The PRT had a terminal room just off the main lobby. Clean, white walls, tight security on the connection lines, and an old but functional desktop plugged into a private server. EMIYA sat in front of the screen, typing slowly.
Account name: Arsenal_Official
He paused.
The system prompted him with a check—name available. It wasn't "Archer." That name carried too many memories. Too many labels. Archer was a designation assigned to him. Arsenal felt more accurate. He didn't fire arrows often, after all. He summoned weapons. Blades. Spears. Shields. Tools of war, forged and stored in the furnace of his soul.
Arsenal was a statement.
It was enough.
He finished setting the account. The verification ping from the PRT confirmed his identity, and within moments, his name went live on the Parahumans Online forums.
He clicked the "Trending Topics" bar out of idle curiosity.
.
Welcome to the Parahumans Online message boards.
You are currently logged in, Arsenal_Official
You are viewing:
• Threads you have replied to
• AND Threads that have new replies
• OR private message conversations with new replies
• Thread OP is displayed.
• Twenty five posts per page
• Last ten messages in private message history.
• Threads and private messages are ordered chronologically.
Topic: SURVIVORS REPORT S9 DEATHS — UNKNOWN HERO INVOLVED?
In: Boards ► United States ► Nebraska ► General
ScimitarStrike (Original Poster)
We've got unconfirmed survivor reports from the Lincoln shelter breach—sounds like some members of the Nine are dead. I repeat: dead. People are saying Bonesaw was captured. Others saw Gray Boy's body with what looked like a spear wound through the chest.
The PRT hasn't released an official statement yet, but there's footage circulating from inside the shelter perimeter that shows a tall man with white hair and twin blades. Red coat. Fought like a Striker or Brute, but the weapons appeared out of thin air.
Witnesses say he dropped in alone, neutralized threats within minutes, and left without identifying himself.
We don't know who he is. No known cape matches. No emblem. No call sign.
But he saved lives. A lot of them.
Anyone with info, post it here. I'll update this post as we learn more.
(Showing Page 1 of 15)
►BBExile
Holy shit, is it true? Crimson and Gray Boy are dead? Like dead-dead?
Survivor said some swordsman just tore through them.
►CapeWatcher44
The PRT's saying "no comment" so that's basically a yes. Whoever he was, he was fast. Some said he took on the Siberian and survived.
►Case53Truthing
Okay but no one's talking about the kid that helped. Survivor mentioned a "small green-haired creature" giving first aid and comfort. Case 53 maybe?
Also the guy helping the Case53—young, blond, kinda pretty. Civilian? Cape?
►ScimitarStrike
Confirmed: Gray Boy and Crimson are KIA. Bonesaw missing.
Probably captured. PRT is locking that down hard.
►Screensnatcher
Saw this photo. Blurred faces but this is him, right? That black coat? The twin blades?
[Image link]
►MookDad93
Someone said he used a spear made of light to take out Gray Boy. Just—one shot. Gone. No loop. No scream. Nothing.
►BreakerBuzz
This guy isn't just a cape. He moved like a soldier. Coordinated. Precise. Makes the PRT look like amateurs. Anyone else catch the way he protected the civvies first?
►AegisAlt
PRT said they don't have a file on him. Not Protectorate. Not Guild. Think he's an independent?
►CrimsonCleric
Someone caught a shot of him picking up a kid—Bonesaw?—and handing her off to a civvie. Like... gently. After wrecking the injured wrecked her nightmarespawn. That's not villain behavior. That's guardian-level restraint.
►MantaLine
Call me crazy but I think he teleported. Someone swears they barely saw him moving as he fought Crimson. Flashes of red only.
►ScimitarStrike
Update: The PRT confirmed with Dragon that the cape is now going by Arsenal. He hasn't got an account verified yet, but he will soon. Not much else released yet, but they're labeling him unaffiliated for now. Still no confirmation on what kind of powers he has—just that he's officially recognized and registered. Stay tuned.
.
EMIYA scrolled silently, eyes narrowing. They found out quickly about his cape name. After all, Satoshi informed Dragon a couple hours ago. Plenty of heat because of the deaths of S9's members. It doesn't surprise him as the S9 had been terrorizing this region for months. Now two were dead, one captured, and rumors of a swordsman who moved like a shadow were flooding the board.
He clicked "Log Out" without reacting.
Let them talk.
He had nothing to prove.
But if it meant Riley was safer for it—and if people started hesitating when they thought about attacking innocents—then maybe letting them believe in "Arsenal" wasn't such a bad thing.
He stepped out of the terminal room, the soft click of the door falling quiet behind him.
The hallway was plain—standard PRT white with a soft blue trim and fluorescent lights that buzzed faintly above. A posted sign directed him toward the Family Services Waiting Area, which was only a few doors down.
He didn't have to look long.
Satoshi was seated on a stiff blue couch, legs crossed, one hand casually scrolling through his phone while the other rested protectively over Riley's shoulders. Riley was curled into his side, her new plush fox held tightly to her chest, Ralts tucked under her arm like a sleepy furnace. Her legs swung back and forth beneath her, just barely brushing the floor.
Satoshi looked up the moment he stepped in.
"You're back," he said with that calm, casual warmth he was so good at faking—or maybe it wasn't fake at all.
"Yeah," EMIYA replied simply. "They gave me the preliminary ratings. Four categories: Brute 4, Mover 3, Striker 4, Blaster 3."
"Anything weird?"
EMIYA shook his head. "No red flags. They liked what they saw. Suggested Ally status. I registered a PHO handle, too."
Satoshi raised an eyebrow. "Arsenal?"
EMIYA nodded as he leaned against the wall near them.
Riley looked up at him sleepily. "Did it go okay?"
"I passed," EMIYA said. "No one's going to bother you because of me."
She nodded, satisfied, and leaned back against Satoshi again.
The moment stretched, comfortable and soft. For once.
EMIYA let his shoulders drop just slightly, watching them from his quiet corner, until the door across the hall clicked open and a staffer leaned out.
"We're ready for the psychological evaluations now. We'll begin with the child, then the guardian."
Satoshi tensed, just slightly. Riley straightened.
EMIYA's gaze flicked to them both.
"We'll be just outside," he said calmly.
Riley nodded, but she reached for both their hands anyway, one to each and held on until she absolutely had to let go.
.
The evaluations had gone smoothly enough. There was no confrontation, no alarms, no outbursts. Just clinical offices, polite questions, and blank forms waiting to be filled. Riley had been tired—emotionally tired, the kind that seeped into her bones. By the time they were signing release forms at the front desk, she was fast asleep, curled in EMIYA's arms with her head tucked under his chin.
Ralts snoozed quietly in Satoshi's hold, her stubby hands gripping the hem of his coat even in sleep.
The hallway was quiet as they walked toward the waiting car. EMIYA adjusted his grip around Riley, his arms steady despite the weight. She was small. So light. It was hard to remember sometimes that she'd carried the name Bonesaw.
"We must look like a pair of parents," Satoshi muttered as they approached the glass doors.
EMIYA didn't look at him. "We are legally married, after all."
There was a beat of silence. Then Satoshi chuckled softly. "So you're no longer annoyed about that?"
EMIYA hummed, noncommittal as they stepped out into the bright afternoon sun. The car waited at the curb, one of the same PRT agents from earlier leaning casually against the hood, arms crossed.
"…Hey," Satoshi said, voice quieter now, almost shy, "would it be okay if I called you by your given name?"
That stopped him short. He looked over. Satoshi wasn't smiling—not yet—but his expression was open, vulnerable in a way he rarely allowed. There was something almost fragile in the way he asked.
EMIYA looked down at Riley. At the quiet peace on her face. At Ralts, snuggled in Satoshi's arms like she belonged there.
Then he thought about the name Shirou. His given name. A name that had belonged to someone who believed in saving everyone, no matter the cost. A name he'd buried beneath steel and ash when he'd become something else.
But here, it was on legal documents. Spoken by a child. Remembered by the man beside him.
He didn't answer right away.
"…Don't worry," Satoshi muttered, suddenly looking away. "You don't have to. I can keep calling you EMIYA if—"
"No," EMIYA interrupted, voice soft but certain. "Call me Shirou."
The name settled in the air between them like the end of a long breath.
Satoshi looked at him and then he smiled. That same dry, sunlit smile he gave when he was genuinely happy and trying to play it off. "Okay then, Shirou."
The sound of it in his voice—It didn't feel like a burden anymore. It felt like something quietly being returned.
Maybe he should call himself Shirou in his mind, too. Maybe he can finally throw away the designation EMIYA like he did with Archer.
... Maybe "Shirou" could be someone worth becoming again.
.
.
.
I'm alive!!!
And tired af
For a couple of weeks I've been doing late shifts and those are tiring. Also, it's summer here and I hate this season because I'm more sweat than person. Luckily, I'll have a vacation in two weeks, so let's hope I've better shifts after that T.T
(Most of my close family is going to return to our Mother Country so I've been helping with the preparations that didn't help with the busy period. My mom is going in a couple days and two of my sisters will go in a couple of weeks)
Anyway, sorry.
Two chapters for u
.
Also, if you want to support me and read chapters ahead, go to my p@treon: JorieDS