Shirou moved quickly and silently under the cover of night, slipping into the Soma Familia base. With his Presence Concealment activated, he was like a shadow, invisible to human eyes. Every step was calculated carefully, and his abilities as a level 4 adventurer allowed him to easily avoid the guards, moving between cracks and dark corners.

Once inside, Shirou took stock of his surroundings, his ears catching every faint sound. Hiding behind a large stone pillar, he overheard a conversation between two guards standing nearby.

"I heard they locked one of our members in the basement," one guard whispered.

"Yeah, she's been down there for a while. Word is she betrayed Soma Familia. Somehow she got involved with Apollo," the other replied.

Hearing this, Shirou's heart raced. His thoughts immediately went to Lily, worried that she might be the one they were talking about. Not wasting any time, Shirou moved swiftly, leaving the shadows behind.

With light, near-silent steps, Shirou made his way towards the basement at the back of the base—just as the guards had mentioned. The area was hidden, protected by long hallways that were tightly guarded. But for Shirou, who moved like the wind without a sound, none of that was an obstacle.

Reaching the door to the basement, Shirou stared at the sturdy lock, but it wasn't an issue for him. In a flash, he projected the perfect key to unlock it. After ensuring no one was watching, Shirou carefully opened the door and descended into the darkness, searching for Lily, who might be in danger.

Shirou found Lily inside a small iron cell located in the corner of the dimly lit basement. The flickering torchlight on the walls cast a gloomy atmosphere. Standing in front of the cell was a guard, lazily keeping watch, completely unaware of Shirou's presence as he slipped through the shadows.

Without making a sound, Shirou projected Kanshou, one of his favorite swords, into his hand. He didn't intend to kill the guard, only to incapacitate him. With precise movement, Shirou struck the back of the guard's head with the sword's hilt. The guard collapsed unconscious, without a sound.

Inside the cell, Lily trembled with fear, seeing the black-robed figure with a skull mask approaching her. The figure appeared menacing in the darkened room. Terrified, Lily pleaded with a trembling voice, "Please, don't kill me..."

Behind the mask, Shirou felt awkward hearing her plea. Using Alteration, he deepened his voice, trying not to sound like himself. "I'm here to save you," he said, his voice calm and controlled.

Hearing such unexpected words, Lily was shocked, confused as to why someone who looked like an assassin had come to rescue her. "W-Why?" she asked, her eyes wide.

Shirou looked at her through his mask and replied firmly, "I just want to help Bell's friend." His answer was simple but sincere, revealing his true intentions.

Lily stared at the black-robed figure in front of her, doubt still evident on her face. "Does... Mr. Skull hide his face because he doesn't want his identity known?" she asked hesitantly, her voice soft and a bit shaky.

Behind the skull mask, Shirou grimaced slightly, feeling awkward with the nickname. But he knew he couldn't reveal his true identity in this situation. He nodded his head and responded in a low voice, "Yes, it would be troublesome if others knew I was the one who helped you."

Shirou then crouched beside the unconscious guard and began searching his pockets for the key. Quickly finding it, he turned and unlocked the prison door where Lily was being held.

As soon as the door opened, Lily rushed out, but instead of running away as Shirou expected, she looked at him with clear determination in her eyes. "Please take me to God Soma's room upstairs," she requested, her voice firm but filled with hope.

Shirou paused for a moment, confused as to why Lily wanted to go there. "Why don't you just run away?" Shirou asked, not understanding why Lily would choose to confront Soma instead of escaping.

Lily looked at him seriously. "I want to leave Soma Familia and join Hestia Familia. Bell needs help, and I have to assist him in the War Game."

Hearing Lily's strong resolve to leave Soma Familia for Bell, Shirou was taken aback. A small smile formed behind his skull mask. In his heart, he admired Lily's courage to fight for Bell, even in such difficult circumstances.

Shirou quickly lifted Lily into his arms, easily supporting her small frame with both hands. "Hold on tight," he whispered in the altered deep voice, while his focus remained sharp, seeking a way out of the Soma Familia basement.

Blushing slightly, Lily held onto the black cloak tightly, feeling a bit embarrassed but also relieved that someone had finally come to save her. She could sense Shirou's strength as he moved, impressing her even more.

Shirou snuck up to the upper floors with graceful, silent movements, like a shadow moving without sound. His speed as a level 4 adventurer, combined with his Presence Concealment ability, made them almost invisible to anyone in Soma Familia. Whenever a member of Soma Familia passed by, Shirou swiftly hid in the shadows, avoiding detection, while still holding Lily close to his chest.

Lily, still in awe while being carried by Shirou, marveled at Mr. Skull's skills. "How can he move this fast... without making a sound?" she thought to herself, tightening her grip slightly on the black cloak that wrapped around Shirou's body.

After some time sneaking through and ensuring the coast was clear, Shirou softly whispered near Lily's ear, "Where is Soma's room?"

In a soft voice, Lily whispered back, "Usually... he's in the brewing room. It's at the very back of the building."

Shirou nodded silently, then quickly made his way toward the room Lily had indicated.

Shirou swiftly moved toward the designated room, the two of them passing through the dark halls of Soma Familia in perfect silence until they arrived in front of a large door. There, a tall, bespectacled man stood guard.

Lily gasped in recognition and quickly warned Shirou in a cautious whisper, "That's... Mr. Zanis, the captain of Soma Familia."

Shirou, still hidden in the shadows, listened closely. Lily continued in a worried tone, "He's nearly at the end of level 2. Be careful, he won't go down easily."

But behind his skull mask, Shirou smiled slightly. Despite Lily's concern, Shirou remained calm—level 2 was no longer a challenge for him. With the speed and precision of a level 4 fighter, he silently lunged out from the shadows. In mere seconds, before Zanis could even realize their presence, Shirou struck him on the back of the neck with the hilt of his projected weapon.

With one blow, Zanis collapsed silently, unconscious on the spot. Lily, witnessing this, was left speechless, her eyes wide as she saw the sheer strength of "Mr. Skull." Shirou had taken down an opponent far stronger than Lily with such ease.

After ensuring that Zanis would not wake up, Shirou gently released Lily from his embrace, allowing her to stand before the door to Soma's chamber. "This is your moment," Shirou said in a deep, altered voice, "Do what you need to do."

Lily stepped into the room, filled with the overpowering aroma of wine, fermented with divine influence. The sweet yet sharp scent permeated the air, creating a stark contrast to the darkness and silence outside. Inside, the god Soma, with long hair and closed eyes, was quietly stirring wine, seemingly oblivious to the world around him. His movements were calm, fully absorbed in the divine act of wine fermentation.

With a mix of reverence and tension, Lily knelt before the god who had been her patron for so long. In a quiet but determined voice, she pleaded, "Please allow me to leave Soma Familia, Lord Soma. I want to join Hestia Familia and help Bell in the War Game."

Soma showed no emotion, continuing to stir the wine as if Lily's words hadn't reached him. After a few moments, he finally spoke, his voice calm but carrying a challenge, "I will not listen to anyone influenced by my wine."

He gestured to a glass of wine nearby, its scent sharper and more enticing. "Drink a glass of my wine, and if you can withstand its effects, then I will hear your request."

Lily stared at the glass, fully aware of the difficulty of what was being asked. Outside, Shirou, still hidden with his Hassan mask, sensed the tension surrounding Lily, even though he couldn't see what was happening in the room.

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The god Soma motioned toward the glass filled with the divine wine's intoxicating aroma. "Drink," he said coldly. "If after drinking it, you still wish to leave Soma Familia, I will grant your request."

Outside, Shirou, listening carefully, immediately realized how potent the wine was. With his keen senses, he knew that the wine held incredible intoxicating power. Even he, despite possessing Avalon, which could heal wounds and prevent sickness, felt that the wine could overpower him in large amounts. He began to worry about Lily's ability to resist its divine influence.

But Lily showed no hesitation. With unwavering resolve, she raised the glass to her lips and slowly drank. Each drop that entered her body brought a sensation of unimaginable bliss, as if all her sorrows and hardships vanished in an instant. Yet with that pleasure came a powerful intoxication. Her head began to spin, the world around her blurred, and her body trembled.

Still, Lily refused to give in. She bit her lip hard, drawing blood, trying to stay conscious. Her eyes reddened, and tears streamed down her cheeks, but she kept her gaze fixed on Soma with unshakable determination.

"Once again..." she said, her voice trembling but firm, "I beg you, let me leave Soma Familia... to help Bell in the War Game."

Soma, initially indifferent, was taken aback. No one had ever resisted the effects of his wine with such strength before. Lily, with her small frame, had managed to overcome the overwhelming intoxication.

After a brief silence, Soma finally nodded slowly, signaling his acceptance. "Very well," he said quietly, "You are free to go."

Lily emerged from Soma's chamber, her steps unsteady, her body weakened from battling the intoxicating effects of the divine wine. Her vision was blurry, and the world around her spun as she almost collapsed, but a strong hand caught her just in time. It was the cloaked figure, still waiting for her outside.

Shirou, his face hidden beneath the skull mask of Hassan, smiled behind it. "You did something amazing, Lily," he said in his altered voice, masking his true identity. "I'm proud of you."

Breathing heavily, Lily looked up and smiled weakly. Though her face was flushed, there was a glimmer of victory in her eyes. "Thank you, Mr. Skull ..." she whispered, her voice soft but filled with gratitude. "Please... take me home."

Without saying much, Shirou nodded and gently scooped Lily into his arms. "Hold on tight," he whispered, ensuring she gripped his cloak securely. Then, with unimaginable speed, Shirou slipped out of the Soma Familia compound, moving like a shadow unseen, carrying Lily safely away from the place that had imprisoned her for so long.

Just as they passed through the gates of Soma Familia, Shirou suddenly halted in place. Using Reinforcement on his eyes, he enhanced his vision to see farther. In the distance, he spotted a group of people approaching Soma Familia. Among them, he immediately recognized some familiar faces—Hestia, Welf, Mikoto, and Naaza.

Lily, still nestled in Shirou's arms, felt confused as he abruptly stopped for no apparent reason. "Mr. Skull, what's wrong? Why did we stop?" she asked anxiously.

While still keeping an eye on Lily's friends as they drew closer, Shirou smiled behind his skull mask. With his altered voice, he spoke gently, "You're very lucky, Lily. Look, they're coming to get you. So many friends care about you."

Lily turned her gaze toward the direction Shirou pointed. When she recognized who was coming, her eyes welled up with tears. Her heart filled with warmth, touched by the friends who had come to help her.

As Hestia's group approached, they were immediately shocked by the unexpected scene before them. Lily was in the arms of a black-cloaked figure wearing a skull mask. Hestia's expression tensed, and without hesitation, she shouted loudly, "Hey, you villain! Let go of Lily right now!"

In response to Hestia's shout, the others in the group, like Welf and Mikoto, quickly readied their weapons, prepared to attack and rescue Lily from the mysterious figure. The atmosphere was thick with tension, but before they could act, Shirou, hidden behind his skull mask, slowly released Lily from his embrace. Calmly, he raised his hands, showing that he had no intention of starting a fight. His peaceful demeanor diffused the imminent attack from Hestia's group.

Seeing this, Hestia smiled proudly and puffed out her chest with arrogance. "See? The villain was scared by my strong aura!" she declared confidently, believing it was her presence that had made the masked figure retreat.

But Lily stepped forward, visibly irritated, and approached Hestia. "You're completely wrong, Hestia-sama!" she exclaimed. "This Mr. Skull isn't a villain. He's the one who saved me from Soma Familia."

Welf, still in shock, lowered his weapon and asked in confusion, "So, you know someone like that?"

Lily shook her head firmly. "I don't know him. He deliberately hid his identity. He just wanted to help without being known," she explained, looking at the mysterious figure with gratitude in her eyes.

Hestia and the others finally understood, and with genuine appreciation, they thanked the masked figure. "Thank you, Mr. Skull, for saving Lily."

Shirou, behind his mask, remained silent. He simply turned his back, then calmly waved a hand in farewell. Slowly, he began to fade away, merging with the dark shadows surrounding the streets, making his presence vanish from sight.

Mikoto, watching Shirou's departure, looked on in admiration. "The way that Mr. Skull moves... it's so cool. He's like a true ninja," she murmured, her eyes sparkling with awe at the mysterious figure who had just disappeared into the night.

Having completed his mission, Shirou quickly found a quiet corner in the city to remove his cloak and mask. As he started to feel relieved and ready to return to his usual life, a thought crossed his mind. "Have I unconsciously been mimicking Archer's habit of showboating?" he mused, smiling slightly to himself as he recalled Archer's flamboyant style that often left him shaking his head.

However, the moment of relaxation was abruptly interrupted by a loud voice that stopped him in his tracks. "Hey, you masked coward! Stop!" someone commanded with authority.

Shirou immediately went on alert, surprised that someone had detected him even though he had been using Presence Concealment. As he turned, his eyes locked onto the figure of a pale-blond Elf wearing glasses. His expression was stern and cold, with eyes filled with confidence and strength. His skin was porcelain white, and his attire bore an emblem that Shirou quickly recognized—the emblem of Freya Familia.

The Elf's presence made Shirou instantly grasp the gravity of the situation. Only someone with special abilities or a higher level could have detected him. "It seems this person is not to be underestimated," Shirou thought, bracing himself for the possibility of a confrontation.

In a firm and threatening voice, the Elf spoke, "You shouldn't interfere with the affairs of Hestia Familia. My goddess, Freya, doesn't want outsiders influencing them."

Shirou studied the figure before him more closely. His arrogant demeanor, the emblem he wore, and the mention of Freya's name led Shirou to conclude that he was no ordinary person. He must be one of Freya Familia's elite, and his actions were surely on Freya's orders.

Without any further pleasantries, the Elf commanded, "Remove your mask! Show me who you really are!"

Shirou let out a small chuckle at the command. He had no intention of obeying the man's words. "Whoever you are, I have no obligation to follow your orders," Shirou calmly replied, though in his heart, he was already formulating a plan. "Looks like this is going to be harder than I thought."

As Shirou began to plan his next move, he decided to test his opponent's abilities. Without saying a word, he turned and ran at an astonishing speed, leaving only a shadow behind. The Elf didn't remain idle, immediately chasing after Shirou with impressive speed, but Shirou took advantage of the moment. Channeling reinforcement into his legs, Shirou's speed increased even more, widening the gap between them.

At first, the Elf seemed capable of keeping up with Shirou. However, as Shirou continued to pour more prana into his legs, the distance between them steadily grew, leaving the Elf increasingly frustrated and angry as he fell farther behind.

With a face full of suppressed rage, the Elf began chanting a spell in a firm voice. Shirou, far ahead, sensed something unusual happening behind him. Although he initially felt confident leaving the Elf behind, a feeling of caution emerged as he detected the magical vibrations from the incantation. Lightning began to crackle through the air, and the sound of thunder echoed loudly.

Shirou glanced back, his eyes focusing on the bright light intensifying in the Elf's hands. In an instant, the Elf finished his chant, sending a massive bolt of lightning hurtling toward Shirou with lightning-fast speed, roaring through the air with deadly intent.

Reacting quickly, Shirou wasn't willing to take any chances. He stopped briefly and activated Projection. A blue-green light glowed in his hands, forming the legendary Noble Phantasm known as Raikiri, a sword capable of cutting through lightning. Shirou gripped the sword tightly, ready to face the devastating attack.

The lightning struck with earth-shaking force, but Shirou was prepared. As the bolt neared him, he swung Raikiri with precision. In one swift and sharp slash, Raikiri cleaved the lightning in two. The once-threatening bolt of electricity split in the air, dissipating harmlessly without ever touching Shirou.

With steady breaths and a focused gaze, Shirou watched the Elf from a distance. He knew the fight wasn't over yet, but he also realized he needed to be cautious. This Elf was no ordinary opponent.

The pale-skinned Elf grew even paler, seemingly in disbelief at what had just transpired before him. The mighty lightning bolt he had cast—a spell that should have obliterated his enemy—was effortlessly sliced apart by Shirou. Stunned, he stood speechless, unable to comprehend the power of Raikiri wielded by Shirou. The Elf had never expected anyone to counter his magic with such elegance.

However, Shirou didn't want to waste any more time. He knew this situation needed to end quickly before it attracted even more attention. He swiftly resumed his run toward a quieter, more secluded area. His breathing remained steady, and each step was enhanced by the reinforcement still coursing through his legs. The Elf no longer pursued him, seemingly giving up on continuing the unfavorable battle.

After some time, Shirou found a dark, deserted corner of the city, a safe place to conceal his identity. He slipped behind an old, long-abandoned house, ensuring no one was watching. With a deep breath, Shirou dematerialized his mask, black cloak, and Raikiri into prana, letting them vanish back into his body. In an instant, Shirou Emiya, the adventurer of Loki Familia, returned to his original form.

However, as everything settled, Shirou noticed something unusual. His hand was trembling slightly, a sign that some of the lightning had indeed coursed through Raikiri and into his body. Even though he had managed to slice the lightning in half, its impact had still reached him. Shirou could only smile wryly as he looked at his still-shaking hand. He felt fortunate—if that Elf had been a physical fighter or had the ability to keep up with him, the battle might have been much more difficult.

Feeling a sense of relief beginning to wash over him, Shirou started making his way back to Twilight Manor, where he could rest and recover. However, deep inside, he couldn't shake the feeling that this conflict might not be entirely over yet.