a king's attitude?" he said, sarcasm dripping from his voice.
Artoria Lancer staggered backward, showing guilt, before it disappeared, and her eyes dilated in a momentary blur.
"And you're wrong about one thing. I wasn't self-proclaimed. My legend gave me that title. But I won't bother explaining it. Instead, I'll show you why they called me that." Sukuna said arrogantly.
BB frowned before sighing in disappointment. "I guess you won't join us. What a shame," she complained like a little child who didn't get what she wanted. "Then you'll have to die. We can't let a demon harm our dear and beloved Master." She commented with a mocking tone at the end.
For the first time, Sukuna frowned, giving her a grim look. "Kill me, huh? The last person who said that didn't end very well. I'll show you why, you spoiled brat."
Tired of the babbling, Scáthach began to advance with her spear, Gáe Bolg Alternative in hand. "Enough with the useless talk. No matter how you look at it, your end will be here. I hope your words carry as much weight as your strength." She then began to move toward Sukuna.
At the same time Scáthach spoke, Artoria Lancer summoned her Noble Phantasm. Rhongomyniad. Her sacred spear began to glow momentarily, making everyone feel its presence. Sukuna briefly looked at the spear with a smile before looking at BB.
"You shouldn't be so close to each other," Sukuna grinned maliciously while his new left eye, located below his normal eye, briefly looked at Gudako. BB immediately understood Sukuna's intentions.
"Protect—" BB didn't finish her sentence when Sukuna made his move.
Sukuna moved both of his arms at an astonishing speed. His left arm moved horizontally while his right moved vertically, drawing a cross.
The air changed instantly.
Scáthach opened her eyes, feeling something in the air. She couldn't see it, and she didn't know what it was, but her instincts screamed, so she stopped dead in her tracks.
Artoria Lancer moved to the right, while Astolfo and BB launched to the left, making them scatter. Mash stayed close to Gudako and raised her shield to protect her from the attack.
Scáthach, being the closest, acted quickly. She planted her spear into the floor and used the momentum to dodge the incoming attack. She moved to Astolfo's side and landed a few meters ahead of the Paladin.
Feeling a sting in her right rib, Scáthach moved her hand to touch it and felt a sticky liquid coming out. She understood what it was even without seeing the wound.
BB looked where they had just been and frowned at the enormous crater formed after Sukuna's attack. Dismantle.
It was the only attack Sukuna had shown to Da Vinci. He hadn't explained the mechanics beyond showing it. So, BB was aware that his magic involved making destructive cuts that could not only cut inanimate objects but also living beings.
A simple magic, but destructive in the right hands. And if they weren't careful with those cuts… BB wasn't sure if magical resistance would help against such attacks considering how powerful it had been.
"Master Gudako, neutralize Sukuna immediately," BB ordered her Master Gudako in her mind using the Servant-Master link. She just needed to distract Sukuna long enough for Gudako to use a Command Spell to neutralize him, and once done, they could eliminate him.
"Understood." Gudako's response to BB was immediate, obeying the command right away.
"By my Command Seal…" Gudako began the chant while raising her arm, tattooed with the Command Spells.
At that moment, she watched Sukuna. BB's eyes widened as she saw Sukuna move.
In a burst of speed, Sukuna disappeared. His gaze crossed with Scáthach's in slow motion, Sukuna's four crimson eyes made contact with Scáthach's crimson eyes. Sukuna smiled and ignored her as he moved toward Gudako.
BB didn't need words to make them aware of Sukuna's intentions. Scáthach, Artoria Lancer, and Astolfo moved as one to intercept Sukuna.
Sukuna smiled, and as he advanced, one of his feet stomped the ground forcefully, murmuring, "Orochi… Banshō." A shadow spread from both legs at an incredible speed, and monsters appeared that left BB bewildered.
From the shadow, a massive serpent—though massive was an understatement—emerged. The newly manifested white serpent attacked Scáthach with its jaws wide open, ready to bite. She had only a millisecond to dodge the attack barely.
The serpent's tail, while attacking Scáthach, blocked Astolfo's path, making him stop momentarily.
While the serpent distracted the two Servants, BB noticed a giant Elephant manifesting in the air, above Artoria Lancer, at the same moment as the serpent. Artoria Lancer, seeing the enormous Elephant falling directly to crush her, had only one second to roll out of the attack, and despite that, the impact caused by the elephant was such that it pushed Artoria Lancer forcefully, making her roll several times on the ground.
BB watched in disbelief as Sukuna stood in front of a surprised Mash and an agitated Gudako.
"I command you, Sukuna, to—" Gudako tried to chant her Command Spell faster.
"Black…" A malevolent energy exploded with force from Sukuna's fist. Mash, with her shield raised high, immediately began blocking it to protect her Senpai's sister.
BB immediately started weaving a spell, one that would protect her long enough to keep Gudako safe, giving them time to defend her. Unfortunately for her, without even looking at her, Sukuna pointed at her with his left hand.
BB immediately changed her spell and manifested a shield around herself to try to block Sukuna's attack.
"...FLASH" An absolutely colossal blow of immense power slammed against Mash's shield. Not to damage her but to push her away. Mash was sent flying toward the wall, crashing into it and breaking through it as if it were paper.
Gudako looked on in horror at Sukuna's expression. Sukuna stared at her with cruelty and bloodlust, smiling cruelly and terrifyingly. Sukuna didn't give her time to finish her Command Spell when his right hand slammed powerfully into the sternum of her body.
[SPOILER] [/SPOILER]
Gudako spat blood as she screamed in pain.
A disgusting crack echoed throughout the room when Gudako was thrown like a ragdoll, crashing into the wall before falling with a dull thud to the floor, completely unconscious.
As Artoria Lancer was about to land a devastating blow on the giant Elephant, and Scáthach was about to kill the Great Serpent, they both vanished into thin air, making Artoria Lancer and Scáthach stumble from their failed attacks.
The magic barriers BB created broke under the rain of cuts that impacted them. Although no attack harmed her, they made her stagger backward, sweat dripping from her body. The confident smile she had at the start of the battle had completely vanished.
BB at this moment wished she hadn't degraded her ability. Domina Coronam to rank D. If BB hadn't been so arrogant, she could have easily ended Sukuna and then continued her life filled with lust.
"Well… one less. Now you can't cheat in this battle," Sukuna said arrogantly, his eyes moving in a specific direction.
Astolfo was inches away from Sukuna, glaring at him with barely contained anger. The brilliant spear Argalia began to glow with energy. "Furereba Tentō!" With that, Astolfo launched himself at Sukuna with impressive speed.
Sukuna smiled and jumped very high, flipping in the air while pointing at Astolfo with the five claws of his right hand, while his left hand supported his forearm.
Astolfo surprised that the attack had failed, couldn't dodge Sukuna's surprise attack. Fortunately for him, a barrier manifested above Astolfo, trying to resist the attack. It was BB who had barely managed to summon it.
This time, the digital barrier didn't withstand Sukuna's cuts, but it gave enough time for Astolfo to escape the area of the remaining attacks.
Still in the air, Sukuna continued spinning before landing crouched in a distant area, away from all the Servants surrounding him. He then looked at their faces and began to laugh.
A completely sadistic laugh. A laugh that only a completely evil being would make, a laugh from someone who enjoys the suffering of others.
BB laughed nervously. Maybe she hadn't calculated his personality as badly as she thought, she just hadn't taken into account how lunatic he was. She assumed the reason Sukuna was fighting them wasn't due to the goodness of his heart, but because he had an excuse to do so.
Now she understood the rumors about Ryōmen Sukuna. And why do people say he had two faces. One evil (the side he was showing them now) and another good (the side he had shown them for a whole month).
"What happened to your confidence earlier, dear BB-chan?" Sukuna smiled mockingly as he looked at her, completely euphoric, relishing her frustration. "It seems you've realized—" Sukuna couldn't finish the sentence when Scáthach was on top of him, preparing to land a devastating attack.
Sukuna widened his eyes before moving one of his hands in the direction of the spear. A weapon began to manifest in Sukuna's hand, the powerful attack that would have pierced Sukuna's skull was deflected by a tool resembling a vajra, though with one side featuring a very sharp blade.
Sukuna tilted his head to one side as he deflected Gáe Bolg Alternative with his weapon, Kamutoke. Scáthach's failed attack passed near Sukuna's head without causing any harm.
Sukuna, with his free hand, made a vertical line in the direction of the Queen Warrior of the Shadow Lands. She had a fraction of a second to move with astounding speed and impressive agility to dodge the attack. She barely avoided the attack, showing why she was a sovereign warrior in Celtic mythology.
As Scáthach landed a bit farther from where she had been to avoid the colossal cut, Artoria Lancer took the opportunity to attack Sukuna. Unfortunately for her, Sukuna knew she was coming.
Taking his gaze off Scáthach, Sukuna pointed with his index and middle fingers at Artoria Lancer.
"Kai," Sukuna said, launching multiple cuts with his technique. Dismantle.
Artoria Lancer, surprised, couldn't dodge the attack. Since she couldn't see the cuts, she couldn't defend against them, so she protected all vital points before the impact.
Artoria Lancer was struck by the utterly massive cuts.
Artoria Lancer was thrown by the force of the impact from the cuts and fell with a dull thud near a very surprised Astolfo, eyes wide open and his face pale with disbelief.
Blood began to drip from Artoria Lancer's dismembered leg, starting to stain the whitish floor of Chaldea. In addition to losing her left leg, several parts of her armor had been destroyed by Sukuna's cuts, and even parts of her body started to bleed.
The only reason she was still alive and hadn't disappeared was because of her Noble Phantasm, Rhongomyniad. It had protected her from the fatal attacks, and her magical resistance of rank B also helped.
Sukuna's eyes looked indifferently at Artoria Lancer. "Well, if you hadn't been rude and interrupted me while I was speaking, maybe she wouldn't have gotten so hurt." Sukuna looked at Artoria Lancer with disappointment. "I expected more from someone who was the King of Camelot."
Scáthach gritted her teeth. Seeing that her opponent… No, that wouldn't be the right word… the Monster they were facing was much stronger than she had anticipated. Despite her concerns, it excited her.
Astolfo swallowed nervously as he nervously stared at the King of Curses.
Mash, who had returned through the same wall she had broken, looked at the scene with disbelief and concern.
This isn't going as I calculated. BB observed all of this with a flat look, trying to show indifference despite her worry. Her playful nature had disappeared.
Ritsuka, still tied up, looked at Sukuna with astonishment and complicated expressions.
Sukuna smiled arrogantly and evilly. "So, as I was saying, it seems you've now realized who has the advantage in this situation." He then began to comb his hair backward mockingly with one hand, while the other held a cursed weapon.
Scáthach gave him a piercing look before positioning herself for combat. "Let's see if you still laugh when I pierce your heart with this spear, you bastard."
"Oh," Sukuna gave her an interesting look. "You know, if you weren't such a cheap whore, I'd be attracted to you. You seem like a very strong woman." Sukuna looked at her with slight sadness. "Such a shame that your vagina is more open than an elephant's ass," Sukuna said in a vulgar tone, hitting the pride of the Queen Warrior of the Shadow Lands.
Scáthach. "That..." She gritted her teeth in frustration. Before shaking her head, "...Never mind. You wouldn't understand."
Scáthach didn't know why she allowed herself to be touched by those men in the first place. What she did know was that she liked losing herself in lust and obeying superior men, as that would make her stronger. Since everything her [Master] said was an absolute truth, she, as his subject, shouldn't question it.
Sukuna raised an eyebrow at her, looking at her as if she were a cockroach. "And a weak-willed one at that… A coward who doesn't want to accept the truth of her actions."
Sukuna's words struck Scáthach hard. She looked at him with wide eyes and an expression that BB couldn't read. For a moment, Scáthach fought against the [Haze]. BB felt concerned, but then her will to fight stopped like it always had before.
BB briefly wondered if using her Noble Phantasm would be ideal, but discarded it. If she unleashed it, the colossal damage to Chaldea would be devastating, and even if she killed Sukuna (which wasn't guaranteed 100%), with Cursed Cutting Crater, it would draw the attention of the other Servants, and many questions would be triggered. And if she couldn't deceive them when they started asking, then they'd be screwed.
And if they're screwed, that means it would upset her [Master]. She would fail her beloved [Master] in the mission he entrusted her, and she absolutely couldn't allow that to happen.
If they wanted victory, then she would have to come up with an attack plan that gave them a chance against Sukuna.
BB used the gift her [Master] gave her. [Haze] to invade the minds of her allies and communicate simple orders.
First, she went to Scáthach. Runes, Enhancement. Noble Phantasm. Gáe Bolg.
Then she ordered Mash and Astolfo. Distraction. Protection.
Her allies' eyes went blank for a few seconds before returning to normal. The fake Astolfo gave her an annoyed and displeased look but didn't say anything.
Unfortunately for BB, while communication through [Haze] invasion didn't work with everyone, it only worked when [Haze] had been able to bless (corrupt) the soul of the user.
We just need to buy enough time for Scáthach to use her Noble Phantasm against Sukuna. BB thought, and even if it failed and for some reason Sukuna managed to survive Scáthach's attack, she had communicated with someone who could counter Sukuna's Dismantle powers.
Miyamoto Musashi. BB thought, with her joining the battle, there's no way they can lose. They just needed a little more time for her to arrive along with Ibuki-douji. With those two Servants, they would have the advantage and could finish this without waking up too many surprises.
The only good thing about this was the Bounded Field she had installed in some places of Chaldea, in case another fight broke out, allowing them to hide from everyone outside the field. After all, BB had learned from her first mistake.
Unfortunately, she hadn't created an object to interrupt the mana and strength of anyone she thought would be an enemy, like she had done for the singularity. Thanks to that object, BB was able to bless and illuminate several Servants.
BB licked her lips, recalling the pleasure her [Master] gave her for a job well done. She quickly pushed that foolish thought away.
Don't get distracted. That could've cost me, BB thought. It was a stroke of luck that her thinking capacity was far superior to everyone else's. After all, she was the best AI in the entire world—there was no other like her. So, she was quite proud of her thinking abilities.
Sukuna frowned when he saw that Scáthach had stopped and didn't attack him as he thought she would moments ago. Sukuna looked at Scáthach and then at BB. His eyes then lit up, as if he had discovered something.
Did he figure it out? BB thought, uncertain.
"You know, it's strange that you all worked with such flawless coordination without saying a word," Sukuna pointed at Gudako, who was still unconscious. Mash was checking her over in the distraction, seemingly relieved that she was still alive.
"But even after I knocked out the brat, you all continued to work without hesitation, so I started suspecting that you all had already worked as a team before, so this coordination wouldn't be too surprising." Sukuna then began analyzing each of them. "But now, not anymore… Not after Scáthach stopped her attack. BB, you have a way to communicate with them, don't you?" He then laughed. "Not to mention, you haven't continued your attacks. So, you must be buying time… Not that it matters."
Sukuna then made his cursed weapon disappear and made a hand gesture.
BB's eyes widened. "Don't let him do what he's planning." She began creating a digital spell that would destabilize Sukuna's mana. Mash and Astolfo didn't hesitate to charge at Sukuna.
Scáthach began weaving runes at an impressive speed.
"Yatsuka-no-Tsurugi Ikaishinshō Makora"
The shadows of Ryōmen Sukuna exploded outward as a Behemoth, 12 feet tall, emerged from his abyss. The Divine General Mahoraga made his debut in the FATE world, framed by a magical aura of cursed energy of a dark purple color.
Astolfo could not stand transfixed by the summoning of a Shikigami for long, because the Divine General delivered a tremendous punch to his stomach. Even in armor, Astolfo felt as if Heracles himself had punched him. Astolfo was thrown off the ground into the nearest wall, his back smashed against it, spitting spittle.
Astolfo collapsed to the ground with a groan of pain.
BB stared at Mahoraga in awe and confusion. She understood it was another of his summons, but this one seemed much more powerful than the Serpent and the Elefant he had summoned earlier.
The Divine General was an imposing, muscular humanoid figure with four wings protruding from the sockets of his eyes and a tail-like appendage extending from the back of his head. Floating just above him was a large eight-handled wheel (a Dharma wheel). Mahoraga wore black hakama pants and a white sash around his waist to cover most of his lower body.
Sukuna seized the distraction to speak. "Now the battle has turned into a two vs four. Let me introduce you to Eight-Handled Sword Divergent Sila, Divine General Mahoraga," he presented him. The Divine General positioned himself behind Sukuna while the Shikigami's mouth smiled at them. "Now, do me a favor, and don't die too quickly." Sukuna relished the expressions of each of his opponents.
This battle is becoming more complicated than I thought, BB complained childishly. It doesn't matter, they'll have to win, no matter what.
All for the will of her beloved and only [Master].
The tension of the two-sided battle increased as each side prepared to continue the fight.
[1] Thoughts about his true identity without being manipulated by haze.