Fate: Gremory [Remake] (ENG)

Chapter 2

The sky above the uninhabited island darkened as heavy clouds swirled, heralding an impending storm. The sound of waves hitting nearby rocks filled the air, but in the center of a clearing, far from shores, the roar of the wind was no match for the echoes of quick, forceful blows.

Sengo Muramasa stood firm in position, his body relaxed but ready for any attack. His red eyes shone brightly, studying his opponent: a young woman with golden hair and violet eyes, Saigou Izayoi. The girl breathed deeply, her fists raised, while a faint smile crossed her face.

"Is that all you have, Izayoi?" asked Sengo, not bothering to hide the challenge in his tone.

Izayoi snorted, taking a step forward. "We're just getting started!"

With an explosive movement, the young woman closed the distance between the two. His first attack was a direct blow to Sengo's chest, followed by a quick turn to throw an upward kick. However, Sengo anticipated both moves with ease, dodging the fist and stopping the kick with his forearm.

"Your speed has improved," Sengo said, taking a sideways step to deflect a second blow. "But you're still too predictable."

Izayoi gritted his teeth, momentarily stepping back to reconfigure his posture. "We'll see about that!"

The storm began to break out on them, and the first drops of rain made the ground take on a slippery sheen. However, neither showed signs of stopping. Izayoi charged again, using a combination of quick punches aimed at Sengo's torso and head. He, maintaining his characteristic calmness, blocked and deflected each attack with precision, as if his body moved before his mind decided.

"Focus your energy, Izayoi," he said, deflecting a right hook with an open palm. "Don't waste strength on useless attacks."

Izayoi grunted and spun around, throwing a side kick that Sengo barely managed to dodge by leaning back. The kick grazed her cheek, but that seemed to satisfy the girl.

"Was that a blow? I thought you were faster," Sengo said with a sneer.

"Shut up and fight seriously!" shouted Izayoi, his frustration evident.

Izayoi changed his strategy, backing back enough to create space. He closed his eyes for a moment, concentrating his breathing, and when he opened them, there was a new gleam in his violet eyes. Sengo noticed it and his expression changed: he was alert.

Without warning, Izayoi lunged forward with a speed he hadn't shown before. His fist slammed into the palm of Sengo, who stopped him with effort, but the force behind the attack forced him to retreat for the first time.

"That's better," Sengo muttered, adjusting his posture.

Izayoi did not miss a beat and continued his offense. He threw a series of low and high punches, mixed with sweeps and roundhouse kicks. Sengo blocked, dodged, and countered, but each move was more challenging than the last.

"Now I have you!" shouted Izayoi as she threw a punch to Sengo's abdomen, only for him to deflect his attack at the last second, grabbing his wrist.

"Too confident," she said calmly, turning her body to throw her to the ground in a fluid motion.

Izayoi fell on his back, but quickly rolled to his feet, wiping the mud from his face with one arm. "Again! I'm not done."

Sengo folded his arms, watching her with interest. "That's what I want to see. Determination."

The rain was pouring down now, drenching both combatants. The ground beneath his feet was slippery, but none of them stopped. Izayoi launched another attack, this time targeting Sengo's legs with a sweep. When he jumped to avoid him, she spun around on herself, using the momentum to launch a kick into the air that connected slightly with her side.

Sengo landed gracefully, but his smile indicated that he was impressed. "That was unexpected. You keep getting better."

Izayoi smiled, panting from the effort. "Just give me more time... and I will surpass you."

Sengo chuckled, adopting a low posture. "To surpass myself? Then you'll have to work harder. Come on, show me what you have."

With that, the two faced each other again, their movements increasing in speed and ferocity. Although it was training, the intensity of the combat was worthy of a real fight, and every impact resounded like thunder on the deserted island.

» ━━━━━━ « ♔ » ━━━━━━ «

The air in Takamagahara was permeated with a strange silence. The sacred fields, witnesses to Izayoi Saigou's crushing victory over the Shinto gods, stood motionless, as if the sky itself had been stunned by the young woman's show of strength. The cool breeze caressed Izayoi's golden locks, as she walked beside Senji, her footsteps echoing in the flattened grass.

"Well, I guess that was fun," Izayoi commented, turning his head slightly toward his mentor. A sly smile played on his lips. "Although I expected a little more excitement. These gods are not as impressive as rumors say."

Senji let out a slight sigh, though the amusement was evident in his tone. "Maybe you should learn to temper your expectations. Not everyone can match your standards... nor your fists."

Izayoi laughed softly, clasping his hands behind his head as he continued walking. "I guess that means I'm amazing. Should I start charging fees for every defeated god?"

"If you do that, you will run out of opponents," Senji replied with a smile, looking out over the horizon. "Although I must admit that it was quite entertaining to watch you fight."

The young woman turned quickly to walk backwards, her violet eyes shining mischievously. "Entertaining? Is that all you have to say? Come on, Senji, admit it: I impressed you."

Senji watched her silently for a moment, before shrugging his shoulders. "Maybe a little," he finally admitted, though the twinkle in his eyes revealed more than his words said.

Izayoi laughed again, enjoying the moment. "I knew you couldn't resist. Alright, now that we're done here, what's next? Because if we go directly to the airport, I'm going to die of boredom."

.

.

.

The way back took them to a small village near the edge of Takamagahara, a quiet place with cobblestone streets and traditional houses adorned with red and white lanterns. The sounds of laughter and conversation filled the air, mixed with the aroma of freshly prepared food that made Izayoi's stomach growl.

"How about we make a stop here?" she suggested, her tone full of enthusiasm. "I need to recharge after so much action."

"Recharge?" Senji repeated with a raised eyebrow. "I thought you had barely warmed up."

"Exactly! Which means I still have room to eat as much as I can," Izayoi said proudly, pointing to a traditional restaurant down the street.

Without waiting for a response, the young woman dragged him to the establishment, a cozy place with low tables and a simple but charming decoration. As soon as they sat down, Izayoi began ordering an absurd amount of food: ramen, sushi, tempura, onigiri and even a special house dish.

"Do you intend to eat all of that by yourself?" Senji asked, leaning back as he watched her with a mixture of amusement and resignation.

"Of course," Izayoi replied without hesitation. "You don't want me to be hungry, do you?"

Senji let out a soft laugh and shook his head. "Do what you want. Just don't complain if you run out of room for dessert."

As Izayoi devoured his food with gusto, Senji allowed himself a moment to observe it. There was something fascinating about her inexhaustible energy, how she could go from being an unstoppable force in combat to a carefree young woman who enjoyed the simple things in life. It was a reminder of how far I had come, and how far I could still go.

"What are you looking at?" asked Izayoi, noticing his gaze. His tone was casual, but there was a slight tinge of curiosity.

"Just thinking," Senji replied, sipping tea. "You are chaos, Izayoi, but necessary chaos."

She squinted at him, but a smile formed on her lips. "That sounds like a compliment. Are you okay, Senji? You're usually not that sentimental."

"Perhaps the atmosphere is affecting me," he replied in a nonchalant tone, though he did not deny her comment.

Izayoi shrugged and refocused on his food, letting the moment pass without further comment. To her, Senji's words were a reminder that although their relationship was often one of challenges and jokes, there was also a deep mutual respect that bound them together.

After filling his stomach with an impressive amount of food, Izayoi left the restaurant with a satisfied smile, stretching out in the warm evening light. Senji, walking beside him, seemed just as relaxed, though much more restrained in his demeanor.

"Well, I think I'm ready for whatever comes next," Izayoi declared, looking up at the sky. "I hope it will be something exciting. I don't like boring trips."

"Patience, Izayoi," Senji replied, reaching into his pockets. "Sometimes rest is just as important as action. Learn to enjoy it."

She glanced at him sideways, frowning slightly. "That sounds like something an old man who doesn't want to move would say."

Senji let out a short laugh, shaking his head. "It's something a mentor would say who knows when a student needs to learn how to dose her energy."

Izayoi snorted, but did not argue. Despite his confidence and strength, he had learned to recognize the wisdom behind Senji's words, even if he often liked to question them for fun.

The road to the airport took them along a quiet path on the outskirts of town, where the sunset painted the horizon with warm tones. As they walked, the relationship between the two was manifested in the comfortable silence they shared. They didn't need words to understand that their connection went beyond training; it was a bond formed by discipline and mutual respect between mentor and student.

Senji glanced at her as they walked, noticing the vibrant energy that still radiated despite their tiring day. "You did well today, Izayoi," he finally said, breaking the silence.

The young woman turned to him, surprised by the praise. Although he often joked about his abilities, Senji's candid comments always carried special weight. "Was that a compliment? I should write it down, it doesn't happen every day."

"Enjoy it while it lasts," he replied with a faint smile. "I don't plan on making it a habit."

They both laughed softly, the sound mingling with the whisper of the wind and the distant chirping of crickets. As they continued on their way, Izayoi couldn't help but feel a spark of anticipation for what was to come next. With Senji as her guide, she knew the challenges would only get bigger, but she also knew she was ready to take them on.

The sun finished sinking to the horizon, leaving the sky covered in stars as the two made their way to their next destination, leaving Takamagahara behind as a conquered field and one more lesson on their journey.

» ━━━━━━ « ♔ » ━━━━━━ «

The Gremory territory, known for its vast and majestic landscapes, shone under a crimson sky, with the towers of the family castle casting long shadows over the perfectly manicured gardens. In an open room overlooking the horizon, four young demons were gathered, relaxed in a space that contrasted with their towering ambitions.

Rias Gremory, the youngest of the group, rested comfortably in an armchair, her long red hair falling in soft waves over her shoulders. With a glass of tea in his hand, he watched the others with a serene smile, letting the conversation flow.

Beside her, Alexander Gremory, her older brother, sat with his arms crossed, his crimson hair and violet eyes reflecting a calm intensity. Despite his relaxed posture, the energy around him was palpable, as if he was ready to get up and lead at any moment.

In front of them, Esdeath Leviathan leaned back in his chair, his light blue hair glistening in the dim light of the magic lamps. Serafall's daughter held a crystal glass of ice, slowly turning it around as a light but dangerous smile played on her lips. Beside him, Sairaorg Bael, the heir to the Bael clan and cousin of Rias and Alexander, sat with an upright posture, his muscles tense even at rest, and a serene yet intense expression that echoed his reputation as a fierce warrior.

The conversation, up to that point, had been light, an exchange of anecdotes and family jokes.

"So, Rias," Sairaorg began, his deep voice breaking the murmur of the air. "How long do you plan to sit on the sidelines before you start taking things seriously?"

Rias raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. "On the sidelines? In case you don't remember, Sairaorg, not all of us are born with an obsession with training until our bodies collapse."

"Perhaps you should try," he replied with a challenging smile. "You'd be surprised at what you can accomplish when you push yourself beyond your limits."

Esdeath laughed softly, raising his glass. "Come on, Sairaorg, don't be so her. Not everyone has your talent to turn every conversation into a physical challenge."

"Esdeath is right," Alexander interjected, leaning forward. "Also, the real battlefield for us will not be just physical. If we want to make it to the Top 10 of the Rating Games, we will need more than brute force."

The air in the room changed slightly with that statement. The Rating Games were not a trivial matter, and each of them knew that reaching the Top 10 was not only a symbol of prestige, but an assertion of supremacy in the Underworld.

"The Rating Games," Esdeath muttered, his smile disappearing as his blue eyes took on an icy glow. "The place where names are forged... and they are also destroyed."

Sairaorg nodded, crossing his arms across his chest. "That's exactly why I'm training the way I do. I don't plan to be another spoiled noble who relies on his surname. If I'm going to conquer that stage, it will be with my strength, not my lineage."

"The same applies to me," Alexander said, his tone firm. "Even though I'm a Gremory, I'm not interested in hiding behind our name. I want the Underworld to respect me for who I am, not where I come from."

Rias looked at them both, his smile light giving way to a more serious expression. "What if we fail? If we don't manage to go as far as we think we can?"

"Then we got up and tried again," Alexander replied without hesitation. "Failure is only the end if you decide to make it so."

Esdeath swirled his crystal glass, watching the ice clink softly. "Failure is not an option for us. The four of us are destined for great things. We know it, and the Underworld will know it too."

Rias sighed and lay back, letting the words of his companions settle in the air. "I guess that means I can't keep resting, right? I wouldn't want to be left behind when you guys are strutting around at the top."

"Finally, some competitive spirit," Sairaorg joked, leaning forward with a smile. "Maybe there's hope for you after all, cousin."

The conversation continued, slipping between jokes and strategies, but one thing became clear: the four of them shared a common goal, one that pushed them beyond their limits. Although each had their own approach and style, the ambition to reach the Top 10 of the Rating Games united them in a way that few could understand.

As the night wore on, the lights of Gremory Castle reflected in the crimson sky, and the sound of laughter and words echoed through the hall. Though the road ahead was arduous and filled with uncertainty, the four young men knew they were destined to make a mark on the Underworld, not as heirs to their families, but as monsters who would redefine what it meant to be a demon.

Side Story: ¿Couple?

It was a typical day at Kyoto High School. Senji Muramasa, known for his strict discipline as a Class 2 "A" Physical Education teacher, was on the sports field, giving directions to his students. With his serious expression and his usual sportswear, Senji commanded respect (and a little fear) among the students. Everything was going normally, until the routine was interrupted by a new unexpected "rival".

Just a few days ago, Serafall Leviathan, or better known as Serafall Shitori in the human world, had entered the institute as the new Physical Education teacher of Class 2 "B". With her long black hair pulled back in an elegant low bun, dressed in sportswear that complemented her natural charisma, Serafall quickly won the affection of the students. Since her arrival, not a day had passed without her finding some excuse to approach Senji, calling him by a nickname he couldn't stand.

"Senji-chan~!" chanted Serafall from across the hall, causing Senji to tense up instantly.

The hallway was filled with whispers and giggles from students. It was hard to ignore how Serafall had captured everyone's attention. She approached him with a playful smile and looking at him with those bright eyes that seemed to always hide a mischief.

"Senji-chan, wouldn't you like to be my Queen?" he asked in a soft voice, leaning towards him, just enough for her sweet perfume to envelop him.

Senji gritted his teeth, clearly annoyed. "I already told you no," he replied firmly, crossing his arms. His voice echoed throughout the hallway, and the students erupted in a series of murmurs and exclamations.

"What?! Did he reject Serafall-sensei?" "It can't be! They seem made for each other!" "Come on, Senji-sensei, give it a try!"

Senji frowned as he hurried away, trying to ignore the screams of the students romanticizing a relationship that, to him, didn't exist at all. However, in the eyes of the students, they only saw a romantic comedy about to blossom.

Later, on the sports field, both classes were gathered for a joint session. The students were excited, especially since they knew their favorite teachers would be present. Senji, trying to stay focused, was giving instructions to his group when he heard Serafall's cheerful voice approaching.

"Senji-chan~!" she called out to him, completely ignoring his expression of annoyance. "I was thinking... how about we play a basketball game? You against me. So we could see which class is the best, 2 'A' or 2 'B'."

Senji turned to her, catching the ball Serafall had thrown at her. He hesitated for a moment, not wanting to be dragged into his games. "I'm not here to play, Serafall-sensei."

"Oh, come on, Senji-chan~! Students want to see their teachers in action, right?" she said with a wink, as students began chanting their names.

"Senji-sensei! Serafall-sensei! Party, party!"

With a resigned sigh, Senji finally agreed, unable to resist the students' pressure. "It's okay. But only one match," he said, looking at Serafall with a defiant look.

The match began with palpable tension. Senji and Serafall faced each other as if they were two eternal rivals. From the first serve, it was clear that both were extraordinary in terms of skill and physical prowess. Serafall showed astonishing agility, moving gracefully and quickly, while Senji, with his strength and precision, blocked every scoring attempt.

The students watched open-mouthed as the teachers moved around the court as if it were a perfect choreography. As time went on, neither of them had managed to score a single point. The score was still zero to zero, which made the match even more exciting for the spectators.

"Amazing! I can't believe they're tied!" "It's like they're made for each other!" "Come on, Senji-sensei, don't give up!"

Finally, the whistle blew, signaling the end of the game. The result was a perfect draw, zero to zero.

Serafall, panting slightly, but with a triumphant smile, approached Senji. "I must say, Senji-chan. You're better than I expected."

Senji simply looked at her, trying not to show his frustration. "You're not so bad either... to be new to this."

The students erupted in applause and cheers, interpreting the scene as a romantic moment. "Kyaa! They're flirting!" "Senji-sensei and Serafall-sensei are the ideal couple!"

"We'll see you in the next class, Senji-chan~," Serafall joked, patting him on the shoulder before walking away with a chuckle, leaving Senji frowning and surrounded by students who kept muttering about their "romance."