Fate/Infinite Nexus

When the light faded, Nihilith was gone. The dimensional device lay shattered on the ground, its energy dissipated. The rift was closed, and the room was silent.

Shirou collapsed to his knees, his energy spent. Batman and Raven moved to his side, their expressions a mix of relief and concern.

"You did it," Raven said, her voice soft.

Shirou shook his head. "We did it. Together."

Batman placed a hand on Shirou's shoulder. "You fought well. But this isn't over. Nihilith may be gone, but the threat to the multiverse remains."

Shirou nodded, his resolve hardening. "Then we'll keep fighting. No matter what it takes."

—————

The Wayne Enterprises R&D facility was in ruins. The air still crackled faintly with residual energy from the battle, and the shattered remains of the dimensional device lay scattered across the floor. Shirou Emiya sat on a piece of debris, catching his breath as he held Kanshou and Bakuya loosely in his hands. The twin swords, though unbroken, bore faint scorch marks from the intensity of the fight.

Batman stood nearby, his cape draped over his shoulders as he examined the remnants of the device. His expression was unreadable, but the tension in his posture betrayed his concern. Raven knelt beside Shirou, her hands glowing faintly as she channeled her magic to heal his minor injuries.

"You pushed yourself too hard," Raven said, her voice calm but tinged with worry. "Your magical circuits are strained. You need to rest."

Shirou shook his head, his gaze fixed on the shattered device. "I can't. Not yet. Nihilith might be gone for now, but we still don't know what they were after. That device... it wasn't just a weapon. It was a key."

Batman turned to face them, his voice low and gravelly. "A key to what?"

Shirou hesitated, his mind racing. "I don't know for sure, but if Nihilith wanted it badly enough to risk confronting us directly, it must be something important. Something tied to the multiverse."

Raven's eyes narrowed. "If that's true, then we need to figure out what they were trying to unlock. Before they try again."

---

[Location: Batcave]

The trio moved to the Batcave, where Batman began analyzing the data they had gathered from the facility. The massive screens of the Batcomputer lit up with schematics, energy readings, and fragmented files recovered from the device. Shirou stood beside Batman, his arms crossed as he studied the information.

"This device was designed to manipulate dimensional energy," Batman said, his fingers flying across the keyboard. "But it wasn't just creating rifts. It was searching for something. A specific frequency, a signature... something unique."

Shirou's eyes narrowed. "A signature? Like a person? Or a place?"

Batman's expression darkened. "Possibly both. The energy patterns match something I've seen before, but I can't place it. It's... familiar, but not from this world."

Raven stepped forward, her hands glowing faintly as she focused on the data. "Let me try something."

She closed her eyes, her magic intertwining with the Batcomputer's systems. The screens flickered, and a new set of data appeared—an encrypted file, hidden deep within the device's programming.

"This is it," Raven said, her voice tense. "It's a map. A map to... somewhere. But it's incomplete."

Shirou leaned closer, his eyes scanning the fragmented image. It showed a series of coordinates, but they were scattered and incomplete. "Can we piece it together?"

Batman's jaw tightened. "It'll take time. But if Nihilith is after whatever this map leads to, we need to find it first."

---

As they worked, a sudden alert flashed on the Batcomputer. Batman's eyes narrowed as he read the message. "There's been a disturbance in Gotham Harbor. An unidentified energy signature, similar to Nihilith's."

Shirou's grip tightened on Kanshou and Bakuya ."They're not gone. They're regrouping."

Raven's expression was grim. "Or they're trying to draw us out. Either way, we can't ignore this."

Batman nodded, his voice firm. "We move now. But we do this carefully. Nihilith is dangerous, and we don't know what they're planning."

---

[Gotham Harbor]

The trio arrived at Gotham Harbor under the cover of night. The air was thick with the scent of saltwater and oil, and the faint hum of magical energy lingered in the air. Shirou's senses were on high alert as they moved through the shadows, their footsteps silent against the damp concrete.

As they approached the source of the energy signature, they were met with a chilling sight. A group of Nihilith's operatives stood in a circle, their hands raised as they channeled energy into a glowing portal. The air around the portal shimmered, and faint whispers echoed from within.

"They're opening another rift," Raven said, her voice low. "We need to stop them."

Shirou nodded, his grip tightening on Kanshou and Bakuya . "I'll take the lead. Batman, Raven, cover me."

Batman's eyes narrowed. "Don't get reckless."

Shirou smirked faintly. "When have I ever been reckless?"

Before Batman could respond, Shirou charged forward, his blades gleaming in the moonlight. The operatives turned to face him, their movements unnaturally fluid. Shirou moved like a whirlwind, Kanshou and Bakuya cutting through the air with deadly precision.

---

The operatives were fast, but Shirou was faster. He struck with Kanshou, deflecting an energy blast, before countering with a slash from Bakuya . The blade cut through the operative's defenses, sending them stumbling back. But more operatives emerged from the shadows, their forms shifting and blurring.

Raven stepped forward, her hands glowing with dark energy. "Let me handle this."

She raised her hands, and a wave of energy surged toward the operatives, disrupting their movements. Batman moved in, his gadgets neutralizing the remaining threats with precision.

As the last operative fell, Shirou turned his attention to the portal. It was still active, its energy growing more unstable by the second.

"We need to close it," Shirou said, his voice tense. "Before it tears this reality apart."

Raven nodded, her expression focused. "I'll try, but I need time."

Shirou and Batman stood guard as Raven worked, their eyes scanning the area for any remaining threats. The air around the portal crackled with energy, and faint whispers echoed from within.

---

As Raven channeled her magic to close the portal, Shirou's eyes caught something in the swirling energy. A figure, faint and indistinct, stood on the other side. Their form was cloaked in shadows, but their presence was unmistakable.

"Nihilith," Shirou whispered, his grip tightening on his blades.

The figure turned, their mask shifting like smoke. For a moment, their gaze locked with Shirou's, and a cold voice echoed in his mind.

"You cannot stop what is coming, Shirou Emiya. The multiverse will burn, and you will be consumed by the flames."

Before Shirou could respond, the portal collapsed, the energy dissipating into the night. The air grew still, and the whispers faded into silence.

---

[The Aftermath]

Shirou stood amidst the ruins of the harbor, his mind racing. Nihilith's words lingered in his thoughts, a chilling reminder of the stakes they faced.

Batman approached, his expression grim. "What did you see?"

Shirou hesitated before answering. "Nihilith. They were on the other side of the portal. They're planning something big. Something that could destroy the multiverse."

Raven's eyes narrowed. "Then we need to stop them. No matter what it takes."

Shirou nodded, his resolve hardening. "We will. But we need to be ready. Nihilith isn't just a threat to this world. They're a threat to everything."