Section 11: Suppression

Okita's sister once told me that Okita nearly died at birth.

...I see. So she lived all her life on borrowed time...

I might've been a great fool myself, but at least I got to make my foolish decisions on my own. She never even had the chance to decide for herself.

Then maybe she's been summoned here to repay that debt...

Yeah. Her Spirit Origin has been tuned to be used up all at once for the Counter Force...

She's like a bomb just waiting to go off.

She's on a completely different level than me, in every possible sense.

Once she goes off, there won't be a speck of her Spirit Origin left.

...I see.

...We're done talking.

Whatever Okita's debts are, they're hers to settle. It's none of our business one way or the other.

Yeah, I know. It's just hard sometimes, realizing there's some things in life you just can't change.

...

But still, we might be at fault for the way Okita ended up living her life.

If she does have debts to settle, we can at least lend her a hand.

...!

...Well now, this is a surprise. Back when I lived in Kyoto, I heard the Demon Vice Commander had neither blood nor tears to shed.

...Of course, that may have been helped along by things like you forcing subordinates to commit seppuku if they went around using the Shinsengumi's name to raise money.

...Shut up.

...Now!

Oryou!

RRRAAAAAAHHH!!!

I AM! THE! SHINSENGUMIII!!!

Hraaaaaahhh!!!

All right! Gotcha!

...You're wasting your time. I only needed the Holy Grail to begin things.

Now that I'm both Oda Nobunaga and a god, your pathetic Noble Phantasms are useless against me!

Ryouma! Now what do we do!? This guy's a monster!

...Hey, Ryouma?

...Sorry, looks like this is it for me. Guess I asked a little too much of Oryou.

Oh well. Could be worse. At least Oryou gets to go out with Ryouma. Bye, Izo. Don't forget to brush your teeth.

...I'm sorry, Izo.

But don't worry. She'll handle the rest.

...Ryouma, wait! I said wait, dammit!

Ryouma... There you go again...!

Hey, Okita! I got the Holy Grail out, but I'm not gonna last much longer!

Thank you, everyone. You did great.

...I'll take it from here.

Have you lost your mind...?

Not even Lady Nobunaga herself could stop me. How could a Servant with such a pitifully weak Spirit Origin possibly hope to defeat me?

Preposterous...!

？！

...All right, Okita. This is your problem to deal with now.

I'm sorry. I don't think I can bring Mitsuhide back.

All I can ask now is that you put him out of his misery.

...Yes. The version of me that you have all known for so long...

...and the version of me standing here now, who's been by Master's side all this time...

...both of them are me.

This moment is why I'm here.

...What is that light?

Come with me to infinity...

Wha...what the!? What's going on!?

？！

I...

...am a Guardian sent by the Counter Force.

The Counter Force...? A Guardian!? No...impossible! This Imperial Capital is completely cut off from time and history!

The Counter Force shouldn't be able to intervene at all!

...This is a place of endless nothingness.

There is nothing beyond or before this point. So it is with you.

This is the endless abyss into which you will fall.

The Counter Force...!? Don't give me that!

Does that mean not only Lady Nobunaga rejected me...but the entire world as well!?

Why? Why!? Why, why, why why why why why why!?

Why why why why why why why why why why!? Why why why why why why why why why why!?

Why does nobody...nobody...accept meeeeee!?

I'm sorry, Master. I wanted to defeat him on my own. I didn't mean to drag you into it.

？！

...Master.

I'm so glad I met you, Master.

All right, Caster! No...you false, transient god!

I am the one who rips demons asunder, destroys gods, and collects mankind's prayers.

...I am Majin Okita Souji!