"Akatsuki!"
Immediately after Tohsaka Rin and the others met ruby as it was flying out, they all entered the Mirror World together. However, as soon as they entered, Tohsaka Rin saw Akatsuki beating up Assassin.
"What's... going on?"
Luvia looked doubtfully at Akatsuki, who was torturing Assassin. Beside her, Tohsaka Rin couldn't provide an answer either; after all, she had seen Akatsuki beating Assassin since the moment she entered. Moreover, the intensity was precisely calculated to be non-lethal—even if Assassin's physical body collapsed, it would be revived by a single drop of Akatsuki's blood in the next second.
Tohsaka Rin seemed to recall hearing Akatsuki mention her talent as a True Ancestor in a dream. Her blood was the supreme tonic for Dead Apostles; a single drop could turn a Dead Apostle into a half-Ancestor, and those with exceptional talent could even possess the combat power of an Ancestor.
"Rin, I didn't find you, but you ended up coming here after all."
Akatsuki terminated the contract with sapphire and tossed the wand to Miyu, who was behind them. After dismembering Assassin's limbs, Akatsuki looked at everyone with a relaxed expression. "Didn't I say that tonight's mission to collect the Assassin class card was canceled?"
Although Akatsuki's expression was relaxed, Tohsaka Rin felt that something was off, yet she couldn't quite put her finger on what it was.
"Are... are you okay?"
"Of course I'm fine. Why, are you jealous because I haven't spent time with you lately?"
Akatsuki's characteristically casual words caused Tohsaka Rin's face to flush instantly, and her tone became subconsciously hurried. If the students of Privately-run Homurahara Academy saw the current Tohsaka Rin, they would surely be shocked.
The usually unattainable 'flower on a high peak' with a sense of maturity beyond her years, Tohsaka Rin, was currently acting like a shy little girl.
"I-It's not like I'm jealous because you haven't been with me lately! Hmph! I'm not jealous at all!" Tohsaka Rin's face was beet red. As if to increase the credibility of her words, she stomped her foot forcefully and added, "D-Don't misunderstand! I-I didn't come looking for you because I was worried about you being ambushed by Assassin either!"
The textbook-perfect tsundere behavior made Akatsuki unable to suppress a laugh. Her gaze shifted from its original relaxation to one that was highly aggressive, as if she might pin Tohsaka Rin to the ground at any moment.
"Truly cute."
"So scary..."
Illya looked at the bloody mess that was Assassin and hugged ruby in fear. Although she had already transformed into a Magical Girl using ruby, the physical and magical protection provided by the wand couldn't stop Illya from seeing what could only be described as a lump of flesh.
"Illya, trembling in fear, is just too cute! Ah, no, like this, the 'middle-aged man' in me won't be able to suppress the desire to bully you!"
Illya took a cautious step back, but that single small step triggered a trap left by Assassin. Pitch-black tentacles immediately grabbed Illya's ankle, and an unknown toxic substance entered her body the moment the tentacles touched her skin.
In the next second, dozens of massive tentacles appeared beneath Illya's feet. Like the tentacles of an octopus, they rushed toward her from all directions.
"Tsk, what right do you have to be compared to the Old Man of the Mountain? If the Poison of the True Ancestors was meant as a means for you to take revenge on the True Ancestors, then what is the deal with that Human Poison?"
The lump of flesh squirmed slightly. It didn't answer Akatsuki, but instead let out a series of blurred words.
"Ele... Ele-sia."
The lump of flesh was shredded, and the Poison of the True Ancestors in the air gradually dissipated, but the Human Poison and the tentacles inside Illya's body did not vanish.
"No time to dodge."
"Illya!" "Dodge, quickly!" "There's no time to deploy physical defense!"
Click.
The moment the tentacles were about to touch Illya, the sound of chains snapping rang out again. Those pitch-black tentacles were crushed by an invisible force, and the golden-eyed Illya appeared once more!
"Is this considered a convergence point of fate?"
Akatsuki, who was stared at by the golden-eyed Illya for a moment, let out a helpless sigh. After all, she didn't want Miyu and Illya to fight.
To her, Miyu was like a younger sister raised together with Shirou, while the Illya of the Prisma Illya route was an extension of the route where she was dismembered in the main story.
The golden-eyed Illya looked at Akatsuki for a moment and then disappeared. After all, the seal still existed, and she couldn't remain on the surface for too long.
"Eh? What happened?"
Illya looked around in confusion, seemingly having forgotten everything that just occurred. At that moment, Miyu did not remain silent as she usually did.
"Enough."
A slightly cold voice rang out as Miyu's icy gaze stared directly at Illya. "Enough. I don't want to cooperate with you to collect class cards anymore. It was the same last time. Someone like you, who gets involved with such half-hearted thoughts, should leave as soon as possible."
"Eh? M-Miyu?"
Illya looked confused and said with a sense of grievance, "Miyu, what happened? Why are you suddenly saying this?"
Seeing the tense atmosphere, Tohsaka Rin quickly stepped in to mediate: "Alright, alright, everyone is working to complete the mission of collecting class cards. There's no need to make a scene. Let's stop here. After all, we've already collected six class cards, and there's only one left, so let's all be a bit happier."
Akatsuki crossed her arms and patted Tohsaka Rin's shoulder.
"Trying to play the peacemaker right now doesn't fit your character profile."
Hearing Akatsuki say this, Tohsaka Rin instinctively wanted to retort, but she fell silent upon seeing Akatsuki's expression.
"The world of magecraft is not a game of house. You are just an ordinary person who was dragged in by Miss Rin. With a half-hearted attitude, you'll die sooner or later. No, not just you—even Luvia and Rin will be killed by you when the time comes!"
Seeing Illya's sad expression, Miyu bit her lip hard and continued, "It was the same when we were collecting the Saber class card! If it weren't for Miss Saber, we all would have died there! This time, you triggered a trap left by an incapacitated Assassin! Illya, I can no longer collect class cards with you. If I keep such a burden around, everyone will die if I'm not careful!"
"Eh? Why would you say something so cruel..."
With tears welling in her eyes, Illya looked at Miyu in disbelief. Clearly, their relationship had improved just a few days ago, and they had even become friends, but now Miyu's words felt like a knife carving into Illya's chest.
"Miyu, you're a big idiot!"
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