Prologue

Darkness shrouded the foreboding hallway, enveloping the traveler in a thick blanket. In the distance, a faint glowing ember glimmered on the horizon. Silence lurked the hallway, except the echoes of his own footsteps. An immense heat slowly introduced itself to Kotaro Nishiki, and a treacherous path stood between him and his objective—a bridge hanging precariously over a gaping chasm.

One misstep on the bridge meant instant incineration. His heart thumped loudly from the sheer heat pressing him. Sweat immediately formed on his forehead, but now was not the time for complaints. Kotaro swallowed his fears to progress further, enduring the intense heat. Every second counted.

A deadly vapor plagued this world. Kotaro's mission was clear: to destroy whatever was causing the sickness amongst the people. Additionally, young girls had gone missing, including some of his classmates. As a foreigner, his perspective on these unsettling events brought a unique dimension to his quest.

The scorching wind from the pool of lava whipped through his hair and clothes, carrying with it the acrid stench of burning sulfur. Each gust felt like a searing touch against his skin, as if the very air conspired to blister him. His hands swelled and turned red, throbbing as he ventured deeper into the heart of the inferno. Each breath became a struggle, a rasping inhale that seemed to suck the moisture out of his lungs, while his vision threatened to blur under the relentless assault of heat and fumes.

Almost there, he thought, his determination unwavering. With each step, exhaustion threatened to consume him. How he endured such intense heat remained a mystery, but it gave him the courage to push through.

Reaching the next room seemed like an achievable feat until a young girl stumbled before him. Unlike the guards he disposed of earlier, she wouldn't be an easy opponent.

He had been forewarned about her after bypassing the Barrier of Makai. The enemies heavily relied on the barrier for security, failing to anticipate an outsider breaching the factory.

It was only a matter of time before she appeared. He knew what he had to do. Searching through his pockets, he retrieved a stick.

"So you must be Project Device Type-0013 NEW?" he questioned.

"Analyzing... Target... Complete... Returning to Memory Mode..." she responded, her eyes meeting his. Her azure gaze locked with his chestnut-colored eyes. "Kotaro! Have you come here to kill me... again?"

He had no memory of her. Nevertheless, he remained resolute. "I'm not here to kill you. I'm here to destroy whatever is causing the smoke."

An unsettling, maniacal laughter echoed through the chamber. Her sudden shrill tones reverberated off the walls, startling him a little. "Oh, Kotaro! You're so funny!"

Her playful tone suddenly shifted, becoming more sinister and unsettling. "You know that can't happen... You and I are meant to be..."

Kotaro remembered the most crucial warning for this battle: he must not falter. Despite the searing heat that threatened to consume him, his determination to fight propelled him forward.

"Power Sword!" Kotaro commanded, and the stick in his hand transformed into a steel blade.

NEW smirked. "Yay! Let's have fun and kill each other again!" Her sweet and innocent voice took on a more menacing tone.

Kotaro charged towards her, readying his attack.

"Project Device Gear Activate," the girl commanded, her voice echoing through the chamber. In response, a surge of energy pulsed from her body, materializing into a sword-shaped object between them. Kotaro was knocked away, causing him to lose grip on his own sword.

As he staggered, his hand contacted the scorching metal floor. Searing pain shot through his palm, yet he refused to succumb to the agony. With unwavering determination, he quickly recovered and retrieved his sword, his gaze fixed on the astonishing transformation unfolding before him.

In an instant, the massive sword that stopped his attack underwent a metamorphosis. Its form shifted and rearranged itself into a suit of armor that enveloped NEW's slender frame. The cloak she once wore dissipated into shimmering particles, replaced by a thick azure suit adorned with elegant gray metal shoulder plates.

His eyes widened in awe as he beheld the sight. Two sharp steel blades materialized in NEW's hands, their gleaming edges reflecting the pulsating light of the chamber. The air crackled with anticipation as their battle recommenced, each clash of their weapons igniting sparks that danced in the darkness.

Amidst the battle, Kotaro seized an opportunity and delivered a well-placed kick. Her balance shattered, evident from the tremors in her legs.

Now's my chance! he thought, lunging forward with a swift slash.

And then it happened, as it always did: the Infinite Loop...

No matter how he altered his approach or how many attempts he made, the outcome remained unchanged. Fresh crimson stained the floor anew with each iteration.

Days repeated themselves, leading to yet another encounter in battle. He would fall once more, and the cycle would restart. The world spun endlessly, ensnared in an unending loop. The kaleidoscope of repetition showed no signs of stopping.

"How did you... get me?" Kotaro gasped, his chest drenched in scarlet. Without warning, a cold steel blade impaled him from behind, catching him off guard.

"Summoning Technique: Undefined Saber. I thought you knew I would use Skills in our fight," NEW explained, smoke-like particles of energy swirling around her fingertips. "But I was wrong..."

His eyes widened. "How? You're breaking the Skill Rules... how did you—"

It didn't take long for him to realize that she may have displayed signs of sentience, but in the end, she was still an artificial being.

Casually, she approached the impaled Kotaro. The sharp steel pierced through her own chest, but NEW hardly flinched.

"Let's become one, Kotaro! Let me accept you!" she exclaimed, her smile unnerving. "Engaging Project Device Type-0000 THE END... unleashing the ultimate power."

Wrapping her arms around Kotaro, NEW leaped into the pit, dragging his lifeless body with her. They burned, turning to ash, as the pool of lava gradually changed to an emerald hue.

Behind a magical barrier, two figures observed their battle. "And he failed once more..."

The man with golden hair rested his parasol on his shoulder. Darkness crept across the azure sky, giving birth to an eclipse.

"I'll see you again, Yuuki Nohara," the woman in red robes spoke, standing beside him.

"Kamiyama Shrine Maiden, how many loops have we endured? Even our efforts to hone his skills were insufficient. If not for the Barrier of Makai, we could aid him more easily. That machine keeps adapting."

"This is our twentieth loop," the shrine maiden replied, her tears and worries long dried up. "Kotaro... we'll meet again."