Infinite Journey: Dark Souls

The reason she entered the Ring World had already been analyzed by Ash and the Magical Girl. Part of it is certain that it was to observe and study the Law of the Rings. She likely separated from Flame Demon Lord for this operation; currently, she is the only one confirmed to have arrived in this world.

Just before she entered this world, the sand approached her.

The reason why Sand ended up in Lordran is still related to the Survey Corps. Remember when she betrayed the Mist in the Contractor world? During the final battle in that world, she killed a tragic Doctor and obtained the Return Bone Fragment from Kirito. This item, associated with the campfire, sent her to Lordran, not Bloodborne.

She then settled in Lordran, using connections she had established long ago to infiltrate the "junkyard" near Farron Keep. She would then wait to use Lordran as a transit point to reach a world untouched by ash and mist.

Since we want to avoid paying attention to the ash and mist, we naturally cannot transfer them through official channels.

Having just left the Survey Corps, yet still able to teleport across dimensions using Fran's equipment, Ashflame became the best choice.

She risked contacting her old rival, and after some discussion, they reached an agreement to "smuggle" her across the border.

Originally, Sand was the only stowaway. However, by sheer coincidence, a trio who frequented the "junkyard" set their sights on her. Patch, a shrewd businessman who had previously entered the Deep Cathedral controlled by the Mist, had dealings with the Mist before. Upon unexpectedly encountering Sand, he immediately recognized her race, triggering his own greedy nature.

Items from the Bloodborne world are rare in Lordran.

Driven by the greed of a shrewd businessman, he secretly followed Sand with the kidnapped Oak and the tricked Onion Knight.

So, on the very day Sand and Ashflame were to be teleported, they inexplicably followed the infiltration route Ashflame had provided to Sand and stumbled into the teleportation center of Farron Keep. Amidst a chaotic and absurd commotion, they luckily managed to resist capture by the Farron soldiers and, along with Ashflame and Sand, were teleported to the Ring World. And so began a tumultuous journey.

The above explains the cause of a series of events that occurred after the Circular World went off track.

From then on, Ashflame, Sand, and the goofball went their separate ways, each disrupting the normal course of the world.

Ashfire begins investigating the Law of Cycles. Taking advantage of Ribbonfire's absence from this world, she infiltrates a small group of magical girls. While investigating the differences between a world with magical beasts and a world with witches, she waits to personally witness Sayaka being taken away by the Law of Cycles.

She got what she wanted. Then, the ribbon flame officially entered this world.

The arrival of Ribbon Flame failed to bring the world back on track; her battle with Ash Flame only heightened public awareness of the rampant monsters. The world's trajectory was thus completely overturned. Even Sand, who had already begun the "Circle World Ghoul Transformation" operation, and the trio who had started their "Strolling in the Circle World" journey, were affected.

Finally, the Survey Corps entered the Ring World just as the city's evacuation was completed.

"You've all experienced what happened afterward, so I won't repeat it. Speaking of which, I still don't understand why I was your target? —Speaking of our relationship, wouldn't it have been more appropriate to search for Ashflame?"

Time has returned to the present. Sand, having returned Little Tatsuya, arrived at their camp with Ash, accompanied by Ribbon Flame, who, along with her, helped organize the missing information from Ash. All the information combined led to the clear timeline of events described above. Now, the only piece of the truth remaining is Ash's own.

What is Ash's mission in the Ring World this time?

"Well, while I personally really want to find Homura, our mission is really to find you."

After summarizing the intelligence gathered by Sand and Ribbon Flame, Ori shrugged and began talking about the Survey Corps.

“You should be well aware of your value to the Ashes, right? You were the first Mist to openly rebel against your own race. You possess the secrets of the Mist, especially information about the undead settlement shrouded in mist. The Ashes crave these secrets and information, so naturally you have become our mission target.”

Weaving spoke casually, but Ribbon Flame, who vaguely sensed the complex relationship between the ash and the mist, listened with anything but ease.

"As expected, after those three idiots' meddling, it was impossible for my smuggling to go undetected by the French authorities. However, judging from your expressions, this mission is mandatory, isn't it? You didn't choose to come and find me; you were forced to do so, am I right?"

Ash's camp was located in the plaza outside the stadium, undoubtedly the area under their strongest control. Facing Ash, who surrounded his tents in layers, Sand calmly sipped his tea and slowly inquired of the Survey Corps captain.

"...Yes, after our vacation in Rodoran, the commander of the Fran Legion gave us this mission directly, bypassing the usual hierarchy. As for why the mission was issued in such a strange way..." Zhi glanced at the magical girls and the trio of unrelated people, then left them in suspense. "Let's go back to Rodoran and talk about it then."

After drinking the tea prepared by the ashes, Sand gracefully set down the teacup.

“I could roughly guess even if you didn’t tell me. The road to Irithyll of the Valley was blocked, so you had to expand in another direction. And the settlement blocking that direction just happens to be the place I know best. You see, I have a pretty accurate understanding of my own value.”

"Who knows? We'll find out when we get back."

The demonic pupils, which had not yet opened, gazed with a smile at the black pupils that had no whites.

His black pupils, devoid of white, rolled around, and he smiled brightly once more.

"So, is our next stop a direct return to Lordran?"

The demonic eyes, which had not yet been opened, became sharp and menacing.

Fifty-five of Destiny: If you're going to break the rules, you always need a reason.

"So, is our next stop a direct return to Lordran?"

Like a leisurely young lady inquiring about the upcoming travel arrangements, Misty smiled brightly, completely oblivious to being pursued. Watching her smiling face, her questions failed to elicit any smiles from the surrounding audience. Someone reacted even more violently than Ash; the small tea table in the camp tent was slammed shut.

Ribbon Flame was one of the most vocal, but the coffee table didn't slam in her palm.

"You're leaving? That won't do! The giant magical beast... the giant magical beast hasn't even arrived yet..."

The person who slammed their hand on the coffee table was Asami. She glared at the smiling Misty, then suddenly ran to Ori and began to protest.

Yes, if you can't defeat a giant monster yourself, you can just ask someone else for help. Ribbon Flame was excited to have figured out this solution—how to defeat a giant monster had been bothering her all night, and it was only when Mami's panicked voice rang out just now that she simultaneously thought of this method.

So, who is the best person to help her implement this plan?

“I know the giant monster hasn’t been cleared out yet, but it’s not our ultimate goal. The reason we chose to fight the giant monster during our first intelligence gathering was because we needed your help to find sand. Unfortunately, we’ve already achieved our ultimate goal and don’t need to take the long way around to finish the battle.”

The demonic eyes, not yet opened, turned to the golden-haired senior. Like those eyes that didn't gleam, Ori answered Mami's words with a cold, unwavering tone. Ash's actions remained consistently direct and ruthless, showing no leniency for unexpected circumstances.

Ribbon Flame couldn't help but stand up as well. Without a doubt, once Ashes decided to fight the giant monster, they would be the greatest help.

However, after she stood up, she realized she didn't know how to persuade the Ashes. All eyes immediately focused on her; the Ashes stared at her with the same coldness as their captain. She suddenly understood why her senior hadn't finished speaking earlier—the intense, focused gazes had almost frozen them to the bone, making it impossible for them to utter a word.

"Why?...We were working together so well before..."

Mami's voice trembled; she didn't know whether to unleash her anger on the sand or the weaving. The cold gaze was chilling, the radiant smile ghostly cruel. If it weren't for Ribbon Flame suddenly standing up and offering some support, Mami, isolated and helpless, might have already burst into tears. Even so, tears began to well up in her eyes.

The radiant smile remained, the mist remained silent, waiting for the shifted contradictions to reach a conclusion.

"Cooperation should be based on mutual benefit. When cooperation fails to bring benefits to the partners, its foundation has already crumbled. Our situation fits this description perfectly, therefore, our cooperation is no longer valuable."

The cold rebuttal struck Mami's frozen ears, each word sharp and deliberate. She began to doubt whether the Survey Corps before her was still the same resolute force. Why were they so indifferent after protecting the civilians at the gymnasium? Why were they so heartless after finding Tatsuya? Where were their confident smiles as they marched into battle? Why had they vanished without a trace?

Ribbon Flame also began to doubt whether her way of thinking was wrong; she had actually chosen to learn their inhumane methods!

Mami retreated to her side. Surrounded by Ash, the two magical girls were like two pitiful mice being watched by a pack of wild cats. They had no choice but to accept whatever Ash wanted.

"No! ...What do you mean by ultimate goal...? What about the other me?! What about the Ash Flame?!"

The rat struggled, and the ribbon flame representing another rat struggled as well.

Even without learning her way of thinking from Ash, she could no longer find a way to reclaim her magic.

She could only begin to struggle with a sliver of hope. But her struggles only brought her a chilling indifference tinged with murderous intent.

She had touched the Survey Corps' sore spot. Sand's radiant smile was almost distorted, adding an eerie backdrop to the Corps' cold, indifferent gaze. The two magical girls were trapped in the deepest nightmare, unable and unwilling to escape.

"Yes, and there's also Xiaoyan."

The leader of the wildcats, the culprit who brought nightmares, straightened up and slowly leaned back in her chair.

The demonic eyes, which hadn't opened, closed. As the cold gaze lessened, Ribbon Flame finally had a chance to continue her struggle.

"Right? You guys are looking for her, aren't you? Maybe..."

"Is this related to our mission to defeat the giant monster?"

"..."

Struggling is futile; a wild cat can kill a mouse with a single swipe of its paw.

"...Maybe...no..."

Mami was in despair; the tears streaming down her face had already soaked the ground. But despair did not mean the end was near. She wiped her cheek hard, raised her head again, and her eyes held only unyielding stubbornness—someone had to take responsibility for this world, and even without help, they, the magical girls, could only face the monsters alone.

Besides, is it really impossible for them to defeat the giant monster on their own?

"We've said too much. This isn't your world. If we're going to fight to the death, it'll be us..."

"No, it is indeed related."

"...and we can only do this for ourselves—huh?"

As the saying goes, "When you think you've reached the end of the road, a new path opens up before you."

The suffocating feeling of despair still clung tightly to Mami, but the demonic eyes that opened again had already lost their cold indifference.

Before the two magical girls could react, a smile slowly spread across the short-haired, spirited face. Like someone about to drown in icy water, they were suddenly transported to a sun-drenched beach. The receding chill was replaced by warmth, and before they could feel comfortable, a shiver began to run through them.

The oppressive gazes melted away under that smile, and Zhi continued speaking with a smile.

"Since we haven't been able to find any clues about Xiaoyan, maybe we'll run into her in the most chaotic place."

Mami's expression remained puzzled, and the tear tracks she wiped away smeared her face. With her mouth half-open, she looked dazed. She had a feeling things were taking a turn for the better, but she still couldn't quite grasp what that turn was.

"You mean you'll also help us defeat the giant monster?!"

"No, no, no, we're going to find Xiaoyan."

"And then, while we're at it, we'll take down the giant monster."

The cheerful Zhi and the cunning witch each refuted Ribbon Flame's questions with a single sentence.

What's the difference between this and them directly going to hunt down monsters?

The two magical girls, still dumbfounded, didn't understand.

PS: Yunxi: I received the razor blade from reader [Infinite Elf Radius] (744486102). A razor blade, oh, so conflicted...

Fate, number fifty-six, is named Magia.

There are always things that hinder human progress.

Conflict and contradiction are the laws of nature's evolution.

Mitakihara, this city plagued by disasters, has been ravaged by Witch Night more than a hundred times—no, if you count the countless reincarnations in countless worlds, the number is simply innumerable—even in this world, the city where the Ashes reside has been destroyed more than a hundred times by Witch Night.

After the Law of Circles spread throughout the world, this city originally had a chance to escape its fate of constant destruction.

Unfortunately, the laws of nature have always accompanied it. Now, the witch is gone, but something new is destroying it.

The magical girl calls this new enemy a giant monster.

Ashflame didn't think so, because this monster still looked like a witch.

Far from the stadium, the city center had become hell. Hell for humans. A miasma shrouded the area, spreading outwards layer by layer until it reached the entire city. Any ordinary person who ventured into this area, where visibility was less than ten meters, would be driven insane by the passive aura of the monsters.

Then the negative emotions in one's heart are amplified and transformed into the most delicious food.

However, the demonic beasts of hell had no interest in preying on ordinary people who wandered in. There were far more delicious things waiting for them to devour. The demonic beasts gathered. The closer one went to the center of their gathering, the darker the miasma became. Perhaps it could no longer be called miasma; it was a black, thread-like, chaotic spiderweb-like black substance.

The city is utterly fragmented in this center.

The large horde of monsters lined up on the ruins, which ironically gave the completely destroyed human buildings a profound sense of religious ritual.

They swirled around the very center. Black, thread-like, spiderweb-like black matter, with these as its nodes, enveloped the entire ruins.