Shirou sat down in front of the group, his gaze fixed on Finn, who lay weakly on Lisa's lap. With a serious tone, he asked, "What exactly happened for Finn to get injured like this?"

Raul still tense despite regaining some of his spirits, exhaled deeply and began recounting. "At first, when we entered Knossos, Finn split us into two teams. One led by him, the other by Gareth. Our group, with Finn, was tasked with exploring the western part of the labyrinth."

Shirou listened intently, then furrowed his brow. "Knossos?" he asked curiously. "What is Knossos?"

Aki took over to explain. "Knossos is the name of this labyrinth, Shirou. It was built by Daedalus in ancient times. We know its name because of the hieroglyphs at the entrance. Lady Riveria read them; she's leading the reserve forces outside the entrance."

Shirou smiled slightly, imagining Riveria with her vast knowledge. "That's just like Riveria," he muttered softly, loud enough for Aki to nod in agreement.

Raul continued, "Everything was fine at first, but we were suddenly ambushed. Evilus separated our group using Violas, monsters that attacked from all directions. While we were fighting the monsters, they closed the Orichalcum doors behind us, trapping and isolating us."

Shirou leaned forward slightly, focusing more. "And what happened to Finn?"

Raul swallowed hard, clearly recalling the moment. "That's when a red-haired woman... Revis. She suddenly appeared in our midst. She slashed Finn easily with her sword. Finn tried to fight back, but the wounds she inflicted were too severe."

Shirou looked at Finn, still unconscious, his bandaged wounds seeping blood. "Can't it be healed with a potion?" he asked, concern lacing his voice.

Lisa shook her head gravely. "No. The sword Revis used seems to be cursed. Normal potions can't heal these wounds. Even Lady Riveria's healing magic might not be enough to counter the curse's effects."

Shirou clenched his fists, anger simmering beneath his calm exterior. "We need to find another way to save him. We can't leave Finn like this," he said firmly, instilling a sense of resolve in the group.

Shirou stood tall, his gaze sweeping the area as he asked in a commanding tone, "Where is Revis now? Is she still pursuing you?" Internally, he prepared himself. If he had to face Revis this time, he was confident his chances were far better than during their last encounter. Back then, he was just a level 1 adventurer, but now, as a level 4, he felt he might stand a chance.

Raul shook his head slightly. "It doesn't seem like it. Revis didn't chase us further. She left us to her comrade, a woman from Evilus named Valletta."

Shirou frowned at the name. "Who's Valletta?" he asked curiously.

Aki, standing beside Raul, answered with venom in her voice. "Valletta is one of Captain Finn's old enemies. She's a level 5 lunatic who loves torturing and hurting others."

Shirou nodded, his expression hardening. "In that case, fall back and protect Captain Finn. Leave the fight to me. I'll keep you safe."

Lisa, still checking Finn's condition, looked at Shirou with concern. "Shirou, be careful. Valletta's weapon also seems cursed like Revis's. If you get hurt, healing will be difficult."

Shirou turned to Lisa, gave a faint smile, and nodded. "Thanks for the warning. I'll be cautious." Inwardly, he considered his options. With his Projection ability, he could replicate Valletta's weapon and even turn the curse against her.

Shirou moved forward, his stance alert. He controlled his breathing, focusing his mind, listening intently to every sound around him. He knew Valletta would appear soon. Shirou was no stranger to facing opponents far stronger than himself, both in his original world and in Orario. This time would be no different.

Soon, the sound of footsteps echoed, drawing closer. Shirou tightened his grip, waiting for Valletta to show herself. His heart remained calm, but his eyes were sharp with vigilance. "Come on," he whispered softly, challenging his unseen opponent.

Drawing a deep breath, Shirou donned his skull mask again, adjusting his black cloak. A woman's mocking voice rang out from the distance, "Finn darling, where are you hiding now? Don't keep me waiting too long."

Shirou recognized the voice—it belonged to the woman who had previously trapped him in Knossos. He grew more alert, preparing for their encounter.

Moments later, a woman emerged from the dark corridor, flanked by a group of Evilus members clad in white robes with hoods and masks. She had short, bright pink hair that contrasted with her piercing yellow eyes. Dressed in a tattered black top and black pants with red stripes, her outfit exposed her toned midriff. A brown belt adorned her right thigh, and a black coat with fur accents gave her a strikingly dangerous appearance.

Valletta stopped at the end of the corridor, her eyes narrowing at Shirou. At first, she seemed surprised, but her expression quickly turned to fury. "Hey, mask! How did you escape my trap?" she snarled, clearly irritated.

Shirou, instead of answering directly, gave a faint smile hidden behind his mask. "You made it too easy," he replied, his voice altered by Alteration. "You didn't even seal the place properly."

Valletta sneered, resting her long, four-pronged black sword on her shoulder. "Hmph, I should've known you'd be more trouble than the others. But this time, I'll make sure you don't leave alive."

Shirou studied the sword in Valletta's hand, activating Tracing to delve into its essence. Information flowed into his mind. The weapon, crafted by Barca Perdix, carried a Mystery that allowed it to channel curses. While relatively new, it lacked the depth of technique older weapons held. Shirou felt slightly disappointed but remained focused.

"Interesting," Shirou remarked, projecting an identical sword into his hand. Blue prana light surrounded him as the sword materialized, a perfect replica of Valletta's weapon.

Valletta raised an eyebrow, both annoyed and intrigued. "What's this? You're copying my weapon?" she said, her tone a mix of irritation and amusement.

Shirou raised the projected sword, pointing it at Valletta. "Let's see if your curse is strong enough to counter its own," he said challengingly, readying himself for battle.

Valletta glanced across the corridor and saw Finn lying weakly, shielded by Raul and other members of the Loki Familia. A sinister smirk appeared on her face. "Oh, there you are, Finn," she sneered, waving her sword mockingly in their direction. "Just give up. You can't escape from me."

Her gaze returned to Shirou, who stood firmly before her, clad in his skull mask and black cloak. "But first," she continued, spinning her sword, "I'll deal with this masked one. Then it's your turn, Finn."

Shirou remained silent, ignoring Valletta's provocation. He raised his sword with both hands, his body poised defensively. Deep inside, he knew Valletta was a formidable foe. Although he could rely on long-range strategies with Projection to rain down attacks, this time, he chose to engage directly. It was an opportunity to test the strength of one of Evilus's leaders.

Valletta attacked first, dashing forward with a confident grin. The black, forked sword in her hand slashed toward Shirou with immense power. Shirou deflected the strike with his projected sword, but the sheer force of Valletta's attack pushed him back a few steps. Sparks flew between them.

"Is that all you've got?" Valletta taunted, pressing forward with a series of rapid strikes. Shirou held his ground, relying on his reflexes and combat experience to parry each blow. Still, Valletta's raw strength, enhanced by her level 5 abilities, was undeniably overwhelming.

Realizing he couldn't rely solely on technique, Shirou channeled prana into his body and weapon, activating Reinforcement. A faint blue glow enveloped his sword and coursed through his muscles. With newfound confidence, he stepped forward, firmly deflecting Valletta's next attack without yielding an inch.

Valletta faltered momentarily, her confident expression giving way to a hint of worry. "What the hell is this?!" she shouted, intensifying her assault. Yet this time, Shirou matched her strength, his counters precise and deliberate.

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"You're used to fighting weaker opponents," Shirou remarked coldly, launching a calculated counterattack. "But I'm not one of them."

Valletta began losing her footing. Shirou's swordsmanship, honed through Tracing the techniques of master swordsmen, gave him an edge in strategy and movement. Spotting an opening, he delivered a diagonal slash that struck Valletta's shoulder.

She staggered back, cursing as she clutched her bleeding shoulder. "Damn you, masked bastard! This isn't over!" she screamed, a mix of fury and panic in her voice.

Valletta retreated further, commanding her subordinates to intercept Shirou. "Take him down! Hold him here!" she ordered before turning to flee.

Shirou twirled his sword, his breathing steady despite the strain of the intense battle. He glanced at the advancing Evilus members, their numbers far greater than he had anticipated. Yet he remained calm, prana flowing steadily through him as he braced for the next wave.

Suddenly, one of the Evilus members lunged toward Shirou with an unexpected movement, leaping as if to embrace him. Shirou's eyes narrowed, sensing something amiss. Acting on reflex, he dodged to the side, but the attacker screamed loudly, "For Thanatos!" before their body erupted in a devastating explosion.

The blast shook the labyrinth corridor, flames roaring violently. Shirou leaped backward, narrowly avoiding the searing heat. However, the edge of his cloak was singed, and fiery debris grazed his arm, leaving painful burns.

"They're using themselves as living bombs..." Shirou muttered a mix of disgust and steely resolve filling his tone. He glanced back to see Finn lying weakly under Lisa's care. The others looked tense but remained steadfast in protecting their position. Shirou knew he was the only shield standing between them and the encroaching doom.

The remaining Evilus members advanced, their faces twisted with terrifying fanaticism. Shirou clenched his fists and stood tall before them. "Then let me be your obstacle," he declared firmly.

Shirou projected Salamander Wool, a thick cloak designed to shield him from heat and fire. In his hands, he formed two large shields imbued with fire resistance, standing as an unyielding barrier. With these defenses, he prepared himself for the next assault.

"Come on, if you're so eager, I'm right here," Shirou challenged coldly, his voice nearly drowned out by the thunderous footsteps of his enemies.

The Evilus members continued their advance, their expressions void of fear. Behind his shields, Shirou began projecting a series of long swords, which floated around him like silent sentinels. With a flick of his hand, he unleashed the swords toward his foes. Each blade struck with pinpoint precision, piercing their bodies before triggering explosive reactions that rocked the corridor anew.

Explosion after explosion filled the battlefield, creating massive flames that engulfed almost the entire path. Shirou stood his ground amidst the chaos, using his shields to protect himself from the waves of heat. But the relentless pressure of the blasts took its toll, leaving him gasping for air.

Through the blazing fire, a shout calling his name pierced the noise. Raul, Aki, and Lloyd rushed forward in panic, trying to reach him. "Shirou! Are you okay?!" Raul yelled, his voice trembling.

Aki grabbed Raul's shoulder, attempting to stop him. "Don't go closer! Those flames are too dangerous!" Despite their fears, their concern for Shirou drove them forward.

Slowly, from within the flames, a figure emerged. Shirou stepped out, his Salamander Wool cloak completely burned away, revealing severe burns covering his body. His face was pale, and his breaths were labored, but he remained standing, his eyes full of determination.

"Are you all okay?" Shirou asked, his voice hoarse. His smile was weak but conveyed his resilience.

"Shirou!" Lisa nearly cried in relief, but Aki quickly approached him, her gaze fixed on his injuries. "You're insane! Look at yourself!"

"I'm fine," Shirou replied softly, though the pain in his body was evident. "What matters is that they didn't get past me."

Aki hurriedly reached into their supply bag, pulling out a bottle of high potion crafted by the Dian Cecht Familia. "Shirou, take off your clothes! I need to treat your wounds immediately!" she commanded, her tone leaving no room for argument despite how ambiguous her words sounded.

Shirou gave a wry smile, recognizing the double meaning but deciding not to joke this time. With a small gesture, his black cloak, skull mask, black armor, and red clothing dissolved into prana, leaving him clad only in trousers. His burnt body was now fully visible, displaying his muscular build.

"These wounds are serious," Aki muttered, wasting no time. She poured the entire bottle of high potion over Shirou's body. The blue liquid flowed over his burns, emitting light steam as it touched his damaged skin. Despite the potion's high cost, no one protested. They all knew Shirou deserved it after risking his life for them.

"Thankfully," Shirou said in a calm tone, even as his body tensed from the potion's cold sting, "the explosions only injured me physically. If Valletta's weapon had cursed me, I wouldn't recover this easily."

Raul, standing nearby, shook his head. "You're absolutely crazy, Shirou. Facing them alone like that... Do you even realize how dangerous that was?"

Shirou turned to Raul with a faint smile. "I do. But as long as all of you are safe, it's worth it." His simple answer carried profound meaning, leaving everyone silent for a moment.

The burns on Shirou's body gradually healed, leaving faint scars that soon disappeared. After confirming he was sufficiently recovered, Shirou projected his Archer's red clothes and black armor once again. Before he could proceed, Aki stopped him with a voice filled with emotion. "You're not fully healed yet! You need to rest, Shirou!"

Shirou shook his head firmly. "I can't. Valletta is too dangerous to let her escape. This is our best chance, especially now that she's injured by her own weapon's curse."

Lloyd, standing on the side, hesitated. "Maybe... maybe we should go after her instead? With her injuries, we can handle her. You've already done more than enough, Shirou. You need to rest."

Shirou saw the doubt in Lloyd's eyes, but he didn't want to discourage him with harsh words. Gently, he replied, "Your task is more important. Captain Finn needs your protection. If Valletta returns, she won't hesitate to attack again. You must guard the captain."

With that, Shirou projected his skull mask and black cloak once more, enveloping himself like a shadow in the night. Without waiting any longer, he dashed off, chasing Valletta into the labyrinth's darkness.

"Shirou, wait!" Aki shouted, her voice laden with worry. But Shirou didn't stop.

Raul approached Aki and gently patted her shoulder. "Aki, I told you... that's what it means to be a hero. Once they've made a decision, nothing can stop them." His words were filled with respect, though tinged with sadness.

***

Shirou sharpened his senses by activating Reinforcement on his ears, trying to pick up faint footsteps echoing through the silent labyrinth walls. He stood still for a moment, letting his senses work at full capacity. Eventually, the sound of dragging footsteps—slow but distinct—caught his attention. Shirou was certain it was Valletta.

He began moving, following the sound with quick, silent steps. In the distance, Valletta, still wounded, muttered under her breath. "That damn mask... I'll get my revenge. I'll make him beg for death," she growled angrily, clutching her injured shoulder.

Her sharp ears picked up faint footsteps behind her. Valletta quickly turned around and saw the figure of a masked skull moving toward her with the speed of a shadow. Panicking, she decided to run despite her injuries. "You won't catch me!" she snarled, leaping forward.

Shirou gave no quarter, pursuing her with unwavering determination. Valletta stumbled and fell to the ground briefly before smirking slyly. She pulled out a small orb from her jacket. "You think you can touch me?" she sneered, spinning the orb in her hand. In an instant, a massive Orichalcum door dropped between them.

"You think you can defeat me, you masked fool?" Valletta taunted from behind the door with a satisfied grin. "Now you're trapped, just like before!"

But behind his skull mask, Shirou smirked faintly. He had managed to use Tracing on the orb's mechanisms before Valletta closed the door. Within moments, he understood its origins—a Daedalus descendant's eye modified into a device for controlling Orichalcum doors. Using that information, Shirou projected a replica of the key into his hand.

Valletta heard the click of the Orichalcum door unlocking. As the door began to rise, her face turned to panic. "What the hell?! How are you opening it?!" she screamed, cursing loudly.

Shirou stepped forward calmly, pointing at Valletta with his finger. "Your key... was easy to replicate," he said coldly. He projected the orb key in his hand, spinning it briefly before tossing it toward Valletta. The orb hit her face lightly, further enraging her.

"You little brat!" Valletta cursed, gripping the orb tightly. But now, she no longer saw Shirou as a trivial threat. Shirou, brimming with confidence, readied his weapons, preparing for another confrontation with Valletta.

Shirou advanced, holding Kanshou in his right hand and Bakuya in his left. The twin swords glimmered faintly in the labyrinth's dim light. Each step he took echoed clearly in the narrow corridor, creating an inescapable tension.

Valletta stared at Shirou, her eyes wide with panic. She stumbled backward, trying to escape, but her body was weakened by the curse-inflicted wound on her shoulder. Without her weapon, she knew she was at the brink of death. Her voice trembling, she began pleading, "Wait! Wait! Don't kill me! I... I can give you information! About Evilus... and our plans to destroy Orario!"

Shirou paused, keeping Kanshou and Bakuya raised, ready to strike. He showed no emotion behind his skull mask, but internally, he considered Valletta's words. "Talk now," he commanded in a deep, altered voice. Kanshou moved closer to Valletta's neck, causing her to swallow nervously.

"I... I can't tell you here!" Valletta stammered, trembling. "Take me to Finn! He needs to hear it!"

Shirou frowned behind his mask. He knew Valletta was stalling, hoping for someone or something to rescue her. While information about Evilus' plans was critical, taking Valletta as a prisoner was a significant risk. Finn was already injured, and their group would be further burdened if they had to protect two vulnerable individuals.

Valletta noticed Shirou's hesitation, thinking she had successfully sown doubt. "You know I'm valuable! Without me, you won't uncover our grand plan! You need me!" she said with newfound confidence.

Shirou remained silent, but his decision was already made. He didn't have time for prolonged interrogations or the risk of escorting Valletta. A merciless enemy like her, who sacrificed even her own subordinates, was too dangerous to leave alive.

Realizing her plan had failed, Valletta cursed in frustration. "If only you hadn't shown up, I wouldn't be trapped like this! Damn you, you masked bastard!"

Without a word, Shirou raised Kanshou. In one swift, precise motion, his blade struck Valletta's neck, silencing her forever. Her body fell to the ground with a heavy thud.

Shirou stood still for a moment, staring at her lifeless body. He felt no satisfaction, only relief that the threat was eliminated. Letting Kanshou and Bakuya fade back into prana, he turned and began running toward Raul and the others. Time was of the essence—his team still needed protection, and Finn still required help.